Cronin Returns To Connacht Side
Connacht head coach Eric Elwood has made one change in personnel for the province’s Magners League meeting with Benetton Treviso at the Sportsground on Friday (kick-off 7pm).
The selected Connacht team remains virtually unchanged from the side that has featured over the last couple of weeks.
The only change sees hooker Sean Cronin returning from Ireland duty, with Adrian Flavin reverting to the replacements bench. Niva Ta’auso and Jamie Hagan have recovered from slight knocks to start once again.
There is one other alteration to the make-up of the bench as Mike McComish has suffered a hamstring injury and is ruled out of contention.
His place will be taken by Galwegians clubman Dave Nolan, who made his Magners League debut last season. He featured in Connacht’s historic 40-17 victory over the Newport Gwent Dragons at the start of the current campaign.
A win for Connacht over Benetton Treviso on Friday would see them climb above the Italian side in the league standings.
“We have an opportunity and hopefully we will take it. Last weekend against the Ospreys we didn’t, but now we must bounce back,” explained head coach Eric Elwood.
“Treviso will be difficult. Although they have not done as well away from home, they will be very competitive so we are under no illusions about Friday’s task.
“We know exactly what is ahead of us, and if we want to move forward and upwards, we need to win.”
Commenting on the 33-18 loss away to the Ospreys, he added: “We thought we would gain a bonus point at least, but unfortunately we missed a late penalty kick.
“However, we are not making excuses, our accuracy and execution, for whatever reason, was not 100% and I was disappointed with aspects of both our defence and attack.
“It was an opportunity and we didn’t take it but hopefully we will bounce back this week. It’s a home game and another big opportunity.”
CONNACHT (v Benetton Treviso): Gavin Duffy; Brian Tuohy, Niva Ta’auso, Troy Nathan, Fionn Carr; Ian Keatley, Frank Murphy; Brett Wilkinson, Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan, Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy, Andrew Browne, Johnny O’Connor (capt), Ray Ofisa.
Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Ronan Loughney, Rodney Ah You, Bernie Upton, Dave Nolan, Cillian Willis, Miah Nikora, Keith Matthews.