Andy Friend shuffles Connacht for final Pro-14 fixture

Andy Friend shuffles the Connacht team for their final pro-14 fixture with Scarlets

Andy Friend has shuffled the Connacht team for Monday night’s Guinness PRO14 season finale against Scarlets in Llanelli.

The side is captained by Paul Boyle in a back row that also features Conor Oliver and Abraham Papali’i.

Gavin Thornbury and Niall Murray continue their second row partnership after impressive showings last weekend, and a front row of Jordan Duggan, Shane Delahunt and Jack Aungier completes the pack.

Kieran Marmion is retained at scrum-half with Conor Fitzgerald alongside him, and there are no changes at 12, 13 or 14 which are filled by Tom Daly, Academy centre Sean O’Brien and winger Ben O’Donnell.

Alex Wootton is named on the opposite wing with John Porch completing the side from full-back. Galway native Dylan Tierney-Martin could be in line to make his Connacht pro debut, with the hooker named among the replacements.

“This is our final chance to give game-time to some players before our Challenge Cup and Rainbow Cup outings so I know the whole squad will be eager to impress” said Connacht head coach Andy Friend.

“Thankfully our injury situation is relatively good heading into those competitions which has allowed us to try out a few new combinations” added Friend.

“We’d love to travel to Leicester on Saturday week with a win behind us and it’s also important to finish any league campaign on a high, so we’re looking forward to travelling to Wales and see how they perform.”

Connacht