Connacht name side to face Edinburgh in PRO12

Connacht welcome Edinburgh to the Sportsground on Friday night and head coach Pat Lam has made just one change from the side that beat Munster on New Year’s Day.

Craig Ronaldson is unavailable for selection due to concussion so Miah Nikora starts at out-half in his place. Nikora will be joined in the half-backs by top try scorer Kieran Marmion.

Bundee Aki starts at 12 and once again Robbie Henshaw starts outside him at 13. The back three is made up of Mils Muliaina, Darragh Leader and Danie Poolman.

The pack is unchanged from last week with captain John Muldoon joined by Willie Faloon and Eoin McKeon in the back three.

Lam was aware of the challenges posed by Edinburgh.

"Edinburgh, under astute coach Alan Solomons, are a very powerful and direct team who have shown against top teams like Glasgow and Munster away from home what they are capable of,” he said. “Like last week, we are expecting tough conditions as well as big, physical contact.

"While there was a lot of excitement around last week's result, at the end of the day it was four points gained and we need another four points this week.”

Connacht v Edinburgh is on Friday January 9 at the Sportsground, kick off 7.35pm.

Connacht team in full: Mils Muliaina, Darragh Leader, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Danie Poolman, Miah Nikora, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Rodney Ah You, Quinn Roux, Aly Muldowney, John Muldoon (captain), Willie Faloon,. Eoin McKeon.

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, George Naoupu, John Cooney, Jack Carty, Dave McSharry.