Connacht ring the changes for Gwent clash

The Connacht team to play Gwent Dragons in the Celtic League at Rodney Parade on Sunday shows a number of changes from the side pipped by Edinburgh in the Celtic Cup semi-final.

Wed, 19 Nov, 2003 - 18:21

The Connacht team to play Gwent Dragons in the Celtic League at Rodney Parade on Sunday shows a number of changes from the side pipped by Edinburgh in the Celtic Cup semi-final.

Michael Bradley continues the rotation policy which sees Connacht currently lie third in the Celtic League table with five wins from eight games and within four points of leaders Ulster.

Two of the changes are up front where Dan McFarland comes in at loosehead prop for the injured Ray Hogan, while in the back row Tom Carter starts at openside, with Paul Neville moving to blindside.

Wayne Munn comes in on the left-wing in a reshuffled backline which sees David Hewitt start at fly-half and Matt Mostyn switching to full-back.

Gwent Dragons lie just a point behind Connacht in the league table, having also won five of their eight games to date, including all four home games to date with Munster and Edinburgh among the victims.

But Connacht will be hoping to build on their excellent win over Ulster last time out in the Celtic League when they brought a seven match winning run by the leaders to an end.

CONNACHT (v Gwent Dragons):

15. Matt Mostyn

14. Conor McPhillips

13. Darren Yapp

12. Mark McHugh

11. Wayne Munn

10. David Hewitt

9. Mike Walls

1. Dan McFarland

2. Bernard Jackman (captain)

3. Adrian Clarke

4. Damian Browne