Flavin out for Connacht

Replacement hooker Adrian Flavin has been forced out of the Connacht squad due to illness for the Challenge Cup tie at Worcester Warriors on Saturday.

His place on the bench will be taken by Academy player Dermot Murphy.

There are two changes from last week as number eight George Naoupu while Ray Ofisa replaces the injured Johnny O’Connor at openside flanker.

The back row of captain John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa and Naoupu will have to blend in quickly in what are sure to be difficult circumstances.

Former Leinster coach Mike Ruddock has made two changes to his Worcester side.

Scotland international centre Alex Grove and hooker Chris Fortey will be given the chance to impress in Europe.

Fit again fly-half Matthew Jones is also handed a place among the replacements. He could make his first senior appearance at Sixways since facing Brive in the European quarter-finals in April.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; L Bibo, N Ta’auso, A Wynne, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; M McCarthy, B Upton; J Muldoon (C), R Ofisa, G Naoupu.

Replacements: D Murphy, R Loughney, J Hagan, M Swift, M McComish, C O’Loughlin, M Nikora, T Nathan.

WORCESTER: C Latham; R Gear, A Grove, D Rasmussen, M Benjamin; W Walker, J Arr; K Horstmann, P Sanderson (C), T Wood, C Gillies, G Rawlinson, T Taumoepeau, C Fortey, A Black.

Replacements: J Page, A Lutui, O Sourgens, G Kitchener, J Collins, O Frost, M Jones, C MacRae.