Seven changes for Connacht squad

The Connacht team to play Cardiff Blues at Dubarry Park on Saturday evening (7pm) shows seven changes from that which defeated Edinburgh at Meadowbank at the weekend.

Coach Michael Bradley and his assistant John McKee continue their successful rotation policy as they bid to get revenge on a Cardiff side who defeated them 33-17 earlier this season.

Five of the changes are up-front with Marnus Uijs starting at hooker, while Peter Bracken makes a welcome first start of the season, having come off the bench in recent weeks after recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury.

There is a new back row, with Michael Swift, Matt Lacey and number eight Michael Carroll all returning to the side.

Captain Tim Allnutt returns in the centre, with Ted Robinson starting on the left wing.

Connacht (v Cardiff): Mark McHugh; Matt Mostyn, Darren Yapp, Tim Allnutt (captain), Ted Robinson; Eric Elwood, Conor O¹Loughlin; Dan McFarland, Marnus Uijs, Peter Bracken; Damien Browne, Andrew Farley; Michael Swift, Matt Lacey, Michael Carroll.

Replacements: Adrian Clarke, Bernard Jackman, Mike McCarthy, Paul Neville, Chris Keane, Shane Moore, Wayne Munn.