Vainikolo to make Connacht debut against Cardiff

Tongan World Cup star Fetu'u Vainkolo is set to make his Connacht debut in tomorrow’s RaboDirect PRO12 match against the Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground (6pm).

The 26-year-old winger played twice for his country in New Zealand, scoring a try in their 31-18 victory over Japan. He slots in on the rights wing and joins captain Gavin Duffy and the returning Tiernan O'Halloran in the back three.

Samoan international centre Henry Fa'afilli renews his partnership with Eoin Griffin who comes back into the team after missing the trip to the RDS with a late injury. The half-back selection again sees Frank Murphy paired with Niall O'Connor.

There are two changes in the front-row with Adrian Flavin coming in at hooker and Rodney Ah You coming in at tighthead. They join Ireland Wolfhound Brett Wilkinson who starts at loosehead.

Michael Swift and Mike McCarthy are selected in a second-row that has over 300 caps between them. There is more experience in the back-row with centurions John Muldoon and Johnny O'Connor joined by Ray Ofisa who is winning his 96th cap for the province.

More good news for Connacht comes from the replacements bench with George Naoupu returning after picking up an injury away to Edinburgh and Miah Nikora making his first appearance of the season.

Connacht (v. Cardiff Blues): G Duffy; F Vainikolo, E Griffin, H Fa’afili, T O’Halloran; N O’Connor, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Ah You; M Swift, M McCarthy; J Muldoon, J O’Connor, R Ofisa Replacements: E Reynecke, R Loughney, D Rogers, D Gannon, G Naoupu, P O’Donohoe, M Nikora, B Tuohy.