Connacht name side for Italian job

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his side for tomorrow's Amlin Challenge Cup game with Cavalieri Prato at the Sportsgrounds, kick-off 6pm.

The line-up remains largely unchanged from the side that beat Bayonne last weekend, Bernie Upton makes way for Michael Swift in the second row while Johnny O’Connor is replaced by Shane Conneely who makes his first competitive start for the Province.

The 20-year old-flanker from Galway, who is in the second year of the Connacht Academy, came on for O’Connor last weekend and made an immediate impact in the 35-21 victory in the South of France.

Gavin Duffy has recovered from the knee injury that has ruled him out for the last month allowing Fionn Carr to return to the wing. Keith Matthews returns to captain the side from inside centre and Eoin Griffin has been rested, making way for Niva Ta’auso at outside centre.

Ray Ofisa will mark his return from injury with a spot on the bench. The hard-hitting Samoan flanker was injured during Connacht’s narrow defeat to Bennetton Treviso back in October.

Connacht: Brett Wilkinson, Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan; Mike McCarthy, Michael Swift; Andrew Browne, Shane Conneely, Mike McComish; Frank Murphy, Ian Keatley, Brian Tuohy, Keith Matthews (C), Niva Ta’auso, Fionn Carr; Gavin Duffy

Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Ronan Loughney, Rodney Ah You, Bernie Upton, Ray Ofisa, Cillian Willis, Miah Nikora, Shane Monahan