Elwood puts faith in academy players for Scarlets trip

Eric Elwood has included three academy players in Connacht’s match day squad to face the Scarlets this Friday at Parc y Scarlets (7.30pm).

Dave Heffernan, Mick Kearney and Denis Buckley have received a vote of confidence from the Connacht head coach who believes they are ready to make the jump from the academy to the senior team.

There are a number of personnel changes to the starting team with Brett Wilkinson and Mike McCarthy unavailable due to their involvement with the National side.

This gives Peter Borlase his first taste of Connacht Rugby at tighthead prop while Ronan Loughney, earning his 100th cap for the province, moves back to loosehead prop.

Backrower Heffernan will earn his first cap on Friday. The 6'1, 104kg former Ireland U20 has played in all of Connacht's 'A' games this season and has impressed with outstanding performances for Buccaneers RFC in the Ulster Bank All Ireland League.

Twenty-year-old Ballina-born Heffernan joined the Connacht Academy this season having transferred his studies from UCD to NUIG and is known for his ferocious ball-carrying and workrate across the park.

Heffernan joins fellow year one Academy star Mick Kearney in the forwards.

Mick has featured in nine of Connacht's matches so far and the versatile Irish Colleges secondrow has made an impression this season with big performances including those against Leinster, the Ospreys and three appearances in the Heineken Cup.

Eoin Griffin and Dave McSharry renew the centre partnership last seen in action in Connacht's Heineken Cup match against Gloucester while Miah Nikora replaces this injured Niall O'Connor at outhalf.

Connacht’s Academy Manager Nigel Carolan is pleased to see the young players given a chance to impress at PRO12 level.

"It's great to see the guys getting the reward for their hard work and dedication,” he said.

“ Eric (Elwood) has always said that if players are good enough and patient enough they'll get their chances so it's great to see these opportunities open up for them."

Connacht (v Scarlets): G Duffy; F Vainikolo, E Griffin, D McSharry, T O’Halloran; M Nikora, F Murphy; R Loughney, A Flavin, P Borlase; M Swift, D Kearney; D Heffernan, R Ofisa, G Naopu.

Replacements: E Reynecke, D Buckley, S Maguire, J Muldoon, E Grace, D Moore, M Jarvis, K Tonetti.