Elwood retains Nikora at outhalf

RUGBY:MIAH NIKORA retains the number 10 jersey for Connacht as they seek to stop Edinburgh recording their fourth successive win in Murrayfield. Coach Eric Elwood has again gone for a mix of youth and experience for their round-nine match tonight.

Nikora starts at outhalf, with Ian Keatley on the bench following the 25-year-old New Zealander’s 15-points haul last week in their 16-15 defeat to Ospreys. Missing Seán Cronin on Irish duty, Dermot Murphy comes in at hooker beside props Brett Wilkinson and former Ireland Under-20 Jamie Hagan.

Brian Tuohy and Shane Monahan are lined up for their first league starts of the season after Connacht’s historic win over Samoa and they join a backline where Gavin Duffy will win his 101st cap for Connacht, who have lost five league matches in succession.

The Scottish side shows four changes to the team that beat Treviso three weeks ago. Craig Hamilton comes into the secondrow for Scott McLeod, while Stuart McNally makes his first start at number eighth. Behind the scrum Tim Visser returns from a groin strain with Chris Paterson at fullback. “It was a terrific night for us last time against Connacht. The players gave us everything,” said Edinburgh coach Rob Moffat of their 62-13 win last year. “The guys should look at the qualities that produced the result and look to replace them this week.”

EDINBURGH: C Paterson; J Thompson, B Carns, J Houston, T Visser; D Blair, G Laidlaw; K Traynor, A Kelly, D Young, C Hamilton, F McKenzie, N Talei, R Grant, S McNally.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; S Monahan, E Griffin, K Matthews, B Tuohy; M Nikora, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, D Murphy, J Hagan, M Swift, M McCarthy, A Browne, J O’Connor, J Muldoon. Referee: TBO.

Verdict: Edinburgh.