Pat Lam: It looks a close one again

Connacht host top-of-the-table Scarlets at the Galway Sportsground today in the standout fixture of the Guinness Pro12 weekend schedule (3pm).

In this last of a testing run of 16 games, Connacht’s Pat Lam knows a win today would put his side level on points with the visitors, but, more importantly, go a long way to maintaining a top six position come season’s end.

Joe Schmidt has held onto prop Nathan White and scrum-half Kieran Marmion, but crucially centre Robbie Henshaw gets a second competitive match under his belt ahead of the Six Nations after a two-month lay-off. Youngsters, prop Finlay Bealham and lock Ultan Dillane, are named in the starting side and on the bench respectively.