Changes galore for Connacht but Mayo man keeps his place in starting XV
Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has made seven changes to his side for Sunday's BKT United Rugby Championship game against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium (k.o. 3.30 p.m).
Mayo native Dave Heffernan keeps his place at hooker, flanked by Peter Dooley and Jack Aungier, one of the seven new men in the starting team following last weekend's victory over Cardiff in the Challenge Cup.
David O'Connor, Shamus Hurley-Langton and Sean Jansen all come into the forward division alongside Aungier, while David Hawkshaw starts at inside centre and JJ Hanrahan makes his first start in eight months alongside Caolin Blade at scrum-half.
Joe Joyce, who captains the team, partners David O'Connor in the second row, while Josh Murphy moves from second row to blindside flanker, with Hurley-Langton on the opposite side and Jansen at number eight.
Piers O’Conor will be alongside Hawkshaw in the centre, while the back three remains unchanged, with Byron Ralston named on the left wing, Chay Mullins on the opposite side, and Santiago Cordero again at full-back.
The full starting XV for the clash with Glasgow Warriors is as follows: Santiago Cordero, Chay Mullins, Piers O’Conor, David Hakwshaw, Byron Ralston, JJ Hanrahan, Caolin Blade; Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Jack Aungier, David O'Connor, Joe Joyce, Josh Murphy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Sean Jansen.
On the replacements' bench are: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jordan Duggan, Sam Illo, Oisin Dowling, Paul Boyle, Matthew Devine, Jack Carty, Finn Treacy.