Connacht make one change for Pontypridd

Connacht make one change to their starting XV ahead of the second leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter final against Pontypridd…

Connacht make one change to their starting XV ahead of the second leg of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter final against Pontypridd on Saturday.

John O'Sullivan returns from injury to assume his familiar position in the back row at No.8 while Colm Rigney switches to blindside wing-forward.

Coach Steph Nel made two changes to the replacements bench, with Michael Swift included while winger Ted Robinson also returns from injury.

Connacht narrowly lost the first leg 30-35 in Athlone amid ongoing uncertainty over the province's future to be represented at a professional level but Nel still remained upbeat:

READ MORE

"It's far from a dead tie," said Nel. "We have got everything to play for and we will have the same attitude we had in Athlone - to go all out to win the game and let things like points difference and try counts take care of themselves.

"It was four tries apiece in the first leg and I feel we wasted a couple of other scoring opportunities while they capitalised on our mistakes.

Officials in the Connacht branch expect a large contingent to travel to to Sardis Road in Pontypridd for the crunch tie.

Ticket can be purchased from Pearse Kelleher via email at; Pearse.Keller@Kellertravel.ie or direct from Pontpridd by telephoning 0044 1443 405 006.

Ordered tickets will be distributed at Jury's Hotel in Cardiff on Saturday afternoon between 2-3p.m.

Kick-off will be at 5.30 p.m. on Saturday.

Connacht:M. McHugh; G. Duffy, D. Yapp, S. Moore (capt.), W. Munn; E. Elwood, E. Reddan; R. McCormack, J. Flannery, P. Bracken; D. Browne, R. Frost; C. Rigney, J. O¹Sullivan, J. O¹Connor.

Replacements:D. McFarland, M. Uijs, M. Swift, E. Peters, C. Keane, J. Norton, T. Robinson.