Connacht make seven changes

Celtic League pacesetters Connacht have rung the changes as they welcome Pontypridd to the Sportsground on Saturday afternoon (3.0).

Connacht, the only side with a 100 per cent record intact, have made seven changes from the side that came from behind to defeat Bridgend as injuries take their toll.

Steph Nel has warned that Pontypridd - with four wins from their five Pool B matches - will provide the "toughest match to date" and the loss of skipper Tim Allnutt, who suffered cruciate knee ligament damage last weekend, makes the province’s task all the more difficult.

Allnutt will be replaced in the centre by Shane Moore. Moore will be joined in the Connacht midfield by Dermot O’Sullivan in place of the injured Darrren Yapp.

Elsewhere, Eoin Reddan replaces Chris Keane at scrum-half while Nel makes four changes in the pack, including the return Warwick Waugh from injury, an area he regards Pontypridd to be particularly strong.

"Pontypridd have a superb pack and they have an adventurous style of rugby," he said. "I am a big admirer of the club."

Connacht’s five wins out of five this term have already secured a play-off berth but they require one more win from their final two matches - against Pontypridd and away to second-placed Glasgow - to guarantee a home draw.

And Nel believes this team is capable of bigger and better things, despite the lack of big-name players in the squad.

"There is tremendous potential in this Connacht squad because, first and foremost, our main principle is the team – not individuals," said Nel. "We have a lot of very good young talent and maturity will come the more they play these quality matches.

"But we haven’t reached over-drive yet and, hopefully, we will really click over the coming months."

In Pool A, Ulster, fresh from their defeat of Munster at the weekend, should rubber-stamp their involvement in the play-offs with victory at Caerphilly on Saturday (2.30) while Munster tackle Neath at the Courage Gnoll (5.30).

Ulster coach Alan Solomons announced his side this afternoon and was able to include Irish internationals David Humphreys and Gary Longwell in his starting XV.

Scott Young comes in as cover for the injured James Topping on the wing in Solomon’s only other change of personnel.

Elsewhere, defending champions Leinster face an uphill struggle as they attempt to get their campaign back on track. The province have sorely missed their Ireland players away on international duty and have not won since the end of August, losing their last four in a row.

However, with few injury concerns and their Irish internationals available for selection, a play-off berth remains a possibility and a high-scoring win against Newport on Friday night (7.35) can kick-start their season.

Connacht: M. McHugh; T. Robinson, D. O'Sullivan, S. Moore, W. Munn; E. Elwood, E. Reddan; D. McFarland, M. Uijs, R. McCormack; W. Waugh, R. Frost; M. Swift, J. O'Sullivan, C. Rigney.
Replacements: P. Bracken, J. Flannery, D. Browne, E. Peters, M. Walls, M. McPhail, J. Norton.

Ulster: B Cunningham; St Young; R Constable; J Bell; T Howe; D Humphreys; N Doak; J Fitzpatrick; M Sexton; R Kempson; G Longwell; J Davidson (Capt); W Brosnihan; T McWhirter
Replacements: S Best; P Shields; M Blair; N Best; K Campbell; A Larkin; S Stewart