McCarthy returns to Connacht duty

IRISH squad member Mike McCarthy returns to Connacht for today’s final pre-season fixture with English premiership side Saracens in London (6.45pm).

McCarthy, who lost out to Donnacha Ryan in Declan Kidney’s final World Cup squad of 30, will have his first outing with the province before the start of the new RaboDirect Pro 12 league next week.

McCarthy is one of six changes to the side which lost 38-3 to an Ireland Select XV last Thursday, and he will join Michael Swift in the second row.

Also starting for the first time this season are Johnny O’Connor, who came on as a replacement last week, scrum-half Frank Murphy, and fullback and captain Gavin Duffy. Murphy will partner Matthew Jarvis in a new half-back pairing, while Ethienne Reynecke returns to the front row. Still out injured are Miah Nikora, Ronan Loughney, Andrew Browne, Brett Wilkinson, Keith Matthews, Eoghan Grace, Stewart Maguire and Dave Nolan, while Fetu Vainkolo remains with the Tongan World Cup squad.

Connacht are in action again against Munster A at Thomond Park tomorrow.

Paddy Butler will lead Munster side from number eight while Gerry Hurley and Declan Cusack form the half-back combination.

Munster also include Cork Con’s Phillip Donnellan and Academy members Ronan O’Mahony, Cory Hircock, JJ Hanrahan, Luke O’Dea, Dave Kilcoyne, Shane Buckley and Brian O’Hara.