Elwood happy as Connacht square up to Harlequins

RUGBY PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY: THIS COULD be a defining season for Connacht, who will be making a big push to encourage local support to come to the Sportsground as the team falls under the guidance of local hero Eric Elwood. Elwood, who lived a short bike ride away towards Crowley Park, yesterday named his side for tonight's game against Harlequins.

Not unreasonably, the former Irish outhalf will look towards some experimentation and names a 27-man squad that includes the summer signings, Ezra Taylor, Cillian Willis, who arrives for the retired Kieron Campbell, Shane Monahan and Darragh Fanning, while long-serving international flanker Johnny O’Connor deputises as captain for the injured John Muldoon.

Muldoon was named as captain again this week after an impressive year where he led Connacht to victories over Heineken Cup winners Leinster and Amlin Challenge Cup winners Cardiff Blues in the Magners League.

Connacht also made it through to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, where they lost narrowly to Toulon.

Muldoon is expected to be back playing in early October and Elwood looks towards the Harlequins game with certain optimism.

“I’m very happy with the continuity of the squad from last year,” said Elwood. “Ezra is coming in from the Queensland Reds and has played at a high level.

“We have also brought in young hungry players such as Darragh and Shane and this is their opportunity to show and develop their skills in the Magners League and Europe.”

CONNACHT: T Nathan; T O'Halloran, V Taauso, A Wynne, F Carr; I Keatley, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, J Hagan, M Swift, B Upton, A Browne, J O'Connor (capt), M McComish. Replacements: R Sweeney, D Murphy, D Nolan, M McCarthy, R Ofisa, E Taylor, E Grifin, K Matthews, M Nikora, D Fanning, S Monahan, C Willis.

HARLEQUINS: TBA.