Connacht Alter Line-Up For Glasgow Tie

The Connacht team to play Glasgow Warriors at the Sportsground on Friday (kick-off 8pm) has been selected.

The Connacht starting line-up shows five changes from the team that went down narrowly to the Ospreys last time out.

Centre Aidan Wynne, scrum half Frank Murphy, prop Jamie Hagan, lock Mike McCarthy and flanker Johnny O’Connor all come back into the side.

Niva Ta’auso (medial ligament), Liam Bibo (calf), Andrew Browne (ankle) and Ray Ofisa (virus) are sidelined for this game.

With Glasgow missing a number of first choice players, Connacht coach Michael Bradley knows Friday’s home outing offers his side a decent chance to build some momentum in the league.

“There is pressure on us to win the match and expectation is that, with a lot of commitments to the Scottish national side, we need to go out and dominate them,” he said.

“We need to win the game on the basis that they are going to be short of players.”

Connacht captain John Muldoon added: “Our home form has been good and the crowd plays a big part.

“Pride in wanting to put on a good show at home is always a factor, and we need to make up for the last two results (against Munster and the Ospreys).”

CONNACHT (v Glasgow Warriors): Gavin Duffy; Troy Nathan, Keith Matthews, Aidan Wynne, Fionn Carr; Ian Keatley, Frank Murphy; Brett Wilkinson, Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan, Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy, John Muldoon (capt), Johnny O’Connor, George Naoupu.

Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Robbie Morris, Bernie Upton, Mike McComish, Conor O’Loughlin, Miah Nikora, Brian Tuohy.