European Challenge Cup: Connacht begin their Parker Pen European Challenge Cup campaign this weekend in the south of France when they take on Beziers in the first leg of the tie at Stade de la Mediterranee on Sunday (2 pm, Irish time).
Coach Michael Bradley has made five changes to the team that lost their Celtic League clash with Gwent Dragons a fortnight ago. Captain Tim Allnutt returns to the centre with Mark McHugh reverting to full back. Eric Elwood and Chris Keane are reinstated as the first-choice halfbacks.
Up front Mike McCarthy comes into the second row for the injured Andrew Farley, while in the back row Matt Lacey is named at openside with Tom Carter on the bench. Farley aside, injury precluded the selection of Paul Neville, Wayne Munn and Ray Hogan.
Indeed, Hogan is out for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury. It is a huge blow to the young Galwegians prop who had made a big impact in his first season with the province. Bradley is looking forward to the diverse challenge provided by the French after a staple diet of Celtic fare.
"It is great to be playing a French side because while the Celtic League provides us with plenty of intense games, the Challenge Cup means we will be up against fresh opposition and a fresh challenge. We had Beziers looked at last week and know they are strong up front and quite a physical side, very much as we expected.
"Playing away from home makes it a difficult game for us and we are under no illusions about the task ahead of us on Sunday afternoon. But we are taking the Parker Pen Challenge Cup very seriously and we want to go as far as possible in the tournament."
Beziers played in the European Cup last year and have made an excellent start to the new season, currently leading their pool in the French championship ahead of the likes of European champions Toulouse, runners-up Perpignan and Biarrritz. The French side have already won three games in the French championship, their only defeat a 27-25 away defeat to Toulouse, courtesy of a last-minute drop goal.
This is the second time Connacht and Beziers have met: three years ago they clashed in the pool stages with Beziers winning 14-16 in Galway and 10-9 in France.
CONNACHT (v Beziers): M McHugh; M Mostyn, D Yapp, T Allnutt (capt.), C McPhillips; E Elwood, C Keane; D McFarland, B Jackman, A Clarke; M McCarthy, D Browne; M Swift, J O'Sullivan, M Lacey. Replacements: J Fogarty, F Boiroux, J Muldoon, T Carter, M Walls, D Hewitt, T Robinson.
