Strong Connacht side

CONNACHT face second-placed Scarlets in tonight’s Magners League tie at the Sportgrounds (7.35pm).

Though without Sean Cronin (international duty) and the John Muldoon and Keith Matthews (injury), Elwood has named a strong side for the clash.

Included in the squad are three of the province’s long serving players who have signed new contracts. Adrian Flavin, who replaces Cronin at hooker and Ray Ofisa, named on the bench, have been contracted for another two years, while Connacht’s most capped player, Michael Swift, has extended his contract for another year.

Johnny O’Connor is back from injury to take over the captaincy, while Troy Nathan replaces Matthews.

Gavin Duffy, Mike McCarthy, and Brett Wilkinson, released from Declan Kidney’s Irish squad, are also selected.

CONNACHT: G Duffy, B Tuohy, N Ta’auso, T Nathan, F Carr, I Keatley, F Murphy, B Wilkinson, A Flavin, J Hagan, M Swift, McCarthy, A Browne, J O’Connor (cpt), M McComish.

Replacements: D Murphy, D Rogers, R Ah You, B Upton, R Ofisa, C Willis, M Nikora, S Monahan.

SCARLETS: D Evans, D Daniel, R King, S Williams, G Maule, D Newton, M Roberts, I Thomas (cpt) E Phillips, R Thomas, V Cooper, L Reed, R McClusker, J Edwards, B Morgan.

Replacements: R Lawrence, S Gardiner, O Evans, J Fa’amatuainu, N Cudd, G Davies, O Willians, N Reynolds.