Connacht coach Michael Bradley was able to name a full strength "European" line-up ahead of tomorrow's do-or-die European Challenge Cup encounter against French side Montpellier at the Sportsground.
The team shows several changes from the side that lost 27-19 to the Dragons in the Celtic League last weekend. Notably Tongan centre Andrew Mailei cannot be considered, as he is cup-tied for the pool stages of the competition. John Hearty has recovered from a hamstring injury and moves from wing to centre with Ted Robinson coming in from the start. Darren Yapp's expected return from injury suffered a setback this week at training.
Captain Andrew Farley has recovered from injury while regular props Ray Hogan and Stephen Knoop have also shaken off knocks to beef up the pack. David Gannon, who started last week in Farley's absence, misses out entirely as two backrow options, Michael Swift and Brendan O'Connor, are named on the bench. John Muldoon starts at blindside wing forward.
Certain starters last season Paul Warwick and Mark McHugh must be content with places on the bench.
Connacht require two wins and a bonus point from their remaining two games to qualify for the quarter-finals for a fourth consecutive year. A trip to Sicily to face Cantania follows next weekend.
Ireland's under-21 coach Mark McDermott has named 31 players for Sunday's training camp with a reduced 22-man squad forthcoming ahead of their match against Leinster A at Donnybrook on Tuesday at 5pm. The Leinster reserves prevailed 44-14 when the sides met on December 30th at Stradbrook.
Meanwhile, the AIB cup quarter-final will take place on February 25th, the same day Ireland play France in the second match of the Six Nations. The international kicks off at 1.30pm from the Stade de France.
At yesterday's draw, Connacht AIL Division One representatives Buccaneers and Galwegians were paired together. St Mary's host Terenure, the only Division Two side left in the competition, while Garryowen travel to Castle Avenue for a meeting with Clontarf.
The tie of the round sees Shannon's conquerors Cork Constitution entertain Belfast Harlequins at Temple Hill. The two sides lie third and fourth in Division One.
The semi-finals will be played on February 25th, the day before Ireland host Wales at Lansdowne Road, with the final on April 8th.
In the eyes of the majority of Leinster fans the December winner of the Bank of Scotland (Ireland) player of the month can only be one man - Felipe Contepomi, the "Puma King".
Leinster part-time skipper Contepomi has without question earned this month's accolade. The Argentinian-born star has been inspirational since the start of the season but most notably during December when he was instrumental in Leinster's wins over Bourgoin and Ulster but his man-of-the-match performance against Munster seems to have struck a chord with Leinster supporters everywhere.
AIB Cup - Terenure College v St Mary's College, Galwegians v Buccaneers, Clontarf v Garryowen, Cork Constitution v Belfast Harlequins.
AIB Junior Cup - Rainey Old Boys v Kanturk, Youghal v Monivea, Westport v Seapoint, City of Armagh v Naas.
CONNACHT: M Mostyn; T Robinson, J Hearty, K Matthews, C McPhillips; D Slemen, C Keane; R Hogan, J Fogarty, S Knoop, C Short, A Farley, J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney. Replacement: J Merrigan, A Clarke, M Swift, B O'Connor, T Tierney, P Warwick, M McHugh.
IRELAND UNDER-21 SQUAD- Backs (15): K Barden (Old Belvedere), D Black (Dungannon), F Carr (Blackrock College), D Cave (Belfast Harlequins), P Durcan (Galwegians), C Doyle (Garryowen), F McFadden (UCD), T Gleeson (Cork Con), K Hallett (Bedford Blues), I Hanly (UL Bohemians), P Marshall (Ballynahinch), J Sexton (St Mary's College), C Willis (UCD), D Williams (UCC), M Williams (Bristol Shoguns/Hartpury College); Forwards (16): R Boucher (Lansdowne), C Black (Worcester Warriors/Hartpury College), S Cronan (Shannon), P Doran-Jones (Dublin University), M Essex (UCC), B Holland (UCC), D Hurley (UCC), D Laffan (Blackrock College), D McGowan (Buccaneers), R Noonan (UCC), S O'Brien (UCD), S Philpott (Belfast Harlequins), D Ryan (Highfield), D Toner (Lansdowne), D Touhy (Gloucester/Hartpury College), E Uzoigwe (Hartpury College).
