Stretched Connacht to give youth a fling in Challenge Cup

Injuries in the back three, back row, and at scrum-half mean there will be opportunities for Connacht's inexperienced against Montpellier and Montauban

Connacht coach John Muldoon: "We're making a few mistakes and we've been punished quite hard for those." Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Stuart Lancaster’s intention to give youth a fling in his first season in Connacht looks set to be continued in their remaining two pool matches away to Montpellier and home to Montauban over the next two weekends.

But his hand may be forced in any event with a string of injuries in three key areas — back three, scrum-half and back row — which may force him to throw in emerging players over the coming weekends.