Four changes in Connacht team as Elwood starts
Eric Elwood makes his first competitive start of the season as Connacht make four changes and one positional switch for their game against The Borders on Saturday.
Connacht have made four changes and one positional switch ahead of Saturday’s round five clash with Borders at the Sportsground. Conor O’Loughlin and Eric Elwood will both make their first competitive starts of the season at scrum half and out half. O’Loughlin comes in for the injured Tom Tierney while Elwood comes in for Matt Mostyn with Paul Warwick moving to outside centre.
James Downey returns from injury and replaces the injured Mark McHugh at inside centre making his first appearance since the opening game against Glasgow. The final change is in the pack with John Fogarty replacing the injured Bernard Jackman.
There are a number of changes on the bench as well with Henry Bourke, Christian Short, John Muldoon and Justin Meagher all returning to the squad while Mike Walls will be among the replacements for the first time this season.
Bernard Jackman, Matt Mostyn, Mark McHugh, Tom Tierney, Michael Swift, Michael Carroll and Darren Yapp were all not considered due to injury.
Saturday’s game will mark Connacht Rugby Ladies Day with all ladies attending being admitted for free to all areas of the ground.
Connacht: 15. David Slemen; 14. Niall O’Brien, 13. Paul Warwick, 12. James Downey, 11. Conor McPhillips; 10. Eric Elwood, 9. Conor O’Loughlin; 1. Dan McFarland, 2. John Fogarty, 3. Peter Bracken, 4. Pieter Myburgh, 5. Andrew Farley, 6.Paul Neville, 7. Matt Lacey, 8. John O’Sullivan.
Replacements: 16.Henry Bourke, 17. Adrian Clarke, 18. Christian Short, 19. John Muldoon, 20. Mike Walls, 21. Ted Robinson, 22. Justin Meagher.