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Dan Parks was excellent in Connacht's home win over Biarritz. ©INPHO/James Crombie
Team news

Parks return gives Connacht great chance to go out on a high

The Scottish international returns to the starting XV for the Friday visit of Zebre.

THE RETURN OF Dan Parks to the Connacht starting line-up is your headline news ahead of Friday’s Heineken Cup clash.

The team has lived and died on-field through Parks and his return should increase the size of Connacht’s favourite’s tag for the clash at the Sportsground.

Three Connacht players that were named in coach Eric Elwood’s team today were also named in Declan Kidney’s extended Six Nations squad – Robbie Henshaw, Dave McSharry and Mike McCarthy.

Three is the magic number as Elwood has made a triumvirate of personnel changes following last weekend’s heavy defeat away to Harlequins.

There are no further changes to the back line with Henshaw named at full back. McSharry, who starts at number 13, is named in the centre partnership with Eoin Griffin.

Tiernan O’Halloran, who is set to earn his 50th cap for the province, starts on the right wing while Fetu’u Vainikolo is named at number 11.

Buckle up, Buckley’s out

Up front, Denis Buckley, who is rested this week due to injury, makes way for Brett Wilkinson at loosehead prop.

Eoin McKeon has failed to shake off the ankle injury he picked up last weekend. And with George Naoupu still side-lined, Andrew Browne will move to the Number 8 position while Mick Kearney is named at Blindside Flanker.

On the bench, forwards JP Cooney and Dave Gannon, who were on B&I Cup duty last week, join the 23-man squad.

Danie Poolman, on his recovery from injury, joins Paul O’Donohoe and Miah Nikora in the replacement backs.

The match is Connacht’s final Heineken Cup fixture of the season and they will be hoping to finish the pool with three wins from six games.

Connacht: R Henshaw; T O’Halloran, E Griffin, D McSharry, F Vainikolo; D Parks, K Marmion; B Wilkinson, J Harris-Wright, N White (c); M Swift, M McCarthy; M Kearney, J O’Connor, A Browne.

Replacements: E Reynecke, JP Cooney, R Loughney, D Gannon, E Grace, P O’Donohoe, M Nikora, D Poolman.

Zebre: T Tebaldi; G Venditti, R Quartaroli, M Pratichetti, R Trevisan; D Halangahu, A Chillon; S Perugini, D Giazzon, L Redolfini; M van Vuuren, J Sole; E Caffini, M Bergamasco (c), F Ferrarini.

Replacements: C Festuccia, M Aguero, D Ryan, N Belardo, A Manici, L Martinelli, A Chiesa, S Pace.

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