Cronin back in for Connacht

Rugby: Connacht coach Eric Elwood has made two personnel changes to the side that lost to Leinster ahead of the trip to Rodney…

Rugby:Connacht coach Eric Elwood has made two personnel changes to the side that lost to Leinster ahead of the trip to Rodney Parade on Thursday (7.35pm).

The province welcomes back hooker Seán Cronin from international commitments and Mike McComish, after illness prevented him from featuring in the 30-8 defeat at the RDS on New Year’s Day.

Cronin replaces Adrian Flavin the frontrow, while Shane Conneely makes way for McComish.

Academy graduate Eoin McKeon retains his place in an otherwise unchanged pack.

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Elwood has tinkered somewhat in the backline, opting to move Ian Keatley to fullback and Troy Nathan to the wing, while Eoin Griffin shifts to outside centre.

Miah Nikora continues at outhalf, alongside Cillian Willis, with Fionn Carr on the left wing.

Connacht (v Dragons):Ian Keatley; Troy Nathan, Eoin Griffin, Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr; Miah Nikora, Cillian Willis; Brett Wilkinson, Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan; Michael Swift, Michael McCarthy; Andrew Browne, Johnny O'Connor, Eoin McKeon

Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Rodney Ah You, Dylan Rogers, Bernie Upton, Mike McComish, Frank Murphy, Niva Ta'auso, Brian Tuohy

Dragons (v Connacht):W Harries, A Hughes, T Riley, A Smith, A Brew, J Tovey, J Evans; H Gustafson, T Willis (c), B Castle, A Jones, R Sidoli, L Evans, G Thomas, T Faletau.

Replacements: S Jones, P Palmer, P Price, L Charteris, A Coombs, M Jones, M Petri, P Leach.