Connacht Rugby have announced the team that will face Gloucester on Saturday.

There are 2 changes in the matchday 23 with just 1 change in the starting lineup. Lock Mike McCarthy returns from suspension to replace the injured Michael Swift in the secondrow. He will be partnered by big George Naoupu whilst the athletic backrow of Dave Gannon, John Muldoon and Ray Ofisa will continue the hard graft of the loose forwards. An uncompromising front row of Brett Wilkinson, Ethienne Reynecke and Ronan Loughney complete the pack.

Frank Murphy and Niall O’Connor resume their halfback partnership while Head Coach Eric Elwood shows faith in last week’s backs naming an unchanged backline with Dave McSharry and Kyle Tonetti in the centre and Mark McCrea, Tiernan O’Halloran and captain Gavin Duffy making up the back 3

There’s plenty of talent waiting on the bench with Adrian Flavin, Denis Buckley and Rodney Ah You providing frontrow cover and Mick Kearney and Eoin McKeon covering the loose forwards. Paul O’Donohoe, Matthew Jarvis and Fetu’u Vainikolo add the extra options in the backs.

Connacht XV to face Gloucester (Saturday 10^th December, The Sportsground, Galway kick-off 13.30)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Mark McCrea

13 Kyle Tonetti

12 Dave McSharry

11 Tiernan O’Halloran

10 Niall O’Connor

09 Frank Murphy

01 Brett Wilkinson

02 Ethienne Reynecke

03 Ronan Loughney

04 Mike McCarthy

05 George Naoupu

06 Dave Gannon

07 John Muldoon

08 Ray Ofisa

16 Adrian Flavin

17 Denis Buckley

18 Rodney Ah You

19 Mick Kearney

20 Eoin McKeon

21 Paul O’Donohoe

22 Matthew Jarvis

23 Fetu’u Vainikolo