ROBBIE HENSHAW RETURNS to the Connacht fold for the first time since fracturing his hand in the final moments of their Pro12 win over Munster back in November as they get set to face Enisei-STM in the final pool game of the European Challenge Cup at the Sportsground on Saturday afternoon.
Kieran Marmion also returns from injury in a backline that is otherwise unchanged from the one that lost to Brive last weekend.
There is a new front row, however, with the introduction of Denis Buckley and Dave Heffernan alongside Nathan White while captain John Muldoon returns to the blindside flanker position with Eoghan Masterson named at number 8.
The inclusion of Ultan Dillane in the pack means that all four of the Westerners named in Joe Schmidt’s Six Nations squad during the week will start this weekend.
Kick-off on Saturday is 3pm.
Connacht XV to face Brive
15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Danie Poolman
13. Robbie Henshaw
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. AJ MacGinty
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Nathan White
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Aly Muldowney
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. James Connolly
8. Eoghan Masterson
Replacements:
16. Tom McCartney
17. Finlay Bealham
18. Rodney Ah You
19. George Naoupu
20. Sean O’Brien
21. Caolin Blade
22. Jack Carty
23. Rory Parata
