Pro12: Treviso vs Connacht, Sat 3 Sep, 3PM

evil_seed

Connacht Rugby have announced the starting XV that will take on Benetton Treviso in the opening round of the RaboDirect PRO12 this Saturday.

Gavin Duffy will lead the side out, having been unveiled as Connacht's new captain earlier this week. The 6'2 former Mayo Minor footballer has 10 Irish caps and was part of Declan Kidneys World Cup training squad this year. He is supported on the wings by Ulsterman Mark McCrea and Ireland U20 International Tiernan O'Halloran while the exciting centre partnership of Henry Fa'aili and Eoin Griffin complete the backline.

Experienced scrumhalf Frank Murphy and former Ospreys outhalf Matthew Jarvis renew their halfback pairing following a fine display against Saracens last week.

Connacht have 4 players in the pack with more than 100 caps. Flavin, McCarthy and Muldoon have all reached the milestone while Michael Swift is just short of his 200th cap for the Province. Ronan Loughney and Ray Ofisa, with 80 and 89 caps respectively, provide plenty more experience with George Naoupu and Rodney Ah You completing the firepower of the forwards.

Connacht starting XV to face Benetton Treviso (Stadio Monigo, Treviso - Saturday 3rd September - ko 15.00 local (14.00 Irish time)

1. Ronan Loughney
2. Adrian Flavin
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Michael Swift
5. Mike McCarthy
6. John Muldoon
7. Ray Ofisa
8. George Naoupu
9. Frank Murphy
10. Matthew Jarvis
11. Tiernan O'Hallora
12. Henry Fa'afili
13. Eoin Griffin
14. Mark McCrea
15. Gavin Duffy (C)

16. Ethienne Reynecke
17. Denis Buckley
18. Dylan Rogers
19. TJ Anderson
20. Johnny O'Connor
21. Paul O'Donohoe
22. Nial O'Connor
23. Brian Tuohy

Is this to be televised?

If 1-3 can hold strong this year, Jarvis can get his game going, and Connacht can get some momentum going, there are plenty of genuine opportunities for Connacht to take a few scalps this year!

evil_seed

This is not being televised. I would have put it in the thread title if it was .

I can't find any team news for Treviso ATM. I'm sure someone will post up if its available

CIARAN_BOYLE

no game over in Italy is being televised

Starting Lineup:
15 Ludovico Nitoglia
14 Michele Sepe
13 Kristopher Burton
12 Andrea Pratichetti
11 Brendan Williams
10 Willem De Waal
9 Alberto Chillon
8 Manoa Vosawai
7 Francesco Minto
6 Marco Filippucci
5 Valerio Bernabò
4 Antonio Pavanello (captain)
3 Augusto Allori
2 Franco Sbaraglini
1 Michele Rizzo
Replacements:
16 Diego Vidal
17 Matteo Muccignat
18 Pedro Di Santo
19 Gonzalo Padrò
20 Benjamin Vermaak
21 Simon Picone
22 Alberto Di Bernardo
23 Benjamin De Jager

seanin4711

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

no game over in Italy is being televised

Starting Lineup:
15 Ludovico Nitoglia
14 Michele Sepe
13 Kristopher Burton
12 Andrea Pratichetti
11 Brendan Williams
10 Willem De Waal
9 Alberto Chillon
8 Manoa Vosawai
7 Francesco Minto
6 Marco Filippucci
5 Valerio Bernabò
4 Antonio Pavanello (captain)
3 Augusto Allori
2 Franco Sbaraglini
1 Michele Rizzo
Replacements:
16 Diego Vidal
17 Matteo Muccignat
18 Pedro Di Santo
19 Gonzalo Padrò
20 Benjamin Vermaak
21 Simon Picone
22 Alberto Di Bernardo
23 Benjamin De Jager

Is this game on da radio ???

fatguy2k1

seanin4711 wrote: »

Is this game on da radio ???

GBFM will have it but the best updates will be off the Connacht Rugby Facebook page.

David900

Where is Wilkinson? I may change my fantasy team now....

I would have watched this if it was on TV just to see Jarvis playing. It can't be the start O'Connor was hoping for being on the bench.

thomond2006

Is Nikora injured or just not picked?

evil_seed

Last I heard Miah was going around in a walking boot/soft cast

profitius

How many players have Treviso missing?

Diom

profitius wrote: »

How many players have Treviso missing?

12.

profitius

Diom wrote: »

12.

Then I think I'll chance a bet on Connacht.

porterbelly

30 + degrees in Treviso. Regardless of the players Treviso are missing it will be tough.

We need to get a grip on Brendan Williams early on. He destroyed us out there last year. Silly penalties will be punished by De Waal, who has a huge and accurate boot.

Come on boys, 4 points please

durkadurka

I just got an Irish times news alert saying full time score 0-0.

Surely not?

CIARAN_BOYLE

durkadurka wrote: »

I just got an Irish times news alert saying full time score 0-0.

Surely not?

Well it kicked off at 2pm so thats wrong

thomond2006

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchdaylive/

They were good on the old ML site anyway.

porterbelly

3-0 Treviso, De Waal penalty

durkadurka

thomond2006 wrote: »

http://www.rabodirectpro12.com/matchdaylive/

They were good on the old ML site anyway.

They were very behind the times IMHO. You're better off finding a good twitter feed or two.

thomond2006

durkadurka wrote: »

They were very behind the times IMHO. You're better off finding a good twitter feed or two.

http://twitter.com/#!/connachtrugby

Found one, cheers.

Funk It

Need to get on the score board, from the feeds it shows promise of us creating attacking opportunities, but a pity for it to be called forward when Griffin seemed to be in. Good news to hear that the Connacht scrum is holding up well

theboss80

From Pro12 twitter





Score 3-3 after 28mins

Funk It

try for Connacht - Good man Rodney! Jarvis is sounding like the real deal as well

thomond2006

G'wan Connacht!

Jarvis taking a lot of responsibility on himself or so it seems. Very encouraging!

Funk It

8-3 up at halftime, happy with that, still missed 5 points with the boot, but with one of those from the half way and the other a missed conversion which Jarvis set up, we can't be too critical. Keep it up lads

theboss80

8-3 half time to Connacht

PhatPiggins

Sounds like Connacht should be a lot further ahead in this one

Funk It

11-3 now, and nearly grew our lead further, great to have an 8 point cushion, will hopefully increase the gap before the late backlash

thomond2006

Aye Jarvis has missed 2/3 kicks. NOC on now.

Funk It

O'Connor on for Jarvis - I'm just hoping that he doesnt mess this up

thomond2006

Funk It wrote: »

O'Connor on for Jarvis - I'm just hoping that he doesnt mess this up

That's a very negative spin on things.

11-6 now

Funk It

11-6, always get worried about Connacht in the last 10-20 mins, please don't drop this lead lads

Funk It

thomond2006 wrote: »

That's a very negative spin on things.

11-6 now

Jarvis seemed to be having a decent game besides the missed kicks, set up the first try, does look pretty negative on second reading of it alright

thomond2006

7/8 minutes to go.

profitius

9 - 11 now. I can see them losing.

theboss80

11-9 after 74mins

Squeaky bum time.

11-9

Funk It

C'mon Connacht, could be a great start to the season

thomond2006

2 minutes left

thomond2006

11-9 FT. Well done Connacht, great start to the season!

Funk It

Awesome, 11-9 final score, unreal start to the season

theboss80

Woohooo well done Connacht, all over

durkadurka

Great away win

PhatPiggins

Very well done. Treviso beat a lot of good teams at home last year

Tough place to get a result. Go on the Westies!

profitius

Well done Connacht! They've a chance of winning all their first 4 games so its a good start with a new team.

thomond2006

Scarlets at home next week, live on TG4. Given the season ticket sales there should be a good crowd too.

GerM

Massive win. BT won 8/11 at home last season. That's a really fantastic result.

siltirocker

thomond2006 wrote: »

Aye Jarvis has missed 2/3 kicks. NOC on now.

He actually hit 2 out of 5. Which is a concern but his play around the park was reminiscant of Keatley.

PhatPiggins

Deleted User wrote: »

Tough place to get a result. Go on the Westies!

We're not allowed to call them that! Apparently it infringes on their true cultural identity

eyeball kid

Great result to go out there and come away with a win.
Nice start to the season, Come on Connacht!