Connacht name changed team

Connacht, the only side in the Celtic League with a 100% record after five games, have made seven changes from the side that defeated Bridgend for Saturday's top of the table clash with Pontypridd at the Galway Sportsground (kick-off 3 pm).

Team captain Tim Allnutt will be out of action for some time after suffering cruciate ligament damage in the opening half against Bridgend. He will remain as Connacht captain for the season, with two vice-captains, Shane Moore and Warwick Waugh, alternating the skipper's role in games.

Moore comes into the side at No 13 in Allnutt's place, while Dermot O'Sullivan is named at No 12 in place of the injured Darren Yapp. The third change in the backline is at scrum-half with Eoin Reddan returning for the injured Chris Keane.

There are four changes up front. Warwick Waugh returns from injury in place of Damian Browne in the second row, while Michael Swift is named at blindside flanker with John O'Sullivan moving to No.8 in place of Eric Peters and Colm Rigney moving to openside.

There are two changes in the front row with Marnus Uijs selected as hooker in place of Jerry Flannery and Ronan McCormack named at tighthead in place of Peter Bracken.

Connacht are still without full-back Gavin Duffy and flanker Johnny O'Connor, both of whom are recovering from injury and it is hoped that they will be available for selection when Connacht travel to France the following weekend for the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup clash with Mont

de Marsan.

Connacht are the only side so far through to the quarter-finals of this year¹s Celtic League and a win against Pontypridd on Saturday will almost certainly guarantee them a home fixture in the quarter-finals.

Connacht: M. McHugh; T. Robinson, D. O'Sullivan, S. Moore, W. Munn; E. Elwood, E. Reddan; D. McFarland, M. Uijs, R. McCormack; W. Waugh, R. Frost; M. Swift, J. O¹Sullivan, C. Rigney.

Replacements: P. Bracken, J. Flannery, D. Browne, E. Peters, M. Walls, M. McPhail, J. Norton.