Parks returns for Connacht’s final pool game
Flyhalf Dan Parks returns to the Connacht starting XV for their final Heineken Cup Pool 3 encounter with Zebre at the Sportsground tomorrow night (8pm).
Parks missed last weekend’s 47-8 defeat to Harlequins through injury but has recovered to resume his halfback partnership with Kieran Marmion.
There are no further changes to the back line with Robbie Henshaw, who today received a call-up to the extended Ireland squad, named at full back.
Also called up to train with the national squad next week was Dave McSharry who starts at number 12 in midfield alongside Eoin Griffin.
Tiernan O'Halloran, who is set to earn his 50th cap for the province, starts on the right wing while Fetu'u Vainikolo is named at number 11.
Up front, Denis Buckley, who is rested this week due to injury, makes way for Brett Wilkinson at Loosehead Prop.
Eoin McKeon has failed to shake off the ankle injury he picked up last weekend. And with George Naoupu still side-lined, Andrew Browne will move to the Number 8 position while Mick Kearney is named at Blindside Flanker.
On the bench, forwards JP Cooney and Dave Gannon, who were on British and Irish Cup duty last week, join the 23-man squad.
Danie Poolman, on his recovery from injury, joins Paul O'Donohoe and Miah Nikora in the replacement backs.
Connacht (v. Zebre): R Henshaw; T O’Halloran, E Griffin, D McSharry, F Vainikolo; D Parks, K Marmion; B Wilkinson, J Harris-Wright, N White, M Swift, M McCarthy; M Kearney, J O’Connor, A Browne.
Replacements: E Reynecke, JP Cooney, R Loughney, D Gannon, E Grace, P O’Donohoe, M Nikora, D Poolman.
Unavailable due to injury: Denis Buckley, Gavin Duffy, Willie Faloon, Matt Healy, Eoin McKeon, John Muldoon, Frank Murphy, Dave Nolan, George Naoupu.
