Muldoon to return as Elwood set to shuffle pack for Italian job

Connacht coach Eric Elwood is expected to shuffle his pack for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup opener against Zebre in Italy.

Connacht will face the new Italian franchise for the second time in five weeks before hosting English Premiership champions and old rivals Harlequins the following week. Their third opponents in pool 3 are Europe’s third-ranked side, Biarritz, in the pre-Christmas back-to-back fixtures.

As Connacht head into their second season of Heineken Cup rugby, Elwood is expected to welcome back former captain and blindside flanker John Muldoon to his starting XV, the Portumna man having made a return from injury as a replacement against Ulster last weekend.