Connacht team to face Dragons

AJ MacGinty will make his fifth start in a Connacht jersey this season, replacing the injured Jack Carty at outhalf. Meanwhile, Bundee Aki shifts to outside centre to facilitate the introduction of Craig Ronaldson in the number 12 shirt and the only change to the pack sees Rodney Ah You come in to the front row.

Prop Finlay Bealham, lock Ultan Dillane and Ireland scrumhalf Kieran Marmion have all been released today by Joe Schmidt to join up with the Connacht squad for tomorrow's round 14 clash.

Galway-born back row Eoin McKeon has returned from injury to earn a place on the bench while Academy centre Peter Robb is named among the substitute backs.

Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, head coach Pat Lam said:

"With a short week for us in terms of preparation and travel, we began our planning for Dragons before the break and the boys returned on Monday refreshed and eager to get back into their work. It's great to have Kieran (Marmion) Finlay (Bealham) and Ultan (Dillane) back from Irish camp for this game but given that they haven't trained with us this week, they will add impact from the bench.

"The Dragons are in good form and are playing some great team rugby. It's clear for us to see that they are a different side to the one we faced at the Sportsground in round 1. They have already beaten our fellow Irish provinces Munster and Leinster at Rodney Parade and were desperately unlucky to lose in the final minute to Ulster in Belfast last week. So we are under no illusions as to how tough the challenge will be in Newport, and in tough conditions. Once again our focus will be on our team work and work ethic on and off the ball to enable us to put in a performance that will continue to keep us in the top four of the competition."

Connacht team to face Dragons, Rodney Parade, Thursday, February 11th, 7:30pm

15 Tiernan O'Halloran
14 Danie Poolman
13 Bundee Aki
12 Craig Ronaldson
11 Matt Healy
10 AJ MacGinty
9 Caolin Blade

1 Denis Buckley
2 Tom McCartney
3 Rodney Ah You
4 George Naoupu
5 Aly Muldowney
6 John Muldoon (captain)
7 Jake Heenan
8 Eoghan Masterson

Replacements:

16 Dave Heffernan
17 Ronan Loughney
18 Finlay Bealham
19 Ultan Dillane
20 Eoin McKeon
21 Kieran Marmion
22 Peter Robb
23 Rory Parata

Unavailable / Injured: Shane Delahunt, Nathan White, Andrew Browne, Ben Marshall, Quinn Roux, Nepia Fox-Matamua, John Cooney, Jack Carty, Shane O'Leary, Robbie Henshaw, Dave McSharry, Conor Finn, Darragh Leader, Ciaran Gaffney.

Newport Gwent Dragons v Connacht Rugby
Thursday February 11th
Kick off 7:30pm
Rodney Parade
Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU. 39th competition game)
Non-televised