Tough on injury-ravaged Connacht

Injuries have robbed Connacht of a host of front-line players for the visit of Edinburgh to the Galway Sportsground today (5pm).

New Ireland lock Mike McCarthy and flanker John Muldoon are joined by veteran Michael Swift, No 8 George Naoupu, props Nathan White and Rodney Ah You, hooker Ethienne Reynecke and Eoin Griffin in a list of injuries that has swelled to 17 in the past week.

In contrast Edinburgh travel with five internationals — Nick de Luca, Matt Scott, Tim Visser, Greig Laidlaw and Dave Denton- in their starting side as they bid to build on last week’s victory over Ospreys. That win, which was came after losing five in a row, saw them leapfrog Connacht in the RaboDirect Pro 12 league standings.