Celtic League – Connacht Least Affected

Connacht make seven changes, from the side that beat Narbonne last weekend, for Saturday’s clash with Celtic Warriors but once again it’s Michael Bradley’s rotation system in action

Connacht make seven changes, from the side that beat Narbonne last weekend, for Saturday’s clash with Celtic Warriors but once again it’s Michael Bradley’s clever use of squad rotation that dictates the changes, unlike his colleagues in the other provinces.

In Leinster, Gary Ella must plan for his side’s trip to Rodney Parade and a tough encounter with Gwent Dragons without 9 frontline players who are involved with the national squad plus a host of others who are unavailable through injury.

Ella’s compatriot, Alan Gaffney has eight of his squad absent through international call-up and up north Alan Solomons will be without David Humphreys and Tyrone Howe while Neil Doak is rested.

Connacht (v Celtic Warriors, Brewery Field. Sat): M Mostyn; T Robinson, D Yapp, M McHugh, C McPhillips; D Hewitt, C Keane; W O’Kelly, J Fogarty, A Clarke; M McCarthy, A Farley; M Swift, P Neville, J O’Sullivan.
Replacements: B Jackman, P Bracken, D Browne, T Carter, C O’Loughlin, E Elwood, T Allnutt.

Leinster: (v Gwent Dragons, Rodney Parade): J Norton; J McWeeney, C Warner, D Quinlan, B Burke; B O’Meara, B O’Riordan; J Moran, G Hickie, P Coyle; A Kearney, B Gissing; S Crawford, S Jennings capt, C Potts.
Replacements: S Brophy, D Blaney, N Ronan, R Connolly, J Downey, D O’Shea, N O’Brien.

Munster (v The Borders): J Staunton; M Lawler, J Jones-Hughes, R Henderson, A Horgan; J Holland capt, E Reddan, S Kerr, J Blaney, G McIlwham; T Hogan, D Pusey; P Malone, D Wallace, S Keogh.
Replacements: F Roche, J Flannery, D Sheehan, T Hayes, F Murphy, M Mullins, D Crotty.

Ulster (v Llanelli Scarlets, Ravenhill): B Cunningham; J Topping, S Stewart, P Steinmetz, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; R Kempson, P Shields, R Moore; M McCullough, R Frost; A Ward capt, N Best, R Wilson.

Replacements: M Sexton, S Best, M Mustchin, W Brosnihan, N Doak, P Wallace, S Young.