Adam Byrne a doubt as Andy Friend demands response from Connacht

Adam Byrne looks like being the only injury doubt for Connacht ahead of Sunday's final Interpro of the season versus Leinster, but director of rugby Andy Friend is considering changes as he seeks a response following last week's defeat to Ulster.

Byrne came off the bench to score a late try in Friday night's BKT United Rugby Championship defeat, a score which could have secured a draw for the province but for a missed Jack Carty conversion.

The former Leinster wing has scored two tries in his first four games for the province, and would have featured more this season had it not been for some niggling injuries, according to Andy Friend.

Should he come through this week he may even get a nod into the starting team, with the director of rugby suggesting he wasn't pleased with some of his players in their defeat at the Sportsground last week.

"Some players maintained their starting position, some players didn't," Friend said.

"You get a performance like that, you put a lot of people in a bracket where there's a conversation to be had about them.

"It then comes down to what we believe is sitting behind them, and how they've been training and how they're going when given opportunities."

Byrne is one of four players who joined the province from this weekend's opponents Leinster over the summer, along with prop Peter Dooley, versatile forward Josh Murphy and out-half/centre David Hawkshaw (below).

It's likely that all four will feature on New Year's Day at the RDS, with Dooley, Murphy and Hawkshaw also first-team regulars this season, while Byrne has impressed in recent weeks.

"Adam [Byrne] has been good the last few opportunities he's had, we've been very impressed with him. He's nursing a foot at the moment, so we'll see how he pulls