TEAM NEWS: Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made wholesale changes for the province's final European Challenge Cup fixture against Dax at Sportsground on Friday night.
There are 13 changes in all to the side that were trounced 75-5 by London Irish at the Madejski Stadium last weekend. Despite the heavy defeat Connacht can still qualify for the quarter-finals if they defeat their French opponents.
An all new back line shows Gavin Duffy returning to fullback, while Fionn Carr and Liam Bibo start on the wings. Niva Ta’auso and Keith Matthews form the centre partnership as Frank Murphy and Ian Keatley renew their half back partnership.
Up front Brett Wilkinson, Sean Cronin and Robbie Morris represent an overhaul of the frontrow. Michael McCarthy returns to the backrow alongside Ray Ofisa with captain John Muldoon coming in at number eight.
The five pool winners go through to the knockout stages along with the three best runners-up. Connacht are second in Pool 1 (14) and behind Overach Rugby Parma (16) and ahead of Petrarca Padova (13) in the runner-up race.
Viadana (12) and Bristol (10) are fourth and fifth respectively in relation to the teams lying second in their pools. Parma must travel to group leaders Brive, leaving Connacht with a chance to emerge as the best pool runners-up.
Connacht (v Dax):G Duffy; F Carr, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, L Bibo; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; A Browne, A Farley; M McCarthy, R Ofisa, J Muldoon (C). Replacements:A Flavin, R Loughney, M Swift, C Rigney, K Campbell,A Dunne, T Nathan.
