European Challenge Cup Pool Two
Venue: Galway Sportsgrounds Date: Friday, 18 December Kick-off: 1900 GMT
Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Hereford and Worcester, score updates on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Sport website

Fly-half Matthew Jones will make his first start of the season for Worcester in Friday's visit to Connacht.

Boss Mike Ruddock has rung the changes after a home defeat to the Irish side left their qualification hopes as slim.

Marcel Garvey and Rico Gear both return to the backline, Chris Pennell moves to full-back and Calum MacRae starts in the centre alongside Alex Grove.

French prop Olivier Sourgens, captain Chris Fortey and locks Will Bowley and Graham Kitchener come into the pack.

"As much as we would like to do well in the Challenge Cup, the Premiership is our number one competition," Ruddock told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"We want to be there or thereabouts in the play-offs, or in Europe.

"We were wanting to freshen up the team anyway. I've had players knocking on my door, saying 'why am I not in the team and what have I got to do to get in?'

"I have told them when they get the opportunity they must be ready, and here is the opportunity.

"What they lack in experience they will make up for in effort and genuine desire."

Ruddock revealed that prop Matt Mullan has returned to training this week and could make his return in the Boxing Day Guinness Premiership clash with Northampton.

Connacht, meanwhile, could take a decisive step towards reaching the quarter-finals if they win a fourth successive pool match.

There will be full commentary on Friday's game on BBC Hereford and Worcester on 104 fm and online.

Connacht: G Duffy, L Bibo, N Ta'auso, A Wynne, F Carr, I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris, M McCarthy, B Upton, J Muldoon (capt), R Ofisa, G Naoupu.
Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, J Hagan, M Swift, M McComish, K Campbell, M Nikora, T Nathan.

Worcester: C Pennell, M Garvey, A Grove, C MacRae, R Gear, M Jones, J Arr; A Black, C Fortey (capt), O Sourgens, K Kitchener, W Bowley, J Collins, J Abbott, M Cox.
Replacements: J Page, J Gilding, T Taumoepeau, D Lyons, T Wood, O Frost, G King, D Rasmussen.

Referee: Pascal Gauzere

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