PAT LAM HAS made five changes to the Connacht team to face Newport Gwent Dragons at the Sportsground on Saturday night (7:35pm).

Following last weekend’s defeat of Cardiff Blues, Irish internationals Kieran Marmion, Finlay Bealham and Ultan Dillane all return to the starting XV, while 23-year-old centre Tom Farrell makes his full debut after signing from Bedford Blues last month.

Meanwhile, another recent signing, Steve Crosbie, could make his debut from the bench.

Ahead of the game, head coach Lam commented: “We’re all really excited to be back playing at home for the first time in five weeks. By all accounts it will be a full house here again tomorrow and that always drives us on.

We’re very aware of where we are in this competition and what we need to do. Dragons will take confidence from their victory over us in round 8 so it’s really important that we are right on the money with our mental preparation and execution of the game plan.”

Connacht team:

15. Tiernan O’Halloran

14. Niyi Adeolokun

13. Tom Farrell

12. Craig Ronaldson

11. Matt Healy

10. Jack Carty

9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley

2. Dave Heffernan

3. Finlay Bealham

4. Ultan Dillane

5. Quinn Roux

6. Sean O’Brien

7. Jake Heenan

8. John Muldoon (captain)

Replacements:

16. Tom McCartney

17. Ronan Loughney

18. JP Cooney

19. James Cannon

20. Nepia Fox-Matamua

21. Caolin Blade

22. Steve Crosbie

23. Rory Parata

Injured / Unavailable: Conor Carey, Ivan Soroka, Conan O’Donnell, Andrew Browne, Marnitz Boshoff, Bundee Aki, Stacey Ili, Eoin Griffin, Cormac Brennan, Cian Kelleher, Darragh Leader, Josh Rowland.

Newport Gwent Dragons team

15. Tom Prydie

14. Adam Hughes

13. Tyler Morgan

12. Adam Warren

11. Pat Howard

10. Dorian Jones

9. Tavis Knoyle

1. Sam Hobbs

2. Elliot Dee

3. Brok Harris

4. Nick Crosswell

5. Rynard Landman

6. Ollie Griffiths

7. Nic Cudd

8. Lewis Evans

Replacements:

16. Darran Harris

17. Thomas Davies

18. Lloyd Fairbrother

19. Cory Hill

20. Harrison Keddie

21. Sarel Pretorius

22. Angus O’Brien

23. Sam Beard.

Referee: Nigel Owens

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