Connacht reshuffled

It appears Michael Bradley has reverted to the rotational system of last season for Connacht's penultimate outing before their…

It appears Michael Bradley has reverted to the rotational system of last season for Connacht's penultimate outing before their Parker Pen Challenge Cup first round, first leg tie away to Narbonne.

The Connacht coach has made six alterations to the side that, by his admission, got out of jail at home to Borders last week for the more daunting trip to Llanelli tomorrow evening.

In a reshuffled back line, Ted Robinson comes in on the wing for Niall O'Brien, Mark McHugh comes in at inside centre, James Downey switches to outside while Paul Warwick moves to outhalf in place of Eric Elwood.

In a relatively inexperienced pack, young props Ray Hogan and Stephen Knoop make their first starts of the campaign. Loosehead Hogan returns from a long-term injury. Stephen Knoop comes in at tighthead. Dan McFarland and Peter Bracken make way.

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In the back row, Michael Swift returns from injury, as does Michael Carroll, who replaces the injured John O'Sullivan.

CONNACHT: D Slemen; T Robinson, J Downey, M McHugh, C McPhillips; P Warwick, C O'Loughlin; R Hogan, J Fogarty, S Knoop, P Myburgh, A Farley, M Swift, M Lacey, M Carroll. Replacements: H Bourke, A Clarke, C Short, J Muldoon, M Walls, E Elwood, C Keane.

Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley

Gerry Thornley is Rugby Correspondent of The Irish Times