In characteristic fashion for probably the most settled side in either European competition this season, Connacht will field the same team for the fourth Conference game in succession when meeting Northampton in their decisive Pool D encounter at Franklins Gardens tomorrow.
This means that 14 of the side will have started each of their six Conference games this season, the exception being Junior Charlie who missed the opening three games due to injury and was replaced by Rory Rogers and then Mark Reilly. The Connacht team will again be led by Graham Heaslip and there are also no changes on the replacements' bench.
Mick Lynch returns to the Munster midfield in the province's only change from the team beaten by Bourgoin for Sunday's Thomond Park European Cup finale against Harelquins. With Conor Burke still sidelined, Lynch will partner Rhys Ellison, while John Kelly reverts to the left wing at the expense of Andrew Thompson.
Meanwhile, the French Barbarians' XV to play Lansdowne next Wednesday evening as part of the latter's 125th anniversary celebrations includes five nternationals. Former French centre Dennis Charvet captains the side at outhalf and the pack contains a quartet of French internationals in Vincent Moscato, Jean-Michel Gonzalez, Olivier Roumat and Xavier Blond.
The French Barbarians' side also features Alwin Joubert, brother of South African full-back Andre, while Lansdowne secondrow Paul O'Connor will have one to tell the grandchildren about as he guests for the visitors.
The Barbarians' management team and accompanying VIPs reads like a who's who of French rugby. The former features Serge Blanco, Jean-Pierre Rives, Alain Paco and Andre Boniface, and amongst those travelling with the squad are Jean-Pierre Romeu, Robert Paparemborde, Jacques Fouroux and Jean-Pierre Bastiat.
Lansdowne have yet to finalise their team but they expect to include Milan's New Zealand number eight Richard Turner, onetime Auckland full-back Warren Johnston and Irish winger Dennis Hickie.
Connacht: W Ruane (Ballina); N Barry (Clontarf), P Duignan (Galwegians), M Murphy (Galwegians), N Carolan (Galwegians); E Elwood (Galwegians), C McGuinness (St Mary's); J Maher (Bective Rangers), B Mulcahy (Skerries), M Finlay (Galwegians), G Heaslip (Galwegians, capt), M McConnell (Buccaneers), J Charlie (Galwegians), B Gavin (Galwegians), S McEntee (Wanderers). Replacements: R Southam (Suttonians), D Reddan (Galwegians), A Reddan (Lansdowne), M Reilly (St Mary's), M Cahill (Bohemians), B Jackman (Clontarf), R Ward (Old Belvedere).
Munster: D Crotty (Garryowen); J Lacey (Shannon), R Ellison (Shannon), M Lynch (Young Munster), J Kelly (Cork Constitution); K Keane (Garryowen), B O'Meara (Cork Constitution); I Murray (Cork Constitution), M McDermott (Shannon), P Clohessy (Young Munster), M Galwey (Shannon, capt), S Leahy (Garryowen), E Halvey (Shannon), A Foley (Shannon), A Quinlan (Shannon). Replacements: A McSweeney (UCC), F Sheahan (Cork Constitution), G Walsh (Garryowen), U O'Callaghan (Cork Con), S McIvor (Garryowen), R O'Gara (Cork Constitution), S McCahill (Sunday's Well).
French Barbarians (v Lansdowne, Oct 15th): D Arrieta; C Domini, J-M Aue, T Ossard, A Joubert; D Charvet (capt), F Corrihons; S Puleto, V Moscato, J-M Gonzalez, O Roumat, P O'Connor, M Lievremont, X Blond, N Bacque.
Sligo will be without almost half their regular team for tomorrow's Connacht Development League game against Buccaneers at Strandhill. Out because of injury are Eric Brett (second row), Eamon Smith (hooker), John McDermot and Joe Walshe (wingers), Philip Henry (centre), Barry Kidd (out-half) and wing forward (Ivan Lewis) who is on his honeymoon.
Panel: D Lillie, C Culhane, J Dorran, G Foley, C Foley, A McAuley, G Gormley, M Parker, T Piggott, J O'Connor, P Mullen, J Moran, S Hunter, H Phelan, E Byrne, S Galvin, P Mullen, M Kitson, G Davis.
Gloucester will be without England duo Mark Mapletoft and Phil Greening for their crunch European Conference trip to Padova this weekend. The fly-half and hooker have both pulled out injured just hours after being named in the team by coaching director Richard Hill.
