Connacht to take control

For the first time in 11 games this season Connacht coach Steph Nel can name an unchanged side, for the return leg of the Challenge Cup against French side Mont de Marsan.

Having won the first leg convincingly in France (26-12) last week, Connacht go into the game with a plus-14 points advantage and know they have the measure of their opponents who arrive in Crowley Park with little to lose.

The game moves from the traditional Sportsground to the home of Galwegians as work has started on the redevelopment of the stadium, which will see a new stand in place for the start of next season.

Nel has revived his team since Pontypridd ran in 40 points three weeks ago and lining out with an unchanged side should give Connacht additional confidence. They have no new injury concerns, although captain Tim Allnutt and one of the two vice-captains, Warwick Waugh, remain sidelined. UCD centre Shane Moore, who made a winning debut as captain last Saturday night, will again lead them into action.

Last week the French side looked to their Fijian sevens specialist Waisale Serevi at outhalf to generate the creativity behind the scrum but Serevi is not named in either the starting line-up or the bench as winger Antoine Vignau-Tuquet moves to the outhalf position. International Fabrice Lalanne also comes in to strengthen the back row at number eight.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; J Norton; D Yapp; S Moore (capt); W Munn; E Elwood; E Reddan; R McCormack; M Uijs; P Bracken; D Browne; R Frost; C Rigney; J O'Connor; J O'Sullivan. Replacements: D McFarland; J Flannery; A Maher; PNeville; M Walls; M McHugh; T Robinson.

MONT DE MARSAN: O Toulouse; A Bouyssie, S Loubsens, F Dabadie, P Patin; A Vignau-Tuquet, N Morales; I Boizot, L Dehez, S Bria, P Lago, G Chasserieau, C Mathieu, F Lalanne, P Alaoui

Referee: R Maybank (Eng)

Formguide: Connacht bt Mont de Marsan 26-12 (a).

Leading try scorer: Connacht - W Munn 1, E Reddan 1; Mont de Marsan - none

Leading points scorer: Connacht - E Elwood 16; Mont de Marsan - W Serevi 12

Forecast: Connacht win