Connacht ring the changes for showdown with Ulster

Connacht boss Pat Lam has made a raft of changes for his side's clash with Ulster at the Sportsground on Stephens' Day (kick off: 6pm).

A total of 12 new players have been brought in from the side defeated by Newcastle Falcons last weekend.

Niyi Adeolokun, who switches from the left to right wing, and Craig Ronaldson are the only members of Pat Lam’s backline who have been retained. Up front, Eoghan Masterson is the lone survivor.

Meanwhile, Less Kiss has been somehwat more conservative, making just four changes to his starting 15.

From the side that defeated Toulouse in the European Champions Cup in France last weekend, Rory Best has been given a breather so Rob Herring will fill in as both hooker and captain. Elsewhere in the front-row, Andy Warwick replaces Kyle McCall at loosehead prop.

Roger Wilson will start on the bench, with Nick Williams taking the number eight shirt. After fracturing his eye socket last weekend, Craig Gilroy will be replaced on the wing by Rory Scholes.

CONNACHT: Tiernan O'Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Finlay Bealham, Dave Heffernan, Nathan White, Ultan Dillane, Aly Muldowney, John Muldoon (captain), James Connolly, Eoghan Masterson. Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Ronan Loughney, Rodney Ah You, Andrew Browne, Sean O'Brien, Ian Porter, AJ MacGinty, Rory Parata.

ULSTER: Louis Ludik, Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Rory Scholes, Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Andy Warwick, Rob Herring (captain), Wiehahn Herbst, Alan O'Connor, Franco van der Merwe, Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy, Nick Williams. Replacements: John Andrew, Callum Black, Ricky Lutton, Stephen Mulholland, Roger Wilson, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Sammy Arnold.