Ahead of the trip to Rodney Parade, Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made three personnel changes from the starting XV that defeated Scarlets in the last round of PRO12 action before the break.
AJ MacGinty will make his fifth start in a Connacht jersey this season, replacing the injured Jack Carty at outhalf. Meanwhile, Bundee Aki shifts to outside centre to facilitate the introduction of Craig Ronaldson in the number 12 shirt and the only change to the pack sees Rodney Ah You come in to the front row.
Prop Finlay Bealham, lock Ultan Dillane and Ireland scrumhalf Kieran Marmion have all been released today by Joe Schmidt to join up with the Connacht squad for tomorrow’s round 14 clash.
Galway-born back row Eoin McKeon has returned from injury to earn a place on the bench while Academy centre Peter Robb is named among the substitute backs.
Connacht team to face Dragons, Rodney Parade, Thursday, February 11th, 7:30pm
15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Danie Poolman
13 Bundee Aki
12 Craig Ronaldson
11 Matt Healy
10 AJ MacGinty
9 Caolin Blade
1 Denis Buckley
2 Tom McCartney
3 Rodney Ah You
4 George Naoupu
5 Aly Muldowney
6 John Muldoon (captain)
7 Jake Heenan
8 Eoghan Masterson
Replacements:
16 Dave Heffernan
17 Ronan Loughney
18 Finlay Bealham
19 Ultan Dillane
20 Eoin McKeon
21 Kieran Marmion
22 Peter Robb
23 Rory Parata
Unavailable / Injured: Shane Delahunt, Nathan White, Andrew Browne, Ben Marshall, Quinn Roux, Nepia Fox-Matamua, John Cooney, Jack Carty, Shane O’Leary, Robbie Henshaw, Dave McSharry, Conor Finn, Darragh Leader, Ciaran Gaffney.
Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU. 39th competition game)
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