Connacht have left a vacancy on the left wing ahead of Friday night's Celtic League clash with Edinburgh at the Sportsground. Wayne Munn damaged medial ligaments in the province's victory over Cardiff and coach Steph Nel has not yet decided whether Martin McPhail or Ted Robinson will deputise for the South African.Munn will be out of commission until September 7th.
Nel will also make a late decision on who will occupy the number seven jersey. Paul Neville started against Cardiff but Colm Rigney was impressive when introduced as a second-half substitute. Johnny O'Connor starts on the bench again as Nel is conscious of regulating game time for a player who suffered a serious arm injury last season.
There will be five forwards on the Connacht bench with Mark McHugh and Eoin Reddan detailed to cover the backline. Connacht's game on Friday will be shown live on TG4.
Meanwhile, Ulster have made three changes for their trip to Scotland on Friday night to face Glasgow. Australian Dave Allen, will replace the injured Robbie Brink in the back row. It will be Allen's first competitive outing for the province.
Coach Alan Solomons makes one change behind the scrum with Ireland and Lions wing Tyrone Howe preferred to Jan Cunningham. Howe had missed the last few weeks because of a knee injury but is now fully fit. Jeremy Davidson is introduced into the second row in place of Paddy Johns, as part of a rotation policy. Johns is not on the bench, that slot going to Mark Blair.
Ulster will be hoping to secure a second successive win against a Glasgow team that lost 39-11 to Leinster at Donnybrook in their first outing.
CONNACHT: G Duffy; P Duignan, D Yapp, T Allnutt, AN Other; E Elwood, C Keane; D McFarland, M Uijs, P Bracken; R Frost, M McConnell (capt), M Swift, D Dillon, P Neville/C Rigney. Replacements: R McCormack, T Kearns, D Browne, J O'Connor, P Neville/C Rigney, M McHugh, E Reddan.
ULSTER: P Wallace; J Topping, J Bell, A Larkin, T Howe; D Humphreys, B Free; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best; J Davidson, G Longwell; D Allen, T McWhirter, A Ward (capt). Replacements: R Weir, C Boyd, M Blair, R Nelson, K Campbell, R Constable, N Malone.
FIXTURES.
Friday: Celtic League: Connacht v Edinburgh, Sportsground (6.15); Llanelli v Leinster, Stradey Park (7.05); Glasgow v Ulster, Hughenden (7.0).
Saturday: Representative: Connacht Colts v Languedoc, Sportsground (3.0). Leinster Championship (3.0). Section A: Sports Subs, Lansdowne v Skerries, lansdowne Road (back pitch); Carlow v Dublin University, Oak Park. Section B: Barnhall v Blackrock, Pearsonstown; DLSP v Greystones, Kilternan. Section C: Clontarf v Old Belvedere, Castle Avenue; Old Wesley v St Mary's, Donnybrook. Munster Senior Club (3.0): Sunday's Well v Munster Junior XV, Musgrave Park; Shannon v Connacht Junior XV, Coonagh. Ulster Senior Club (2.30): Portadown v Banbridge, Chambers Park; Bangor v Bective Rangers, Upritchard Park.
Sunday: Connacht Senior League (3.0): Buccaneers v Ballina, Ericsson Park; Corinthians v Galwegians, Corinthian Park. Munster Senior Club (3.0): Garryowen v Henley, Dooradoyle.
