Rugby:Connacht coach Eric Elwood has made several changes to the team for tomorrow night's RaboDirect Pro12 match with the Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets (7.30). Brett Wilkinson and Mike McCarthy were unavailable due to their involvement with Ireland training at Carton House.
New Zealand born, former Munster prop Peter Borlase makes his debut for Connacht while on the other side of the front row Ronan Loughney will earn his 100th cap for the province, moving back to loosehead prop.
There is also a first cap for Academy backrow Dave Heffernan. The former Ireland U20 has played in all of Connacht's ‘A’ games this season and has impressed with outstanding performances for Buccaneers in the Ulster Bank League.
The 20 year old Ballina born Heffernan joined the Connacht academy this season having transferred his studies from UCD to NUIG. He Dave joins fellow year one academy player Mick Kearney in the forwards.
Eoin Griffin and Dave McSharry renew the centre partnership last seen in Connacht’s Heineken Cup match against Gloucester while Miah Nikora replaces this injured Niall O'Connor at outhalf.
Connacht (v Scarlets):G Duffy (capt); F Vainikolo, E Griffin, D McSharry, T O'Halloranl; M Nikora, F Murphy; R Loughney, A Flavin, P Borlase; M Swift, M Kearney; D Heffernan, R Ofisa, G Naoupu. Replacements: E Reynecke, D Buckley, S Maguire, J Muldoon, E Grace, D Moore, M Jarvis, K Tonetti.
