By Sea_point
September 29 2006

Connacht have announced their team to start against Leinster in the Magners League at the Sportsground on Friday (6.30 pm), which shows one change from that which drew with Edinburgh Gunners.

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Connacht have announced their team to start against Leinster in the Magners League at the Sportsground on Friday (6.30 pm), which shows one change from that which drew with Edinburgh Gunners. 

The experienced Darren Yapp comes back into the side in place of the injured John Hearty as Connacht bid to continue their good start to the season. With Yapp’s elevation Conor McPhillips is included in the replacements.

Connacht’s replacement list is further bolstered by the return of Ireland A prop Ray Hogan from injury. For his first game back he has to settle for a place on the bench with Michael Diffley dropping out of the squad. Paul Warwick is also named in the replacements with David Slemen & Diffley likely drop down to the Connacht A side to meet Leinster A on Friday afternoon at Crowley Park, Galway.

The Leinster team to face Connacht in the Magners League clash at the Sportsground has also been named...

Brian O'Driscoll returns to captain the side for his first competitive start of the season alongside the returning Shane Horgan - who he partners at centre - and Girvan Dempsey.

Luke Fitzgerald retains his place on the wing, while both Gordon D'Arcy and Malcolm O'Kelly have been named on another strong-looking bench which includes ex-Connacht duo Ronan McCormack and Bernard Jackman.

Connacht: D Riordan; M Mostyn, D Yapp, G Williams, K Matthews; M McHugh, C Keane; B Wilkinson, J Fogarty (Capt), B Sturgess; D Gannon, A Farley; J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney.

Replacements: A Flavin, R Hogan, M Swift, R Ofisa, T Tierney, P Warwick, C McPhillips.

Leinster: G Dempsey; L Fitzgerald, B O'Driscoll (Capt), S Horgan, D Hickie; F Contepomi, C Whitaker; R Corrigan, H Vermaas, W Green; T Hogan, O Finegan; S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip.

Replacements: R McCormack, B Jackman, M O'Kelly, N Ronan, G Easterby, C Warner, G D'Arcy.