Newcastle Falcons v Connacht: Challenge Cup preview
By Tony Tighe
Last Updated: 18/12/15 4:09pm
Connacht head coach Pat Lam has been unable to name a 23-man match-day squad for Sunday's Challenge Cup trip to Newcastle Falcons.
The Irish province have just nine fit and available backs for the Kingston Park contest and their bench will be one player short after prop Ronan Loughney hurt his back in training on Friday.
Fly-half Shane O'Leary and 19-year-old prop Conan O'Donnell are handed first starts for Connacht while Craig Ronaldson returns at inside centre.
Newcastle make six changes to the team that lost in Galway last weekend with Scotland prop Jon Welsh named at tighthead prop and Alex Tait coming in on the right wing.
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Alex Tait, 13 Belisario Agulla, 12 Chris Harris, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Craig Willis, 9 Sonatane Takulua; 1 Alex Rogers, 2 Scott Lawson, 3 Jon Welsh, 4 Mouritz Botha, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Will Welch (c), 7 Daniel Temm, 8 Ally Hogg.
Replacements: 16 George McGuigan, 17 Rob Vickers, 18 Taione Vea, 19 Calum Green, 20 Richard Mayhew, 21 Michael Young, 22 Tom Catterick, 23 Juan Pablo Socino.
Connacht: 15 Danie Poolman, 14 Rory Parata, 13 Peter Robb, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Niyi Adeolokun, 10 Shane O'Leary, 9 Caolin Blade; 1 Conan O'Donnell, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Danny Qualter, 5 Andrew Browne, 6 Sean O'Brien, 7 Eoghan Masterson, 8 George Naoupu (c).
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Finlay Bealham, 18 Saba Meunargia, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 Dave Heffernan, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Jack Carty.