Nathan White back for Lam’s leaders Connaught

Ireland international prop Nathan White returns to Connacht for this evening’s Guinness Pro 12 fixture against improving Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

White will join scrum-half Kieran Marmion in the starting side with fellow Ireland squad member Finlay Bealham on the bench. However, Ultan Dillane and Robbie Henshaw have not been released from Schmidt’s side.

Also returning to the starting line-up are captain John Muldoon, who missed last week’s fixture with a hamstring strain while Quinn Roux joins Ali Muldowney in the second row.

Twelve points separate league leaders Connacht from Edinburgh in fifth. Edinburgh’s only loss in the Scottish capital was to Munster in November, and Connacht coach Pat Lam says his squad will need to match the home side’s physicality or it will “make for a long day”.

Lam said: “They are very physical, very direct, and they are a settled team with a lot of experienced players. Murrayfield is always tough, but they’ve really made it into a fortress, having only lost there once this season. We are 12 ahead of Edinburgh, so if we win this, we can create a 16 point difference. The only thing we can control is the performance.”

After several seasons of playing second fiddle to Glasgow Warriors, Alan Solomons’ Edinburgh are in position to make a serious play for the top. With nine wins, five losing bonus points, and one of the strongest defensive records in the Pro 12, Edinburgh will test Connacht’s top four credentials.

CONNACHT:

T O’Holloran, D Poolman, B Aki, C Ronaldson, M Healy, A MacGinty, K Marmion, D Buckley, T McCartney, N White, Q Roux, A Muldowney, S O’Brien, J Heenan, J Muldoon (cpt).

Replacements:

D Heffernan, F Bealham, R Ah You, D Qualter, E McKeon, C Blade, P Robb, F Carr.

EDINBURGH:

B Kinghorn, D Hyland, C Dean, M Scott, T Brown, P Burleigh, S Hidalgo-Clyne, R Sutherland, N Cochrane, J Andress, A Bresler, B Toolis, J Ritchie, H Watson, C De Preez,

Replacements:

G Turner, A Dell, S Berghan, A Toolis, M Bradbury, S Kennedy, S Beard, D Fife.

Referee:

Ben Whitehouse (Wales).