Henshaw retains Connacht place for clash with European champions

TALENTED Buccaneers player Robbie Henshaw has retained his place in the Connacht team for tomorrow evening's eagerly-awaited RaboDirect PRO12 clash against reigning European champions Leinster at the Sportsground in Galway. The skilful 19 year-old is a former pupil at Marist College, Athlone, where he played a key role in their famous Connacht Senior Cup triumph earlier this year. He made his first start for Connacht last weekend, in the defeat at Glasgow Warriors, but has obviously caught coach Eric Elwood's eye over recent months, having also impressed as a substitute in the opening three league matches. Elwood, a renowned former Irish international, has made a number of changes to his Connacht side as they prepare to take on the European champions (Friday, 8pm). Henshaw has been shuffled from outside-centre to full-back, replacing the injured Gavin Duffy. The positional change will present a whole new set of challenges for young Henshaw, whose rise through the Connacht ranks this year has been remarkable. Both Tiernan O'Halloran and Fetu'u Vainikolo return to their starting positions on the wing, while Eoin Griffin joins Dave McSharry in the centre. Dan Parks makes a welcome return to rugby and makes his debut for the province tomorrow night as out-half. Up front, Brett Wilkinson makes way for Buccaneers' Denis Buckley at loose-head prop, while former Leinster prop Nathan White, who also captains the side, starts again as tight-head prop. Michael Swift slots back into the second row and is joined by fellow second rower, Mike McCarthy. Eoin McKeon, who started the last two weeks in the number 8 position, moves to blindside flanker, and joins Johnny O'Connor and George Naoupu in the back row. Recent Buccaneers acquisition, Mata Fifita has a place on the subtitutes bench.