Connacht Rugby have announced the starting XV that will take on Ulster tomorrow evening (Ravenhill, Belfast, kick-off 17.35)

The side sees 6 changes to last week’s team, 2 in the pack and 4 in the backline.

Eoghan Grace will earn his 1st cap for Connacht when he lines out at openside flanker. The 6’2, 100kg former Munster Academy player-of-the-year played for Rockwell College and Shannon, as well as being part of Eric Elwood’s 2007 grand slam winning Ireland U20’s team. He played for Ireland 7’s in 2009 alongside team-mate Brian Tuohy in their famous victory over Australia.

TJ Anderson returns to face his former team at blindside. The 24 year old Magherafelt born back rower has featured in 5 of Connacht’s games so far this season, including their victory over the Dragons in the Sportsground.

There is a new half-back pairing of Paul O’Donohoe and Miah Nikora. O’Donohoe has played in all bar 1 of Connacht’s games this season and, along with Miah NIkora who made his comeback from injury last weekend, will make their 1st starts in the RaboDirect PRO12 tomorrow evening.

Dave McSharry partners captain Gavin Duffy in the centre. McSharry earns his 1st full cap having  impressed selectors when he came off the bench against Leinster.
Fetu’u Vainikolo and Brian Tuohy line up on the wings while the versatile Tiernan O’Halloran moves to full-back where he shone in Irelands Junior World Cup in Italy earlier this year.

Connacht XV to face Ulster (Ravenhill, Belfast, kick-off 17.35 –live on RTÉ 2)

15 Tiernan O’Halloran
14 Fetu’u Vainikolo
13 Gavin Duffy (C)
12 Dave McSharry
11 Brian Tuohy
10 Miah Nikora
09 Paul O’Donohoe
01 Brett Wilkinson
02 Adrian Flavin
03 Rodney Ah You
04 Michael Swift
05 Mike McCarthy
06 TJ Anderson
07 Eoghan Grace
08 George Naoupu

16 Ethienne Reynecke
17 Ronan Loughney
18 Dylan rogers
19 Dave Gannon
20 John Muldoon
21 Frank Murphy
22 Niall O’Connor
23 Matthew Jarvis

Pictured (above) Eoghan Grace with Keith Fox and (below) Miah Nikora returns to the starting XV (C) www.inpho.ie