TEENAGE FULL-BACK Darragh Leader will make his first competitive start for Connacht in tomorrow’s match against the Ospreys.
The 19-year-old comes in as one of five personnel changes made by coach Eric Elwood for the RaboDirect Pro12 trip to the Liberty Stadium (kick-off 2.30pm).
Leader’s inclusion at 15 sees Robbie Henshaw push forward to midfield where he replaces the injured Eoin Griffin. Henshaw is joined by Mata Fifita in a new-look centre partnership with Dave McSharry, try-scorer against Harlequins last week, the man to miss out.
In the front row Brett Wilkinson and Jason Harris-Wright come in alongside captain Nathan White, replacing Denis Buckley and Adrian Flavin.
Mike McCarthy’s injury sees Eoin McKeon named at number eight, so George Naoupu moves into the second row where he joins Michael Swift.
Connacht come into the game hoping to bounce back from their 30-22 loss against Quins in the Heineken Cup last Saturday, but Elwood knows they face a tough task against an Ospreys side who have won three in a row in the Rabo.
“Last Saturday, we went toe-to-toe with the English champions and competed with them for the 80 minutes,” Elwood said. “We played some great rugby and we’ll be looking to do the same this weekend against the Ospreys.
“We know it’s going to be a hugely physical battle but we’re very much looking forward to the test. The goal for us is to keep improving and continue on our upward curve”
Connacht (v Dragons): Darragh Leader; Tiernan O’Halloran, Robbie Henshaw, Mata Fifita, Fetu’u Vainikolo; Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion; Brett Wilkinson, Jason Harris-Wright, Nathan White (c); Michael Swift, George Naoupu; John Muldoon, Willie Faloon, Eoin McKeon.
Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Ronan Loughney, Rodney Ah You, Dave Gannon, Johnny O’Connor, Dave Moore, Miah Nikora, Danie Poolman.
