Elwood looks for Rabo response

Connacht pair Eoin Griffin and Michael Swift are in contention to feature in Saturday’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Munster.

Griffin returns to training this week after ankle surgery while veteran lock Swift featured in a session yesterday.

However, flanker Willie Faloon will be out for at least eight weeks after undergoing surgery for a fractured eye socket.

Coach Eric Elwood is relishing a chance to put the Heineken Cup loss to Biarritz behind them against Rob Penney’s men. He said: “We want to bounce back in this big derby match. When you play Munster, you have to go toe to toe, and for us to do that, we need to be able to choose from near a full squad. We know what is coming and what to expect so it’s a good fixture for us to get, especially at home. We are looking forward to improving again on our intensity levels from last week because when you are playing a powerhouse like Munster, you certainly need to match them physically and a have level of intensity to your game.”

Elwood also revealed disappointment at his side’s failure to secure victory on a miserable night in Biarritz.

“We went there with high hopes but it was a long journey home. We went over there hoping to play, but weather conditions dictated what we could and could not do and it just became a bit of an arm wrestle. We made a pretty bad error in defence and I thought their kicking game was very good.

“It was also pretty miserable [weather] when they played Zebre, so it’s something they are used to and they have the artillery to play in those conditions.”