Connacht have made three changes to their team that lost to Leinster last weekend, ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with Ulster in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Caolin Blade, Jack Carty and Santiago Cordero all come in to start for Pete Wilkins’ side, while Peter Dooley returns to the replacements following injury.
Blade and Carty start as a new half back pairing while Cordero comes into the left wing position.
The pack is unchanged so the experienced front row of Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham start again, as does the second row of Josh Murphy and Darragh Murray.
Cian Prendergast captains the side from blindside flanker, with Shamus Hurley-Langton on the other side and Paul Boyle at number 8.
Bundee Aki and Cathal Forde continue at 12 and 13 respectively, while Mack Hansen starts from the right wing and Piers O’Conor is at full-back.
The 6:2 split on the bench also continues, with Peter Dooley returning from injury to start as replacement loosehead prop, and Conor Oliver again wearing the 23 jersey.
Kick off at a sold out Dexcom Stadium in Galway is at 7:35pm.
Here is the Connacht starting team:
Number/Name/Caps
15. Piers O’Conor (8)
14. Mack Hansen (37)
13. Cathal Forde (41)
12. Bundee Aki (143)
11. Santiago Cordero (12)
10. Jack Carty (216)
9. Caolin Blade (201)
1. Denis Buckley (257)
2. Dave Heffernan (207)
3. Finlay Bealham (210)
4. Josh Murphy (25)
5. Darragh Murray (32)
6. Cian Prendergast (76) (C)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton (46)
8. Paul Boyle (102)
REPLACEMENTS
16. Dylan Tierney-Martin (45)
17. Peter Dooley (43)
18. Jack Aungier (74)
19. Oisín Dowling (65)
20. Sean Jansen (13)
21. Ben Murphy (8)
22. Shane Jennings (18)
23. Conor Oliver (91)
