Connacht name side to face Pontypridd

Connacht coach Steph Nel has named his team to face Pontypridd in the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final…

Connacht coach Steph Nel has named his team to face Pontypridd in the first leg of their Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

The match, at Ericsson Park in Athlone, features three changes from that which started against Narbonne in the last round.

With Ted Robinson out through injury, Gavin Duffy is selected on the right-wing with Mark McHugh starting at full-back.

Jerry Flannery comes in at hooker, while in the back row John O'Sullivan has been ruled out through injury, and is replaced by Johnny O'Connor.

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Pontypridd have a number of injury problems, including world record points scorer Neil Jenkins, and they are not expected to name their side until later in the week.

Connacht: M. McHugh; G. Duffy, D. Yapp, S. Moore (capt.), W. Munn; E. Elwood, E. Reddan; R. MCormack, J. Flannery, P. Bracken; D. Browne, R. Frost; M. Swift, C. Rigney, J. O'Connor.

Replacements: D. McFarland, M. Uijs, E. Peters, J. Muldoon, C. Keane, M. McPhail, J. Norton.