Connacht Rugby have announced the team that will take on Leinster tomorrow (Saturday 8th October, the RDS, Kickoff 17.00)

Eric Elwood has made just 3 changes to the starting XV from last week’s bonus point loss to the Ospreys in the Liberty Stadium. Mark McCrea replaces the injured Tiernan O’Halloran. McCrea joined Connacht this season from Ulster and has featured in 3 of Connacht’s 5 matches so far, scoring the winning try against the Scarlets in the Sportsground last month.

Ethienne Reynecke makes way for Adrian Flavin in the front-row. Flavin joined Connacht in 2006 from London Irish and has earned 108 caps for the Province as well as representing Ireland U19, U21 and Ireland A in 2008.

The final change sees Ray Ofisa return to the starting lineup. With 94 caps for Connacht the 6’1, 100Kg Samoan has been a near permanent fixture in the Connacht team since joining in 2007.

Connacht XV to face Leinster (Saturday 8th October, the RDS, Kickoff 17.00 live on TG4)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Mark McCrea

13 Eoin Griffin

12 Henry Fa’afili

11 Brian Tuohy

10 Niall O’Connor

9 Frank Murphy

1 Brett Wilkinson

2 Adrian Flavin

3 Dylan Rogers

4 Michael Swift

5 Mike McCarthy

6 John Muldoon

7 Johnny O’Connor

8 Ray Ofisa

16 Ethienne Reynecke

17 Ronan Loughney

18 Rodney Ah You

19 Dave Gannon

20 TJ Anderson

21 Paul O’Donohoe

22 Matthew Jarvis

23 Dave McSharry

The Connacht Rugby Supporters Club have organised a matchday package that includes the return bus to the RDS and a ticket for the match. The package costs just €45 and the bus will leave from Busker Brownes, Cross Street, Galway at 12.30pm and return half an hour after the final whistle. For more information, or to book your place on the bus please contact Martin Fallon on 091 561568 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it before 5.00pm today

Pictured: Mark McCrea scoring the winning try against the Scarlets in the Sportsground (C) www.inpho.ie