McCarthy is suspended

Celtic League preview: No good news yesterday for Connacht. An IRFU disciplinary committee met in Dublin to hear the citing complaint made by Glasgow Rugby against Connacht lock Mike McCarthy arising from their Celtic League match on February 28th.

The committee found the player guilty of striking an opponent and suspended him from playing for four weeks. McCarthy will be free to play from March 28th.

That aside Michael Bradley takes his side to Netherdale today to tackle the basement team, Borders, with captain Tim Allnutt back at centre and a variety of other changes in keeping with his rotation policy, and injury concerns.

It is a must-win game for Bradley against a team with only 15 points to show from 14 matches. But victory for Connacht may not be as straightforward as it appears as the three Scottish clubs scramble for the two Heineken Cup places.

"Every point is valuable and they have that extra motivation and raise their games against us. The focus of the Welsh and Scottish sides is sharpened with an eye on Europe. They are showing more steel and fighting spirit," said Bradley before pointing out that the four Irish provinces have lost seven of their last eight Celtic League matches.

That can't be said of Connacht who last week drew 28-28 with Glasgow after going 25-9 ahead. Points won or points lost, they are in seventh place with every match ahead played with cup final zeal. Despite that and the return of Gary Armstrong and Semo Sitti to Borders' line-up, this is one Connacht can win.

THE BORDERS: C Murray: N walker, J Stuart, K Utterson, C Moir; T Vili, G Armstrong; C Dunlea, S Scott, G Cross, S MscLeod, C Stewart, A Rennick, S Sitti, D Kane. Replacements: M Landells, K Todd, D Weir, T Walker, I Fairley, C MacRae, A Turnbull.

CONNACHT: M McHugh; C McPhilips, S Moore, T Allnutt (capt), W Munn; D Hewitt, M Walls; D McFarland, D Fogarty, P Bracken, D Browne, A farley, M Swift, M Lacey, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: H Bourke, A Clarke, C Short, J Muldoon, C O'Loughlin, E Elwood, J Meagher.

Referee: Paul Adams (Wales).