Connacht make one change

Connacht coach Glenn Ross has made only one change from the side which completed last Saturday's 21-18 win over Ulster for this Friday's Guinness Interprovincial against Leinster at Donnybrook.

Russell Southam, an original choice for the opening interpro at full-back before being ruled out with shin splints, replaces Nigel Carolan on the right-wing. This means that Ian Dillon, a halftime substitute in that game, retains his place in the back-row, with Shane McEntee moving to the blind side.

Carolan moves onto the bench, at the expense of Owen Cobbe, who now captains Connacht's unbeaten A side; Carolan also plays for the A side, on his more favoured left wing.

Friday's game offers a chance for last weekend's two winners to assume pole position in the intepro table, although Ross is by no means shouting from the rooftops just yet.

"We've very pleased to have won but we've still got lots to do. We're not getting carried away; one victory doesn't make a season.

"Anybody can see that we have so much more to work on if we are to achieve against Leinster what we achieved against Ulster."

Leinster are expected to announce their side today, and retain the starting XV which beat Munster last Friday, given that Shane Horgan's suspected knee ligament injury has now been diagnosed as a minor twist and he should be fit to play.

The other provinces, Munster and Ulster, entertain the so-called Scottish super districts, namely Edinburgh Reivers and Glasgow Caledonians this weekend.

The former, who have 17 internationals in their squad of 30 and seven of the team which played in Scotland's second Test this summer against Australia, will be without the injured Rob Wainwright and their Cook Island out-half Tommy Hayes, while Glasgow will be without the sidelined Craig Chalmers.

Both sides are stronger on paper, following summer mergers of Glasgow and Caledonians, as well as Edinburgh and Scottish Borders.

Connacht: W Ruane; R Southam, P Duignan, M Murphy, A Reddan; E Elwood (capt), D Reddan; J Screene, B Mulcahy, M Cahill, J Cullen, J Duffy, S McEntee, B Gavin, I Dillon. Replacements - D Mescal, S Allnutt, N Carolan, B Jackman, J Maher, G Heaslip, J Casserley.

Connacht A: S Allnutt; N Barry/D Moran, P Guckian, T Allnutt, N Carolan; O Cobbe (capt), D Mescal; J Maher, B Jackman, M Finlay, G Heaslip, R Sheehan, J Casserley, N Cullerton, M Steffert. Replacements - P Lynch, E Molloy, A Honan, G Peterson, J Fahy, J McVeigh, M Kavanagh, E Brennan.