Elwood makes two changes for visit of Warriors

Head Coach Eric Elwood has made just two changes to last week's starting XV for Connacht’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with the Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground on Saturday (5.30pm).

Henry Fa’afili comes into the midfield in place of Dave McSharry with Eoin Griffin providing cover from the bench having recovered from a hamstring injury.

The other change comes in the backrow. Flanker Ray Ofisa is unavailable through a knee injury sustained in that bonus point loss to the Cardiff Blues allowing former Munster Academy man Eoghan Grace to claim a rare start for the Western province.

The 6' 2" openside earned his first Connacht cap against Ulster in Ravenhill this season after joining Connacht from the Exeter Chiefs last Summer.

Though Grace has been missing for large parts the season through injury he has impressed selectors with outstanding performances for Buccaneers in recent weeks.

After a somewhat frustrating year Grace is delighted to be given a chance to impress in front of a home crowd.

"I'm delighted to be selected,” the Clonmel man admitted. “It's been a real rollercoaster of a year so to be given the opportunity to start in front of the home crowd is a huge boost.

“I had a good run at it up in Ulster and it was a huge experience but I'm really looking forward to the Sportsground crowd this weekend.

“I'm just looking forward to getting stuck in and doing my best, we know what's ahead of us but we also know that past results have gone our way so there's a bit of confidence in the squad."

Connacht Rugby will hold a minute's silence before the game for former colleague David O'Hara who passed away tragically this week.

David was a Club community rugby officer who worked with an Ghaeltacht and Oughterard rugby clubs and was also a popular member of Galwegians RFC.

Connacht (v Glasgow): G Duffy (c); F Vainikolo. K Tonetti, H Fa’afili, T O’Halloran; N O’Connor, P O’Donohoe; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Loughney; M Swift, M McCArthy; J Muldoon, E Grace, G Naoupu.

Replacements: E Renecke, D Buckley, S Maguire, D Gannon, M Kearney, D Moore, M Jarvis, E Griffin.