Connacht v Rovigo:CONNACHT'S INJURIES are mounting, but it should not halt their progress in this year's European Challenge Cup when they host Rovigo tonight at the Galway Sportsground.
Having grabbed their first bonus-point win last weekend in the first of these two back-to-back fixtures, Connacht must be confident of gaining maximum points again.
"In Rovigo we felt we achieved our objective and got the bonus point," says coach Michael Bradley. "As a result there is an expectation this evening, but our attention to detail, which will be critical, needs to be at the required level."
Another key player has been added to the growing injury list. Flanker Johnny O'Connor is out with a leg injury, which necessitates yet more changes to a backrow that is still without captain John Muldoon and number eight Colm Rigney.
Bradley had decided to bring lock David Gannon from the bench to cover the blindside with Mike McCarthy moving to number eight and Ray Ofisa returning to his preferred position at openside.
The good news is that Keith Matthews, who suffered a knee injury last week, has been passed fit to play, while the only other change sees Adrian Flavin coming in at hooker for Sean Cronin who moves to the bench.
Still unavailable is new recruit and former Otago Highlander centre Niva Ta'auso, but he is expected to now play against Munster in the traditional Christmas clash between the two provinces.
Rovigo, although limited in attack, are well organised defensively, but they have made some nine changes from last weekend's side which suggests they may well be switching their focus to the Italian Super 10.
Until their 35-20 loss last weekend, Rovigo had also beaten Dax and were level on points with Connacht. Their changes include both halfbacks and the entire backrow, with last weekend's bench getting a run out tonight.
"This is an important match because it can put us in a good position to qualify," says Bradley.
CONNACHT: F Carr; T Nathan, G Duffy, K Matthews, D Riordan; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris; A Browne, A Farley; D Gannon, R Ofisa, M McCarthy. Replacements: S Cronin, J Lyne, B McGovern, M Swift, K Campbell, T Donnelly, M Deane.
ROVIGO: S Basson, JP Sanchez, N di Maura, G Bustos, A Bacchetti, S Ambrosio, S Canale, B Fortuna, V Vicere, M Sclosa, M Barion, D Tumiati, S Favaro, N. Badocchi, A Giuria, Replacements: A de Marchi, F Damiano, Y Anouer, J Immelman, N Pavin, E Boarato, F Aretusini.
Referee: David Rosich (France).
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