Connacht and Ulster show changes for Friday

Connacht have made two changes from the side that lost to Leinster at the weekend for Friday's Celtic League clash with Llanelli…

Connacht have made two changes from the side that lost to Leinster at the weekend for Friday's Celtic League clash with Llanelli in Athlone.

Mike Walls has recovered from injury and returns at scrum-half while Paul Nevlle also returns at blindside flanker.

Ulster, second in the table behind Neath / Swansea Ospreys, make three changes for their trip to Edinburgh.

James Topping returns to the starting line-up for the first time since September. Ryan Constable returns to the centre while prop Bryan Young starts ahead of Ronan McCormack who is struggling with an ankle injury.

READ MORE

Shane Jennings has been named as Leinster captain for their game with The Borders on Friday.

He takes the armband from Leo Cullen who has been ruled out for the foreseeable future with a shoulder problem, and his place now goes to Aidan Kearney.

Gordon D'Arcy returns at full-back in place of the injured Brendan Burke.

Connacht (v Llanelli):M. McHugh; M. Mostyn, D. Yapp, T. Allnutt, C. McPhillips; E. Elwood, M. Walls; R. Hogan, B. Jackman, F. Boiroux; D. Browne, A. Farley; P. Neville, T. Carter, J. O'Sullivan. Replacements: J. Fogarty, A. Clarke, M. McCarthy, M. Swift, C. O'Loughlin, D. Hewitt, S. Moore.

Ulster (v Edinburgh):B Cunningham; J Topping, R Constable, S Stewart, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; B Young, P Shields, R Moore; M Mustchin, M McCullough; A Ward (c), N Best, T McWhirter. Replacements: M Sexton, R McCormack, R Frost, R Wilson, R Spee, S Mallon, S Young

Leinster (v The Borders):G D'Arcy; J McWeeney, J Downey, D Quinlan, G Brown; M Leek, B O'Meara; E Byrne, G Hickie, P Coyle; A Kearney, B Gissing; N Breslin, S Jennings, D Dillon. Replacements: N Treston, D Blaney, J O'Donovan, N Ronan, B O'Riordan, P McKenna, D O'Shea