U20 duo handed Connacht run

Connacht coach Michael Bradley will give Ireland U20s Tiernan O’Halloran and Eoin Griffin a chance to show what they can do in the Magner’s League against The Scarlets in Wales on Sunday.

Bradley has made 10 changes in all as he bids to have a clutch of first choice players fresh for the Challenge Cup semi-final against Toulon on Saturday week and the final day’s play against Ulster in the Magner’s League the following week.

Up and coming players, like lock David Nolan, have been selected to execute an unlikely win away to The Scarlets, who, in fairness, have nothing tangible to play for at this point in the season.

Wales hooker Matthew Rees is back on board for The Scarlets.

Out-half Stephen Jones misses out with an ankle injury, allowing Rhys Priestland to come in at ten outside scrum-half Martin Roberts.

"We have had a very focused and honest week and as a group got to the core of some issues regarding our last two performances which we have been very disappointed with," said coach Nigel Davies.

"We are very disappointed with our league position, and while we know we have come close to wins on so many occasions - ultimately the table does not lie”.

CONNACHT (v The Scarlets): L Bibo; T O’Halloran, E Griffin, T Nathan, B Tuohy; I Keatley, C O’Loughlin; R Loughney, A Flavin, R Morris, D Nolan, B Upton, A Browne, R Ofisa, M McComish.

Replacements: D Murphy, C Higgins, E McKeown, J O’Connor, K Campbell, M Nikora, A Wynne.

THE SCARLETS (v Connacht): Daniel Evans; Sean Lamont, Regan King, Jonathan Davies, Andy Fenby; Rhys Priestland, Martin Roberts; David Lyons (capt), Josh Turnbull, Rob McCusker, Damian Welch, Lou Reed, Rhys Thomas, Matthew Rees, Iestyn Thomas.

Replacements: Phil John, Emyr Phillips, Deacon Manu, Dominic Day, Tavis Knoyle, Dan Newton, Lee Williams.