| O'Brien and Nolan to debut vs Portugal | |||||
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 Two of Connacht's up and coming talents make their debut in the match, as both John O'Brien and David Nolan start the game at full back and in the second row respectively. Daniel Riordan returns to the side on the left wing and there is a new half back combination with Andy Dunne partnering Kieran Campbell. In the forwards both Michael McCarthy and Ray Ofisa return to the side in the backrow, while David Gannon partners David Nolan in the second row. Up front John Lyne starts at loosehead and Adrian Flavin captains the side at hooker. Connacht have named eight replacements for the match on Sunday, with Tim Donnelly and Conor O'Loughlin both named on the bench for the first time this season, having overcome their shoulder and hip injuries respectively. Connacht team: J O'Brien; F Carr, J Hearty, A Wynne, D Riordan; A Dunne, K Campbell; J Lyne, A Flavin (C), R Morris; D Nolan, D Gannon; M McCarthy, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacments: J Merrigan, B Wilkinson, R Loughney, C Muldoon, C O'Loughlin, T Donnelly, M Deane, T Nathan. |
| Last Updated ( Saturday, 08 November 2008 12:15 ) |  |
