Fogarty back for Connacht

Connacht v EdinburghEdinburgh have already proved a thorny proposition for Irish provinces this season with Leinster and, more recently, Ulster beaten at Murrayfield so a trip to Galway will hardly be intimidating.

Michael Bradley's ever embattled team have had a decent start to their campaign in winning the opening two games before last week's collapse against Llanelli. With the next two league matches also at home, in the most bizarre of fixture lists, they need to build up a base of points before an extended period on the road.

The game takes on greater resonance considering the next two visits to the Sportsground will be Leinster and Ulster - strengthened by a full complement of internationals.

Bradley has made three changes to the team wiped by the Scarlets. Fit-again captain John Fogarty replaces new signing Adrian Flavin at hooker, Ireland A centre John Hearty comes in for the injured Paul Warwick and Daniel Riordan gets a chance at fullback with Matt Mostyn switching to wing in place of Conor McPhillips.

The squad is also strengthened by the inclusion of recent recruit Ray Ofisa (prop), David Slemen and Darren Yapp.

Still, it's hard to see Connacht containing the mobile Edinburgh style, which regularly sees possession transferred between the wings at pace. Ulster and Leinster eventually capitulated anyway.

The Gunners players will also be trying to impress recently-appointed head coach Lynn Howells, former coach of the now defunct Celtic Warriors.

"This week we're looking to take things forward from the last 20 minutes of the Ulster game where we fought hard for possession and the result," said Howells. "Michael Bradley has already stated Connacht's intentions, but we'll go and play rugby to the best of our abilities."

We don't like to stir up trouble but that last line sounded like a dig (or maybe just a tickle) to the ribs of the dogged Connacht approach. Could be another one of those stubborn Sportsground affairs.

CONNACHT: D Riordan; M Mostyn, John Hearty, G Williams, K Matthews; M McHugh, C Keane; B Wilkinson, J Fogarty, B Sturgess; D Gannon, A Farley; J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney. Replacements: A Flavin, M Diffley, M Swift, R Ofisa, T Tierney, D Slemen, D Yapp.

EDINBURGH GUNNERS: H Southwell; C Paterson (capt), B Cairns, R Dewey, S Webster; P Godman, M Blair; A Jacobsen, D Hall, A Dickinson; M Mustchin, S Murray; A Strokosch, R Rennie, A Hogg. Replacements: A Kelly, D Hewett, S Turnbull, D Callam, G Laidlaw, D Hodge, M Di Rollo.

Referee: J Jones (WRU).

Formguide: Connacht v Llanelli Scarlets 15-37; v Ospreys 15-10; v Border Reivers 29-15. Edinburgh v Ulster 20-15; v Leinster 20-14; v Ospreys 11-17.

Previous Meetings: May 5th, 2006, Connacht 16-22 Edinburgh, Sportsground; September 10th, 2005, Edinburgh 34-3 Connacht, Murrayfield.

Leading points scorers: Connacht - M McHugh 41; Edinburgh - C Patterson 28.

Leading try scorers: Connacht - G Williams, P Warwick, M McHugh, M Mostyn try each. S Webster, A Hogg, D Hodge, P Godman, B Cairns try each.

Forecast: Edinburgh