Eric Elwood makes two changes to Connacht team

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has made two changes to the team to face Harlequins in the Amlin Challenge Cup this Friday evening at the Sportsground.

The starting XV remains largely the same as the team that lost the Aviva Premiership side last week at the Stoop in Twickenham.

In the front row Ronan Loughney replaces the injured Brett Wilkinson and on the wing Darragh Fanning makes a start with Brian Tuohy supplying cover from the bench.

Fanning, formerly from St. Marys College, has impressed the selectors with his pace and physicality in training and has appeared in seven of Connacht’s games so far this year while Loughney , a former Connacht Academy graduate, will be making his 70th appearance for the Province.

Connact team to face Harlequins in Friday, 17 December. (Kick-off at 7.00pm)

Gavin Duffy; Darragh Fanning, Ian Keatley, Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr;  Miah Nikora, Frank Murphy; Ronan Loughney, Sean Cronin,  Jamie Hagan; Michael Swift, Michael McCarthy; Andrew Browne,  Johnny O’Connor,  John Muldoon.

Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Rob Sweeney, Barry Fa’amausili,  Bernie Upton, Mike McComish, Cillian Willis, Troy Nathan, Brian Tuohy.