Rugby:Tongan World Cup winger Fetu'u Vainikolo is set to make his Connacht debut tomorrow as the Irish provinces welcomes Cardiff Blues to the Sportsground (6.0). The 26 year old winger played twice for the Pacific Islanders in New Zealand, scoring a try in their 31-18 victory over Japan.
He is named on the rights wing and joins captain, Gavin Duffy and the returning Tiernan O’Halloran in the back three. Samoan international centre Henry Fa’afilli renews his exciting partnership with Eoin Griffin; the latter coming back after missing the trip to the RDS through injury.
There are two changes in the front row with Adrian Flavin coming in at hooker and Rodney Ah You named at tighthead. Flanker Ray Ofisa wins 96th cap. There is more good news for Connacht amongst the replacements with George Naoupu returning after picking up an injury away to Edinburgh and Miah Nikora making his first appearance of the season
Connacht:G Duffy (capt); F Vainikolo, E Griffin, H Fa'afili, T O'Halloran; N O'Connor, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Ah You; M Swift, M McCarthy; J Muldoon, J O'Connor, R Ofisa. Replacements: E Reynecke, R Loughney, D Rogers, D Gannon, G Naoupu, P O'Donohoe, M Nikora, B Tuohy.
