Rugby: Connacht have made five changes from last Sunday's Parker Pen Challenge Cup semi-final first-leg defeat to Harlequins for tonight's trip to Ravenhill to play Ulster in the Celtic League. Understandably, Michael Bradley is unwilling to risk certain players in a match that carries little significance for his side.
Matt Mostyn (shoulder) and Eric Elwood (leg) are ruled out, with the return visit from Harlequins taking precedence; both players are expected to be passed fit in time for next week.
Shane Moore deputises for Elwood, while Dave Hewitt is named at full back. Matt Lacey was not considered because of a family bereavement, so UCD openside Tom Carter will start.
The other changes see scrumhalf Conor O'Loughlin and tight-head Peter Bracken, who were introduced on Sunday, come in for Mike McCarthy and Adrian Clarke, respectively. The match will be shown live on TG4 (7.35 p.m. kick-off).
Meanwhile, earlier this week, Gary Ella named a Leinster team close to full strength for their trip to Stradey Park, where they will face a Llanelli side aiming to beat Ulster to the Celtic League title.
The selection itself is a combination of the returning internationals and the top performers in their absence. In this regard, Ben Gissing, Des Dillon and Brendan Burke get an opportunity to increase their, already burgeoning, reputations.
Despite the absence of Eric Miller, Keith Gleeson and Shane Jennings, all injured, the back row looks to be in fine fettle.
Victor Costello has been selected on the blind side to allow Dillon a continued run at number eight, while Niall Ronan has impressed at open-side in recent weeks.
"We just felt that was a better balance for the team," explained Ella. "Des has been playing really well for us at number eight. In fact, he has been outstanding for us during the whole year.
"The unlucky guy there is Aidan McCullen, because I thought he was one of our best players in the last game, but if you look at consistency across the board there are few players that have been as consistent as Des, or Ben for that matter, as Aidan could play in either position."
Gissing has held on to his slot in the second row despite Leo Cullen's return to full fitness.
"Well, Gissing has been outstanding and has played every game. I mean just because the internationals are coming back it doesn't mean that they are going to automatically push him out."
Ella has also decided to go with the same centre pairing that last month delivered a Triple Crown for the first time in 19 years. The selection sees Shane Horgan redeployed to his international role on the wing. Yet, Ella pointed out that the players will not be restricted to their set positions.
"O'Driscoll and Darce (Gordon D'Arcy) - and even Shane to a certain extent - I told them they have a free rein if they want to interchange in attack and defence. If you had a look at Brian O'Driscoll in the Six Nations he made a mountain of tackles, which I think took a little bit out of him. So I said to Brian beforehand that if he feels he has to get out of there they should rotate. I think neither one of them should be considered an inside or an outside centre."
Also, Eddie O'Sullivan will be keeping a close eye on whether Emmet Byrne is used from the Leinster bench. The eight-times-capped prop has been out with an injured shoulder since last October but hasn't played any prolonged rugby since initially damaging his rotator cup playing against New Zealand in November 2002 at Lansdowne Road. Considering the dearth of quality props in Irish rugby, his return could be timely.
Elsewhere, Welsh referee Nigel Williams will take charge of Munster's Heineken European Cup semi-final against London Wasps on Sunday, April 25th, at Lansdowne Road. Williams took charge of last year's semi-final between Perpignan and Leinster in Dublin and was also on duty last Saturday in Thomond Park.
Tony Spreadbury (England) will referee the all-French clash between Toulouse and Biarritz Olympique at Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux, on Saturday, April 24th.
Leinster Branch will sell tickets for the Munster and Wasps semi-final from the following outlets this morning (9 a.m.): Elverys, Dawson Street; Elverys, Suffolk Street; Active Sports, Blackrock; Spar, Donnybrook; Spar, Bath Avenue.
CONNACHT (v Ulster): D Hewitt; C McPhillips, D Yapp, M McHugh, W Munn; S Moore, C O'Loughlin; D McFarland, B Jackman (capt), P Bracken, D Browne, A Farley, M Swift, T Carter, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: J Fogarty, A Clarke, M McCarthy, P Neville, M Walls, J Meagher, T Robinson.
