Connacht boosted for must-win game

Connacht v Border Reivers:Connacht go into this game against the league's whipping boys boosted by confirmation that another of their exiled internationals, Gavin Duffy, is to return home. The signing yesterday of the NEC Harlequins man is excellent news, following fast on the announcement that Johnny O'Connor of Wasps is also homeward bound.

Duffy (25) will be back training with Connacht on Monday and will be available for the Celtic League game against Leinster on March 24th.

The utility back played 20 times for Connacht before moving in 2003 to Harlequins, where he scored 21 tries in 92 appearances. He won the first of his four Ireland caps the following summer in South Africa.

The Connacht CEO, Gerry Kelly, said: "We are delighted to have Gavin back . . . He is a quality player and I hope his return to Connacht will help him become part of the Irish World Cup squad for later in the year."

Duffy said he was delighted to be going back to Connacht: "It is a new challenge and one that I am looking forward to. I have kept in touch with a lot of the lads since I left, and it will be great to wear the green again."

Michael Bradley's team are 13 points ahead of Reivers but nine behind Llanelli Scarlets, having played two more games. Theyhave six matches to make a play-off for Heineken European Cup qualification so only a bonus-point victory will suffice this evening.

Their former captain, Andrew Farley, returns at lock for Ryan Strudwick, but the current captain, John Fogarty, is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Adrian Flavin is an able replacement.

Despite playing well recently for Ireland A against the England Saxons, Daniel Riordan is switched from fullback to wing to accommodate David Slemen.

The Borders are without scrumhalf Scotland Chris Cusiter so Gregor Townsend takes over the captaincy. Coach Steve Bates welcomes back internationals Ross Ford, Bruce Douglas and Opeta Palepoi.

Connacht's next match isn't until March 24th, a full-metal-jacket affair against Leinster in Donnybrook, where they will be afforded live television coverage - a rare luxury for them.

Defeat here is almost inconceivable. Connacht may be the poor relation of Irish rugby but their plight is nothing compared to the isolation of the Borders.

CONNACHT: D Slemen; D Yapp, J Hearty, M McHugh (capt), D Riordan; P Warwick, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop; D Gannon, A Farley; J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: C Muldoon, R Hogan, M Swift, M Lacey, C Keane, P Durcan, G Williams.

BORDER REIVERS: S Moffat; D Flockhart, B MacDougall, N De Luca, G Law; G Townsend (capt), R Chrystie; E Kalman, R Ford, B Douglas; O Palepoi, J Dalziel; S Newlands, A Miller, S Forrest. Replacements: S Scott, B McNeil, M Lee, R Vernon, C Cusiter, S Jones, B Rennie.

Referee: Peter Fear (WRU).

Verdict: Connacht.