PRO12 teams: Connacht captain John Muldoon reaches milestone
Friday 4 December 2015 20:55, UK
Guinness PRO12 leaders Connacht visit Cardiff seeking a seventh successive victory while Ulster welcome Edinburgh to Kingspan Stadium.
Cardiff Blues v Connacht (7.05pm)
Connacht skipper John Muldoon makes a record 200th PRO12 appearances when the league leaders visit the Cardiff Arms Park.
The western province recorded an historic victory in Munster last weekend but it came at a cost, with Ireland international Robbie Henshaw one of three players who suffered injuries at Thomond Park.
Pat Lam makes eight changes to his starting line-up as Jack Carty starts at fly-half and Darragh Leaders comes in on the wing for his 50th Connacht appearance.
Cardiff welcome Wales wing Alex Cuthbert back from injury as they attempt to halt a seven-game losing streak in the PRO12.
The Blues make eight changes to the side that lost to the Ospreys with Rhys Patchell selected at full-back.
Cardiff: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Rey Lee-Lo, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Tom James, 10 Jarrod Evans, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Ethan Lewis, 3 Taufa'ao Filise, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Lou Reed, 6 Macauley Cook, 7 Josh Turnbull, 8 Manoa Vosawai.
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Sam Hobbs, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 James Down, 20 Cam Dolan, 21 Tavis Knoyle, 22 Garyn Smith, 23 Dan Fish.
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Darragh Leader, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Ian Porter; 1 Ronan Loughney, 2 Dave Heffernan, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Aly Muldowney, 6 John Muldoon (c), 7 James Connolly, 8 Eoin McKeon.
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Conan O'Donnell, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 George Naoupu, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Peter Robb, 23 Rory Parata.
Ulster v Edinburgh (7.35pm)
Rob Herring skippers Ulster after signing a new two-year contract in midweek while Iain Henderson moves to the back-row to accommodate Franco van der Merwe's inclusion.
Luke Marshall starts at inside centre and Ireland flanker Chris Henry comes in at openside as Ulster attempt to halt a three-game losing streak against Scottish opposition.
Edinburgh are without the hamstrung Greig Tonks so Jack Cuthbert starts at full-back with Dougie Fife returning on the wing, while Sean Kennedy replaces the injured Sam Hidalgo-Clyne at scrum-half.
Edinburgh were 16-10 winners over Ulster at Murrayfield in October but they have never achieved a season double over the Irish province.
Ulster: 15 Peter Nelson, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Rory Scholes, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ruan Pienaar; 1 Kyle McCall, 2 Rob Herring (c), 3 Ricky Lutton, 4 Dan Tuohy, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Iain Henderson, 7 Chris Henry, 8 Roger Wilson.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andy Warwick, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Alan O'Connor, 20 Nick Williams, 21 Paul Marshall, 22 Stuart McCloskey, 23 Louis Ludik.
Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Chris Dean, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Will Helu, 10 Phil Burleigh, 9 Sean Kennedy; 1 Alasdair Dickinson, 2 Ross Ford, 3 WP Nel, 4 Anton Bresler, 5 Alex Toolis, 6 Mike Coman (c), 7 John Hardie, 8 Cornell Du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 John Andress, 19 Jamie Ritchie, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Michael Allen, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
Live PRO12 Rugby Union
