Friend makes four changes to Connacht pack for PRO14 trip to Edinburgh

Front row forwards Denis Buckley and Shane Delahunt are recalled to Connacht’s starting line-up for their PRO14 fixture away to Conference B leaders Edinburgh at Murrayfield this evening (7.35pm).

Buckley and Delahunt are two of four changes from the Connacht side that defeated Cardiff Blues 29-0 last weekend. Joe Maksymiw and Niall Murray also get the nod as Head Coach Andy Friend looks to close the eight-point gap to the top of the table.

With Dave Heffernan and Ultan Dillane unavailable due to international duty, and Gavin Thornbury picking up an injury last weekend, all four changes come in the pack that dominated Cardiff last time out.

As noted, two of those are in the front row, with only tighthead Finlay Bealham retained from the Blues game while, in the second row, Maksymiw and Murray form a new partnership.

The back row does remain the same with Paul Boyle and Colby Fainga’a at blindside and openside respectively and captain Jarrad Butler at No. 8.

There are no changes in the backs which means that Jack Carty and Kieran Marmion continue their half-back partnership; scrum-half Caolin Blade, who signed a two-year contract extension this week, is on the bench.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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