Injuries force Connacht to ring the changes for tough test in Scotland

Dara Bradley EARLY season injuries have forced Connacht coach Michael Bradley into making three changes to the side that takes on Edinburgh in this evening’s Magners League clash in Murrayfield (kick-off 7.30pm). Bradley has drafted in props Jamie Hagan and Ronan Loughney in the front-row, which was under enormous pressure against the Osprey scrum during the 12-19 defeat last Friday. Loughney, who wasn’t even on the bench against the Ospreys, comes in for Brett Wilkinson, who injured a finger in training this week while Hagan, who replaced the injured Robbie Morris (back) after just 19 minutes against the Welsh men, impressed enough to earn a place alongside Loughney and hooker Seán Cronin. In the other change, New Zealander Troy Nathan starts in the centre, replacing Niva Ta’auso who broke a bone in his hand. The encouraging news is Mike McCarthy’s injury is not as severe as originally feared – his Achilles injury has cleared-up and the back-row is named on the bench and he, along with Johnny O’Connor, is expected to taste some action in the second-half tonight.Connacht’s record in Murrayfield is abysmal and the westerners have been on the wrong side of fierce hidings in the Scottish venue in recent seasons –they were thumped 35-5 in the latest trip there when being outscored four tries to one at the same venue in March of this year. In the corresponding home fixture last October, Connacht were outclassed again, trailing Edinburgh by 27 points to nil at half-time, before fighting back in the second half at the Sportsground, to salvage some pride in the 27-14 defeat.But last week’s opening defeat to the Ospreys will give the squad a much-needed confidence boost going into tonight’s clash. Bradley’s men were the better team for long spells against the star-studded Welsh outfit but just failed to make their superiority count on the scoreboard before two harsh sin-binings turned the tie in the Osprey’s favour.Securing the losing bonus-point, something that has eluded them and cost them dearly in League placings in recent seasons, is encouraging but Bradley’s men may struggle against an Edinburgh side that lost just once at 'The Castle’ in the 2008/2009 Magners League.With the likes of internationals Chris Patterson named at full-back, captain Allister Hogg, Geoff Cross and others, as well as two Lions that are sure to be sprung from the bench at some stage, The Gunners will be confident of earning their second win on the trot of this campaign. Edinburgh have made one change to the team that produced a courageous defensive display last weekend to hold on for a 21-22 away win over Cardiff. Dutch winger Tim Visser misses out with a shoulder knock and is replaced by Andy Turnbull and interestingly the Scottish club side has named two British and Irish Lions players on the bench. Scotland captain and scrum-half Mike Blair is provisionally named as a replacement although he may not feature due to a throat bug while fellow Lion and hooker Ross Ford, who hasn’t played since the third Lions Test match against South Africa this summer, is expected to be sprung from the bench at some stage on Friday night.Meanwhile, hooker Cronin and prop Brett Wilkinson have been included in the Irish squad which will hold a training camp in Dublin next week. They were selected by Ireland Manager Declan Kidney in 34 man panel the final Ireland training camp to take place in Dublin on September 14 and 15.Connacht: G. Duffy, B. Tuohy, T. Nathan, K. Matthews, F. Carr, I. Keatley, F. Murphy; R. Loughney, S. Cronin, J. Hagan, A. Browne, B. Upton, J. Muldoon, R. Ofisa, M. McComish. Replacements: A. Flavin, C. HigginsM. McCarthy, Johnny O’Connor, C. O’Loughlin, M. Nikora, A. Wynne.Edinburgh: C. Patterson, M Robertson, B. Cairns, J. Houston, A. Turnball, P. Godman, Greg Laidlaw; A. Jacobsen, A. Kelly, G. Cross C. Hamilton, S. MacLeod, A. MacDonald, R. Grant, A. Hogg.