Zebre V Connacht 13/10/2012 @ 14.35(local) stade XXV Aprile, Parma HEC Pool 3

seanin4711

Here we go again!
With the much anticipated docco on TG4 on Wednesday 9.30 pm reviewing last years berth into HEC, (The West's Awake) we have a chance to do it all again and go one better perhaps!
I can see us doing well against zebre and Quins and we could give Biarritz a game up the sportsground for sure.
We made very hard work out of putting Zebre away in the same fixture in the rabo a few weeks back.
Lets hope there is a full bill of health and Eric is spoiled for choice,but more importantly plays his strongest XV possible.
Connacht ABU!!!

NOT ON Local TV COS WERE NOT WORTH IT (SKy Italia if you have it!!!)
Live on Galway bay fm though

decisions

Assuming a fully fit side I don't think a BP is out of reach.

porterbelly

Duffy may be back in contention

McSharry, Loughney and Fifita carrying knocks from Friday, McSharry will be touch and go

gally74

Where is pool man?

f1dan

gally74 wrote: »

Where is pool man?

He's on the injury list with plenty more for company.

Robbo

gally74 wrote: »

Where is pool man?

I believe he was nearly ready to go about 2-3 games ago and then the injury recurred in training.

freyners

Be interesting who is selected at LH, buckley has been pushing for the no 1 spot all season and impressed v afoa last week

ouncer

search dream box and you will learn how to watch sky italia. Big competition if Gavin is back. Really love the way henshaw plays. Can not only catch a ball but is willing to do much like rob kearney does, breathtaking runs while gavin is very one dimensional. Great to see youngsters doing well. Was a bit worrying the way our big men rolled over against ulster last week. It really proved we are not the full product yet. Had thought that the leinster win was a defining moment but the power of Ulster was immense

Robbo

Zebre

15 Daniel HALANGAHU, 14 Giovanbattista VENDITTI, 13 Matteo PRATICHETTI, 12 Gonzalo GARCIA (cap), 11 Sinoti SINOTI, 10 Luciano ORQUERA,9 Tito TEBALDI

8 Andries VAN SCHALKWYK, 7 Mauro BERGAMASCO, 6 Nicola BELARDO,5 Josh SOLE, 4 Quintin GELDENHUYS, 3 Luca REDOLFINI, 2 Davide GIAZZON, 1 Salvatore PERUGINI

Subs:

16 Carlo FESTUCCIA, 17 Matias AGUERO, 18 Carlo FAZZARI, 19 Michael VAN VUREN, 20 Filippo FERRARINI, 21 Luca MARTINELLI, 22 Ruggero TREVISAN, 23 Leonardo SARTO

Since we last played them, Sinoti^2 is back on the wing, Pratichetti and Garcia weren't there at all last time and no Dave Ryan up front. There's plenty of danger there, especially if we're as a sloppy as last time out in Italy. However, if the Leinster intensity can be replicated, a BP might be on the cards.

I'd like to see us start with our strongest scrummaging Front Row (Buckley, Reynecke (if fit), White) and use it as a platform.

Gargled

On a scale of 1 to easy.... how easy is it to be able to watch Sky Italia... pub or otherwise

Robbo

Gargled wrote: »

On a scale of 1 to easy.... how easy is it to be able to watch Sky Italia... pub or otherwise

I've heard tell it's on the red button on Sky Italia, further complicating matters.

I believe good old GBFM will be there.

Gambas

Quins will be out to get us this year. Going to be tough to get anything from them. Biarritz game might be an outside chance in the Sportsground, but really the success or otherwise will be defined by how we do in the two Zebre games. We need a win this weekend.

GerM

Gambas wrote: »

Quins will be out to get us this year. Going to be tough to get anything from them. Biarritz game might be an outside chance in the Sportsground, but really the success or otherwise will be defined by how we do in the two Zebre games. We need a win this weekend.

I'd say success is defined by Connacht's home games. If they're just aiming to beat Zebre they should stay at home (and I'd be sure they're aiming a lot higher than that). Connacht have had their baptismal season in the HEC. Now they can show they're not there to make up the numbers. They should genuinely be targetting 4 wins here. The two Zebre games should both end in wins. They proved last year that they can beat Quins at home. Biarritz trade on their name and little else. They're generally poison on the road and have lost to both Aironi and Treviso in the HEC in the past 2 years.

Connacht have a stronger squad now with more experience to take on these sides and get a result. The likes of Parks, White and Marmion look much improved on previous options and they should have a big impact.

freyners

Gambas wrote: »

Quins will be out to get us this year. Going to be tough to get anything from them. Biarritz game might be an outside chance in the Sportsground, but really the success or otherwise will be defined by how we do in the two Zebre games. We need a win this weekend.

Quins last year needed the win to ensure qualification. that should be a far better motivation than simply hurting over a loss and we still beat them. We nearly done them away also but their bench made a difference (something, especially in the forwards, we have caught up in)

JustinDee

Gargled wrote: »

On a scale of 1 to easy.... how easy is it to be able to watch Sky Italia... pub or otherwise

If you're in Dublin city centre, I do know Slattery's on Shelbourne Rd, just down from the Aviva, have the Italian channels.

Gambas

GerM wrote: »

I'd say success is defined by Connacht's home games. If they're just aiming to beat Zebre they should stay at home (and I'd be sure they're aiming a lot higher than that). Connacht have had their baptismal season in the HEC. Now they can show they're not there to make up the numbers. They should genuinely be targetting 4 wins here. The two Zebre games should both end in wins. They proved last year that they can beat Quins at home. Biarritz trade on their name and little else. They're generally poison on the road and have lost to both Aironi and Treviso in the HEC in the past 2 years.

Connacht have a stronger squad now with more experience to take on these sides and get a result. The likes of Parks, White and Marmion look much improved on previous options and they should have a big impact.

Of course they'll be targeting a lot more too, but any realist last year would have said that 1 win from 6 would be a decent return,even if they were targeting a lot more. This year 2 will do, and any more is a very good outcome.

Quins - far from impossible to beat them, but they won't have tales of 14 match losing streaks and quarter final draws going around in their heads this year when they come to Galway. They'll have their heads right this time.

White is a gem and Buckley is flying, so the front row is much stronger in terms of depth for sure, but Dan Parks will be hit and miss and Marmion is a over hyped at the moment IMO.

freyners

Gambas wrote: »

Of course they'll be targeting a lot more too, but any realist last year would have said that 1 win from 6 would be a decent return,even if they were targeting a lot more. This year 2 will do, and any more is a very good outcome.

Quins - far from impossible to beat them, but they won't have tales of 14 match losing streaks and quarter final draws going around in their heads this year when they come to Galway. They'll have their heads right this time.

White is a gem and Buckley is flying, so the front row is much stronger in terms of depth for sure, but Dan Parks will be hit and miss and Marmion is a over hyped at the moment IMO.

in what why do you think marmion is over hyped as a matter of interest?

Gambas

freyners wrote: »

Quins last year needed the win to ensure qualification. that should be a far better motivation than simply hurting over a loss and we still beat them. We nearly done them away also but their bench made a difference (something, especially in the forwards, we have caught up in)

That was their motivation - sounds great, but I don't think that was enough to match ours. This time around we won't have the pent up frustration of the losing streak and the desire to not end the HEC campaign without a win. Hope I'm wrong, and we'll see in a few weeks.

Gambas

freyners wrote: »

in what why do you think marmion is over hyped as a matter of interest?

It's more a criticism of the level of praise he's getting after every game than his performances. He's been good and has hit the ground running, but at times he's been slow moving the ball (the dreaded two step) and his box kicking has been dodgy at times.

freyners

thats fair enough, I was just questioning as it hate seeing people saying a player is over rated without backing it up.IMO he has been a vasty improvement on current options and all players are liable to mistakes, especially a lad who is only year 2 of academy. However I dont think anyone can disagree he is noticably quicker getting the ball out most times and has an eye for a gap

Funk It

Brett Wilkinson after being named in Eagles side, guessing Buckley to start with White, with Loughney and Ah You on the bench.

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2012101183046/eagles-team-announced-for-opening-bai-game

macslash

Connacht XV:

15 Robbie Henshaw

14 Tiernan O’Halloran

13 Eoin Griffin

12 Dave McSharry

11 Fetu’u Vainikolo

10 Dan Parks

9 Kieran Marmion

1 Denis Buckley

2 Ethienne Reynecke

3 Nathan White (C)

4 Michael Swift

5 Mike McCarthy

6 John Muldoon

7 Willie Faloon

8 George Naoupu

Replacements (from):

16 Adrian Flavin

17 Rodney Ah You

18 Ronan Loughney

19 Dave Gannon

20 Johnny O’Connor

21 Dave Moore

22 Miah Nikora

23 Mata Fifita

Gambas

Brett must be in the bad books.

f1dan

Gambas wrote: »

Brett must be in the bad books.

He's just been playing badly tbh. Buckley has definitely overtaken him as the number 1 loosehead and the coaches obviously feel that Loughney is the better option to cover the bench.

bamboozle

exciting times ahead with that backline.

Diabhal Beag

Are Buskers showing it?

Blackheath

I'm looking for a big game from McSharry, I think he could be a future International, could be the man to replace Darcy if he can stay fit.

Live updates here

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby

Clareman

Match tracker from ERC can be found here http://matchdaylive.ercrugby.com/heineken/index.php?mobile=0

freyners

whats the story with streams here, allowed to be posted or not?

The Zebre jersey is beautiful

RuggieBear

freyners wrote: »

whats the story with streams here, allowed to be posted or not?

no streams

freyners

to the point, i like it


good clearance by parks, almost a calamity before that tho

I said it in the Con v Leinster match thread, but Parks' organisation of his backline is fantastic.

He doesn't stop talking, a seriously good guiding hand...

freyners

loving the pronouciation of the names by the commentators

super take by george

blackhound

Awful tackle by Bergamasco. Definite Yellow, no attempt to bring him back down safely.

I used to be of the opinion that Dan Parks was a poor version of ROG. Might well have been true a couple of seasons ago, but Parks is still performing at that level, while ROG has tapered off.

I was a harsh critic of the Parks to Connacht transfer, but I'm just more impressed with him, his attitude and his ability to help those around him every single game.

freyners

bergamasco in the bin for a dangerous tackle on toh,

parks slots the peno to make it 9-3 at HT

SparKing

Connacht are lucky to be winning, Zebroni should have Orquera taking the penalties. That said Connacht finished the half well.

porterbelly

Bergamasco could have got red. Have to kick on for the 1st 10 of the second half and get a try

Funk It

Good man Dan Parks, 9-3 at half time will take that. Need to lift it in the second half against 14 men, McSharry drawing in their midfield very well.

cityman 18

Anyone else think that the jerseys clash just a lot?

freyners

Bergamasco could have got red. Have to kick on for the 1st 10 of the second half and get a try

why it was technically a spear and a spear is an auto red card it would have been fairly harsh as I've seen far worse get away with nothing. It a rule that need to be enforced uniformly

irishbucsfan

Score?

freyners

SparKing wrote: »

Connacht are lucky to be winning, Zebroni should have Orquera taking the penalties. That said Connacht finished the half well.

a lot of the kicks have been outside his range, If i remember correctly he doesnt have the greatest distance with his kicks

cityman 18

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Score?

3-9 to connacht. Playing well, Henshaw looks like a serious prospect.

blackhound

9-3 to Connacht at half time Zebre down to 14 for first ten of second half

freyners

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Score?

9-3 connacht, zebre with a man in the bin

Funk It

cityman 18 wrote: »

Anyone else think that the jerseys clash just a lot?

Yes, its like the Glasgow game all over again, although this time we are playing better.

freyners

seems to be a good connacht support there actually

Lads, any details on McSharry's recurring chin cut/injury? Seems to be constantly strapped beyond belief!

Is it just a cut that they can't stop reopening?