A HOST OF Connacht servants say their final farewells in the Sportsground tomorrow night.
Connacht welcome Glasgow Warriors in what will be the curtain call for the retiring Johnny O’Connor and Adrian Flavin, and for boss Eric Elwood who takes charge for the final time.
Irish international lock Mike McCarthy also makes his final appearance for the province ahead of his imminent move to Leinster.
With incoming coach Pat Lam waiting in the wings, Elwood has made just one change up front for the last game of the season, handing O’Connor his 146th cap with a start in the back-row.
In the backs Eoin Griffin returns from injury at outside centre, with Danie Poolman moving over to the wing to make space.
Flavin is named among the replacements and will win his 142nd cap if he comes off the bench as expected to make his final appearance of a seven-year stay out west.
A win for Connacht would equal their best-ever finish in the Pro12 while Glasgow head to Galway with history also firmly in their sights. If they win and other results go their way, Gregor Townsend’s men could become the first Scottish side to secure a home semi-final in the competition.
Townsend makes nine changes, most notably leaving Scottish international pair Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland — both of whom were included in the Lions squad earlier this week — on the bench.
Connacht: Gavin Duffy (c); Danie Poolman, Eoin Griffin, Brian Murphy, Fetu’u Vainikolo; Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion; Brett Wilkinson, Ethienne Reynecke, Ronan Loughney; Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy; Andrew Browne, Johnny O’Connor, Eoin McKeon.
Glasgow Warriors: Peter Murchie; Tommy Seymour, Sean Lamont, Peter Horne, DTH Van der Merwe; Ruaridh Jackson, Henry Pyrgos; Moray Low, Pat MacArthur, Jon Welsh; Tim Swinson, Tom Ryder; Rob Harley, John Barclay, Ryan Wilson (c). Replacements: Doug Hall, Ryan Grant, Ed Kalman, James Eddie, Josh Strauss, Niko Matawalu, Sean Maitland, Stuart Hogg.
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Meanwhile Paul O’Connell is one of only four Munster survivors from the team beaten by Clermont Auvergne in last weekend’s Heineken Cup semi-finals.
Dave Kilcoyne, Casey Laulala and Mike Sherry are the others who remain as Rob Penney leaves most of his hard-hitters at home for the trip to Zebre.
Munster have not won away from home in the competition all season and victory tomorrow night would cement their sixth-place finish.
Zebre: Ruggero Trevisan; Giovanbattista Venditti, Alberto Benettin, Gonzalo Garcia, Sinoti Sinoti; Daniel Halangahu, Tito Tebaldi; Matias Aguero, Davide Giazzon, David Ryan; Josh Sole, Marco Bortolami (c); Filippo Ferrarini, Mauro Bergamasco, Andries van Schalkwyk. Replacements: Andrea Manici, Luciano Leibson, Andrea de Marchi, Emiliano Caffini, Filippo Cristiano, Alberto Chillon, Matteo Pratichetti, Samuele Pace.
Munster: Denis Hurley; Ronan O’Mahony, Casey Laulala, Ian Keatley, Johne Murphy; JJ Hanrahan, Cathal Sheridan; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, John Ryan; Billy Holland, Paul O’Connell (c); Dave O’Callaghan, Sean Dougall, Paddy Butler. Replacements: Damien Varley, James Cronin, BJ Botha, Ian Nagle, Niall Ronan, Duncan Williams, Cathal Bohane, Felix Jones.
