Connacht aim to keep it tight

CHALLENGE CUP/Preview: Connacht coach Steph Nel has made four changes and a positional switch from the side beaten by Munster for today's Challenge Cup first-leg clash with Narbonne. Hooker Marnus Uijs is injured so Jerry Flannery comes into the front row with Henry Bourke included among the replacements. There are a further two changes in the back row with Eric Peters starting at number eight and Michael Swift at blindside flanker. Wayne Munn returns to the left wing, while Eoin Reddan is in at scrumhalf ahead of Chris Keane.

Narbonne will be led by Argentinian hooker Mario Ledesma and include South African Joe Gillingham, a former Super 12 player, in the centre. The teams clashed last season in the Shield during the pool stage, with honours even. The aggregate score over the two matches was 40 points apiece, with Connacht winning at home 18-6 but going down at today's venue 34-22.

Connacht will be hoping to keep the contest tight thereby guaranteeing a chance of a quarter-final place when the sides meet in the second leg tomorrow week.

NARBONNE: P Bazani; F Lartigue, D Duoy, J Gillingham, G Tutard; J Gendre, L Balue; A Martinez, M Ledesma (capt), S Guy; C Gaston, O Olibeau; G Belzons, A Hill, L Baluc Rittener. Replacements: G Garrido, L Martine, D Hunter, X Guillemet, M Siro, C Rosaleen, S Hunt.

CONNACHT: M McHugh; G Duffy, D Yapp, S Moore, W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; R McCormack, J Flannery, P Bracken; D Browne, R Frost; M Swift, E Peters, J. O'Sullivan. Replacements: F Boiroux, H Bourke, C Rigney, J O'Connor, C Keane, T Robinson, J Norton.

Referee: P Adams.