Stuart Lancaster has made nine changes to the Connacht team for Saturday’s URC game with Scarlets at Dexcom stadium.
Cian Prendergast captains the side from blindside flanker in his 88th Connacht appearance.
Prendergast features in a back row that includes Paul Boyle with Sean Jansen at number 8. Darragh Murray and Joe Joyce come in to make up the second row partnership.
Whereas, it’s a new front row completing the pack with props Denis Buckley and Jack Aungier, and hooker Dave Heffernan.
Carty and Buckley start for Connacht
In the backs, the back three remain the same with Sean Naughton at full-back; Chay Mullins and Irish international Shayne Bolton are on the wings
Cathal Forde is joined by David Hawkshaw in the centre. Completing the side is scrum-half Ben Murphy and out-half Jack Carty.
“I was really pleased with the result last weekend against a really strong Benetton side” explained head coach Stuart Lancaster.
“There was a lot of positives to take from it, but still plenty to improve on. The energy from the fans was brilliant and we’ll need that same energy on Saturday this time with the earlier start”.
“I know the Scarlets coaching team well and I have a lot of respect for them.
“Dwayne will have them really well organised and up for the fight and Jarrod is a great defence coach. They more than deserved their play-off chance last season”.
“We’ve made a few changes for the game with the new faces coming, it's exciting to see how they'll go.”
Connacht: 15. Sean Naughton, 14. Chay Mullins, 13. David Hawkshaw, 12. Cathal Forde, 11. Shayne Bolton, 10. Jack Carty, 9. Ben Murphy, 1. Denis Buckley, 2. Dave Heffernan, 3. Jack Aungier, 4. Darragh Murray, 5. Joe Joyce, 6. Cian Prendergast (C), 7. Paul Boyle, 8. Sean Jansen.
Replacements: 16. Eoin de Buitléar, 17. Jordan Duggan, 18. Sam Illo, 19. David O’Connor, 20. Sean O'Brien, 21. Matthew Devine, 22. Hugh Gavin, 23. Finn Treacy
Connacht v Scarlets
Saturday 4th October
Dexcom Stadium, Kick-off: 1.45pm
