Celtic League: Fly-Half Switches For Connacht And Ulster

With Paul Warwick injured and David Humphreys match-tied, both Connacht and Ulster have been forced into fly-half changes ahead of their league fixtures tonight.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made seven changes to the side that lost 18-11 to Llanelli last time out Veteran Eric Elwood gets the nod at number ten.

Mark McHugh and Chris Keane also return in the backs, with Dan McFarland, John Fogarty, Stephen Knoop and John O’Sullivan recalled up front.

With Humphreys involved in tomorrow’s IRB Tsunami Rugby Aid match at Twickenham, Adam Larkin is recalled to the Ulster line-up to partner Kieran Campbell at half-back.

In all, coach Mark McCall has made three changes for the visit of Glasgow to Ravenhill. Simon Best switches to tight-head to accomodate the inclusion of fellow prop Ronan McCormack.

While hooker Paul Shields starts for the first time since January 16, in place of the benched Rory Best.

Ulster lost 13-11 at the Dragons two weeks ago, but are unbeaten in five games at their Belfast home.

Celtic League: Week 17: Friday, March 4
Edinburgh v Connacht, Murrayfield, 7.30pm

Head-to-head since 2001: Edinburgh 3, Connacht 2
League form: Edinburgh WLWWW, Connacht LLLWL
Top scorers: Edinburgh: Chris Paterson 78 points / Derrick Lee 4 tries; Connacht: Paul Warwick 102 / Matt Mostyn, Matt Lacey, Conor McLoughlin 3 each

Edinburgh: Brendan Laney; Simon Webster, Marcus Di Rollo, Ben MacDougall, Craig Joiner; Phil Godman, Mike Blair; Allan Jacobsen, Dougie Hall, Craig Smith, Nathan Hines, Alastair Kellock, Alasdair Strokosch, Simon Cross, Todd Blackadder (Capt).
Replacements: Andrew Kelly, Alasdair Dickinson, Fergus Pringle, David Callam, Rory Lawson, Paul Boston, Michael Pyke.

CONNACHT:

(15) Matt Mostyn
(14) Conor McPhillips
(13) Darren Yapp
(12) Mark McHugh
(11) David Slemen
(10) Eric Elwood
(9) Chris Keane
(1) Dan McFarland
(2) John Fogarty
(3) Stephen Knoop
(4) Christian Short
(5) Andrew Farley (Capt)
(6) Michael Swift
(7) Matt Lacey
(8) John O’Sullivan

Replacements:

(16) Bernard Jackman
(17) Adrian Clarke
(18) Tony Buckley
(19) John Muldoon
(20) Brendan O’Connor
(21) Mike Walls
(22) Ted Robinson

Referee: Hugh Watkins (Wales)

Ulster v Glasgow, Ravenhill, 7.30pm

Head-to-head since 2001: Ulster 3, Glasgow 2, Draw 1
League form: Ulster WLWLL, Glasgow WLLDL
Top scorers: Ulster: David Humphreys 72 points / Tommy Bowe 5 tries; Glasgow: Calvin Howarth 112 / Kenny Logan 5

ULSTER:

(15) Bryn Cunningham
(14) Tommy Bowe
(13) Kevin Maggs
(12) Paul Steinmetz
(11) Tyrone Howe
(10) Adam Larkin
(9) Kieran Campbell
(1) Ronan McCormack
(2) Paul Shields
(3) Simon Best
(4) Gary Longwell
(5) Matt McCullough
(6) Campbell Feather (Capt)
(7) Neil Best
(8) Roger Wilson

Replacements:

(16) Rory Best
(17) Rod Moore
(18) Tim Barker
(19) Andy Ward
(20) Neil Doak
(21) Paddy Wallace
(22) Scott Young

Glasgow: Colin Shaw; Rory Lamont, Graeme Morrison, Scott Barrow, Gareth Maclure; Calvin Howarth, Graeme Beveridge; Kevin Tkachuk, Scott Lawson, Andrew Kelly, Andrew Hall, Dan Turner, Steve Swindall, Paul Dearlove, Cameron Mather (Capt).
Replacements: Fergus Thomson, Ben Prescott, Joe Beardshaw, Andrew Wilson, Sam Pinder, Andrew Henderson, Kenny Logan.

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)