Connacht’s young guns to face Samoa

SAMOA open their northern hemisphere tour in Galway this evening when they take on a young Connacht side at the Sportsground (7.05pm).

Both coaches have opted to give their squad players an opportunity in this first meeting since 1988, when the Pacific Islanders visited as Western Samoa.

Connacht’s Eric Elwood is using the break in competitive action to rest the bulk of his Magners League starting XV, while Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua has included a handful of Samoan-based players for this tour opener ahead of Saturday’s test match.