4 Connacht players make the Wolfhounds starting selection to take on England Saxons this Saturday

Gavin Duffy, John Muldoon, Mike McCarthy, Brett Wilkinson all made the starting XV while versatile prop Ronan Loughney  will look to impact from the bench. The call-ups are just reward for recent fine form and though Connacht had to wait until their final pool game in the Heineken Cup to earn their first victory there have been some exceptional individual performances along the way.

From www.irishrugby.ie

Ulster Back row Chris Henry will lead the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds in their game against the England Saxons this Saturday in Exeter. The side shows a balance between youth and experience, with nine of the match day 22 uncapped at senior level.

Gavin Duffy is the man with that experience in the back three, with David Kearney and Simon Zebo start on the wings. Nevin Spence and Eoin O'Malley will form a new centre partnership at this level outside a half back partnership of Ian Keatley and Isaac Boss.

In the forwards, Damien Varley starts at hooker and beside him experienced Connacht loose head prop Brett Wilkinson packs down with Stephen Archer, who has recently broken into the Munster match squad and been part of his provinces Heineken Cup run.

Dan Tuohy wins his third cap at this level and partners Mike McCarthy in the second row. John Muldoon the most experienced player in the squad at this level with 10 Wolfhounds caps to his credit forms a back row with Captain Chris Henry at open side and Rhys Ruddock starting at No.8 to win his first cap for the Wolfhounds.

O2 Ireland Wolfhounds Coach Eric Elwood is looking forward to the game and the challenge of playing a Saxons team that is packed full of premiership and European experience. "The games against the Saxons are always highly competitive affairs as you would expect and results have tended to go with the home side, but I think we have a good mix in our side and the key message is that we have to match them on all fronts, especially in the physical stakes, to come away with a win.

"Eoin (O'Malley) and Nevin have done well over the last couple of days as a pairing and I am looking forward to see how both Simon (Zebo) and David Kearney travel on the wings after a good couple of weeks for them with their provinces.

"We have a touch more experience in our pack, which I think will be important for this game and good spine through it with Dan (Tuohy) and Mike (McCarthy) giving us some really good ability across the set piece and in the carrying stakes to compliment a back row that I think can make a good impression.

"I would expect a really good atmosphere for the game and I know the players are looking forward to it."

The match can be seen live on Sky Sports.

O2 Ireland Wolfhounds Team & Replacements ( v England Saxons,Sandy Park, Exeter, Saturday, 28th January 2012, K.O. 5.00pm):

15 - Gavin Duffy (Galwegians/Connacht)
14 - David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster) *
13 - Eoin O'Malley (Old Belvedere/Leinster) *
12 - Nevin Spence (Ballynahinch/Ulster) *
11 - Simon Zebo (Cork Constitution/Munster)*
10 - Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster)
9 - Isaac Boss (Terenure College/Leinster)
1 - Brett Wilkinson (Galwegians/Connacht)*
2 - Damien Varley (Garryowen/Munster)
3 - Stephen Archer (Cork Constitution/Munster) *
4 - Dan Tuohy (Ballymena/Ulster)
5 - Mike McCarthy (Buccaneers/Connacht)
6 - John Muldoon (Galwegians/Connacht)
7 - Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster) Captain
8 - Rhys Ruddock (St. Mary's College/Leinster)

Replacements:
16 - Mike Sherry (Garryowen/Munster)*
17 - Ronan Loughney (Galwegians/Connacht)*
18 - Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)
19 - Kevin McLaughlin (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
20 - Tomas O'Leary (Dolphin/Munster)
21 - Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)*
22 - Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)

*Denotes Uncapped at full international level

Pics (c) www.inpho.ie

Connacht completed a historic 1^st ever Heineken Cup victory when they overcame Harlequins in the Sportsground on Friday night.

Eric Elwood's men started the game at a ferocious pace in front of the 5,420 strong crowd and never let up for the full 80 minutes.

A dominant Connacht pack pinned Harlequins deep in their own half and with a gale blowing straight down the pitch 'Quins were unable to kick for territory. The pressure showed after just 4 minutes when Niall O'Connor found his range with a 35m penalty after Harlequins were caught offside. The visitors struck back straight away with a combination of pick and drives before unleashing the backs from right to left, Sam Smith scoring in the corner after referee Nigel Owens had to consult the TMO. Nick Evans missed the conversion and 2 minutes later Niall O'Connor added his second penalty to put the home side back in front at 6-5. Superb breakdown work from Connacht earned them another penalty after just 15 minutes and Niall O'Connor extended the lead to 4 points with his kick.

The weather dictated the tactics of both sides and when Connacht were penalised 20 minutes into the second half Evans stood up and reduced the deficit to 1 point and ensure a nail-biting final quarter for the home side. Connacht soaked up everything the Premiership leaders could throw at them and when Connacht were award a scrum with 30 seconds to go it looked all over. Quins overturned the scrum but couldn't capitalise on the possession and Connacht ran out 9-8 victors, earning their 1^st Heineken Cup win in their maiden season in the tournament.

It was a fitting end to Connacht's pool stages with the grit and determination evident in some very close results and this victory will be savoured long after the event has passed.

Next up a well earned break after a record 13 games on the bounce before Connacht travel to Cardiff on the 10^th of February in a return to RaboDirect PRO12 action.

Connacht:

Gavin Duffy (C), Fetu'u Vainikolo, Kyle Tonetti, Henry Fa'afili, Tiernan O'Halloran, Niall O'Connor, Paul O'Donohoe, Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Ronan Loughney, Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy, John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa, George Naoupu

Replacements:

Ethienne Reynecke, Denis Buckley, Dylan Rogers, Mick Kearney, Eoin McKeon, Dave Moore, Miah Nikora, Matthew Jarvis

Harlequins:

Mike Browne, Ugo Moyne, Matt Hooper, Jordan turner-Hall, Sam Smith, Nick Evans, Danny Care, Joe Marler, Chris Brooker, James Johnston, Tomas Vallejos, George Robson, Maurie Fa'asavalu, Chris Robshaw (C), Nick Easter

Replacements:

Joe Gray, Mark Lambert, Tim Fairbrother, Olly Kohn, Luke Wallace, Richard Bolt, Rory Clegg, Tom Casson

All pics (C) www.inpho.ie

Connacht Rugby have announced the team that will face Harlequins tomorrow night (The Sportsground, 20.00)

The side sees just one change from the team that took on Toulouse in Stade Ernest Wallon last weekend with Ronan Loughney replacing Dylan Rogers at tighthead prop. Loughney was called into the Ireland Wolfhounds squad yesterday along with 4 other Connacht players, Brett Wilkinson, John Muldoon, Gavin Duffy and Mike McCarthy while Tiernan O?Halloran was called in as an additional player to the Senior Ireland squad.

27 year old Ronan Loughney has shown great versatility this season, moving from loosehead to tighthead prop and the 111kg Galway-man has excelled not just in the set piece but in loose play as well and it is this form that has seen him called into the Irish squad.

With 5 appearances short of 100 Loughney adds to an already experienced Connacht pack who boast 991 caps between them while captain Gavin Duffy will use his experience to marshal the youthful backline whose fresh and dynamic approach have encapsulated Connacht?s style this season.

Connacht XV to face Harlequins (The Sportsground, Friday 20/01/2012 kickoff 20.00 live Sky Sports 1)

15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Fetu?u Vainikolo

13 Kyle Tonetti

12 Dave McSharry

11 Tiernan O?Halloran

10 Niall O?Connor

09 Paul O?Donohoe

01 Brett Wilkinson

02 Adrian Flavin

03 Ronan Loughney

04 Michael Swift

05 Mike McCarthy

06 John Muldoon

07 Ray Ofisa

08 George Naoupu

16 Ethienne Reynecke

17 Denis Buckley

18 Dylan Rogers

19 Mick Kearney

20 Eoin McKeon

21 Dave Moore

22 Miah Nikora

23 Henry Fa?afili

Toulouse v Connacht in pictures: log on to www.inpho.iewww.inpho.ie to view full gallery and to purchase prints

Kyle Tonetti and Gavin Duffy support Tiernan O'Halloran on one of his trademark breaks

Eoin McKeon is congradulated by French international Louis Picamoles

Niall O'Connor, Eoin McKeon, Tiernan O'Halloran and Denis Buckley salute the travelling support

Connacht's Mike McCarthy is tackled by Maxime Medard and Toulouse  captain Thierry Dusautoir

Dave Moore is congradulated on his first cap for Connacht by fans

Connacht Academy's Denis Buckley and Mick Kearney scrum down against Gurthro Steenkamp and Jean Bouilhou