FRUSTRATED THEY didn't get anything in return for their abrasive assault on the RDS last week, Connacht have announced a 25-man squad for their first Magners League clash at the Sportsground in 2009 against the Scarlets tomorrow (kick-off 6.30pm).
But Michael Bradley and assistant Eric Elwood will face the Llanelli side with a little more fire power than they did last week, with the timely return of Gavin Duffy and Keith Matthews to his list of backline options and Ray Ofisa back in the pack. The match-day 22 will be finalised today.
Matthews has recovered from flu and is included once again, while Duffy has recovered from the hamstring injury he picked up in Connacht's victory over Munster. Ofisa is also on his way back from injury.
Also included in the squad is the promising Ian Keatley, who maintained pressure on Leinster until the final quarter with a fine display of kicking last week, while the capable Fionn Carr is again included.
Meanwhile Leinster coach Michael Cheika has not yet decided on whether he is going to appeal the decision handed down by the IRFU disciplinary panel on Tuesday night to suspend his international flanker Shane Jennings for three weeks. The sanction, for punching during Leinster's Magners League game against Connacht last weekend, will keep Jennings out of all competition until after Leinster's final two pool matches in the Heineken Cup.
A Leinster official said yesterday no decision on an appeal had yet been made. According to the IRFU, the province has as long as 14 days to lodge their appeal. Clearly there is no real time constraint in making that deadline, but a decision one way or the other will probably be made this week given the Heineken Cup fixture on January 17th.
Jennings' suspension ends on midnight Tuesday, January 27th, two days after Leinster's final pool match against Edinburgh in the RDS.
Bristol prop Peter Bracken has left the Guinness Premiership club by mutual consent but may end up playing with Harlequins. The former Connacht player, who moved to the west country from Wasps in 2007 on a two-year contract, made 14 appearances for the club despite his progress at the Memorial Stadium being initially hindered by a shoulder injury.
Bristol head coach Richard Hill said: "The shoulder injury ruined his first season, and we've had two other very good props in Jason Hobson and Darren Crompton in front of him, as well as Wayne Thompson returning from Oxford University.
"So, we sat down with him and decided that it would be in the best interests of both parties to reach a mutual agreement and end his contract early. I understand that he has now decided to try and further his career with Harlequins, and he goes with our best wishes."
CONNACHT SQUAD: L Bibo, A Browne, K Campbell, F Carr, S Cronin, M Deane, G Duffy, A Dunne, A Farley, A Flavin, D Gannon, I Keatley, R Loughney, J Lyne, K Matthews, M McCarthy, R Morris, J Muldoon, F Murphy, T Nathan, R Ofisa, C Rigney, M Swift, N Ta'auso, B Wilkinson.
