ERIC ELWOOD HAS made four changes to his starting pack for Connacht’s first Heineken Cup clash of the season, against newcomers Zebre in Parma on Saturday afternoon.
Adrian Flavin will be replaced by hooker Ethienne Reynecke, and the 30-year-old South African will be joined by Denis Buckley and captain Nathan White in a brand new front row from the side that lost 25-0 to Ulster last week in the RaboDirect PRO12.
John Muldoon is fit again, and he replaces Dave Gannon in the back row.
There are no changes among the backs despite last week’s drubbing. Academy members Kieran Marmion and Robbie Henshaw earn their 7th caps for the province at scrum-half and full-back respectively.
Connacht team v Zebre: Robbie Henshaw; Tiernan O’Halloran, Eoin Griffin, Dave McSharry, Fetu’u Vainikolo; Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Ethienne Reynecke, Nathan White (C); Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy; John Muldoon, Willie Faloon, George Naoupu.
