Elwood shuffles his pack ahead of Zebre tie

Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made four changes to his pack for his team’s Heineken Cup Round 1 meeting with Zebre at the Stadio XXV Aprile on Saturday (2.35pm).

Adrian Flavin makes way for hooker Ethienne Reynecke with Denis Buckley and Nathan White (captain) forming the all new front row trio.

Elwood has kept faith with the lock pairing of Mike McCarthy and Michael Swift while fit again John Muldoon, who returned from injury last week, replaces Dave Gannon in the back row.

There are no changes to the backs with Academy member Kieran Marmion earning his seventh cap at scrum-half.

Dan Parks will pull the strings at pivot with Dave McSharry and Eoin Griffin continuing their midfield partnership. Tiernan O’Halloran and Fetu’u Vainikolo occupy the wings while in the absence of skipper Gavin Duffy, Robbie Henshaw starts at fullback.

Connacht (v. Zebre): R Henshaw; T O’Halloran, E Griffin, D McSharry, F Vainikolo; D Parks, K Marmion; D Buckley, E Reynecke, N White ©; M McCarthy, M Swift; J Muldoon, W Faloon, G Naoupu.

Replacements: A Flavin, R Ah You, R Loughney, D Gannon, J O’Connor, D Moore, M Nikora, M Fifita.