Cronin returns to bolster Connacht

Dragons v Connacht:CONNACHT COACH Eric Elwood must try and galvanise his depleted playing resources for a third match in 11 days.

Ireland hooker Seán Cronin returns after a mandatory rest under the IRFU player welfare management programme and replaces Adrian Flavin. It is the only change to the pack that started the 30-8 defeat to Leinster at the RDS.

Academy prospect 19-year-old Eoin McKeon acquitted himself well at number eight and retains his place in the continued absence of the injured Ezra Taylor, Johnny Muldoon and Ray Ofisa. Mike McComish has recovered from illness and replaces Shane Conneely on the bench.

Ian Keatley’s versatility has become something of a virtue this season and the former underage international outhalf switches to fullback, having played at outside centre against Leinster. New Zealand-born Troy Nathan, who qualifies for Ireland through residency, moves from fullback to wing; he’s another who could be a poster boy for adaptability, having filled every position in the backline during the course of his 64 caps for the province.

The promising young Eoin Griffin is named in arguably his best position of outside centre, while Connacht’s leading try scorer Fionn Carr returns to the left wing having started on the bench the last day.

Dragons’ coach Paul Turner makes several changes to the team that was beaten by the Scarlets last weekend. Jonathan Evans comes in at scrumhalf, whilst new signing Mike Petri is on the bench. Secondrows Rob Sidoli and Adam Jones both return to the starting line up, whilst Lewis Evans is named at flanker.

The frontrow trio of Hugh Gustafson, captain Tom Willis and Ben Castle will provide Connacht with a tough tussle in the tight. Welsh international Luke Charteris drops to the bench. Tonight’s combatants met in the opening game of the season at the Sportsground when Connacht romped to an impressive 40-17 victory but the Irish province have lost on six of their last seven visits to Rodney Parade.

The last couple of weeks have been physically and mentally draining for Connacht, especially in their narrow home defeat by Munster. This is a demanding test of character as well as more tangible assets. On the evidence of the season to date Connacht certainly possess the ability to win but the capacity to sustain those levels through 80 minutes is the question they alone can answer.

DRAGONS:W Harries; A Hughes, T Riley, A Smith, A Brew; J Tovey, J Evans; H Gustafson, T Willis (capt), B Castle; A Jones, R Sidoli; L Evans, G Thomas, T Faletau. Replacements:S Jones, P Palmer, P Price, L Charteris, A Coombs, M Jones, M Petri, P Leach.

CONNACHT:I Keatley; T Nathan, E Griffin, K Matthews (capt), F Carr; M Nikora, C Willis; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan; M Swift, M McCarthy; A Browne, J O'Connor, E McKeon. Replacements:A Flavin, R Ah You, D Rogers, B Upton, M McComish, F Murphy, N Ta'auso, B Tuohy.

Referee:A Lewis (IRFU).