HC Connacht V Zebre, Sportsgrounds, Friday 18th January, 20:00,SS2 Red Button

freyners

Connacht: 15 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Tiernan O'Halloran, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Andrew Browne, 7 Johnny O'Connor, 6 Mick Kearney, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Nathan White, 2 Jason Harris Wright,1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements:16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Ronan Loughney, 19 Dave Gannon, 20 Eoghan Grace, 21 Paul O'Donohoe, 22 Miah Nikora, 23 Danie Poolman

Zebre: 15 Tito Tebaldi, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Roberto Quartaroli, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Ruggero Trevisan, 10 Daniel Halangahu, 9 Alberto Chillon, 8 Filippo Ferrarini, 7 Mauro Bergamasco, 6 Emiliano Caffini, 5 Josh Sole, 4 Mike Van Vuren, 3 Luca Redolfini, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Salvatore Perugini.
Replacements: 16 Carlo Festuccia, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 David Ryan, 19 Nicola Belardo, 20 Andrea Manici, 21 Luca Martinelli, 22 Alberto Chiesa, 23 Samuele Pace.

Referee: Pascal Gauzere (France)
Assistant referees: Jean-Luc Rebollal (France), Cyril Lafon (France)
Television match official: Daniel Irazoqui (France)

thomond2006

Great to see this televised.

CIARAN_BOYLE

I don't think I've seen browne play 8 before, with himself and Kearney in the backrow thats one massive Connacht backrow

Robbo

4 good options in the lineout with Browne and Kearney in the back row.

Van Schalkwyk is missing for Zebre, who's caused us problems in the past. Gendenhuys as well is a big loss.

porterbelly

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

I don't think I've seen browne play 8 before, with himself and Kearney in the backrow thats one massive Connacht backrow

Lack of ball carriers though

Robbo

Forecast looks delightful; the holy trinity of wind, rain and cold.

Zzippy

Robbo wrote: »

Forecast looks delightful; the holy trinity of wind, rain and cold.

Anyone know where I can get a pair of long johns in Galway? And a thermal vest? And a hip flask?

freyners

Looking forward to this now, despite the weather i have a feeling it could be a good one to watch

oh and also

Zzippy wrote: »

Anyone know where I can get a pair of long johns in Galway? And a thermal vest? And a hip flask?

Digifriendly

thomond2006 wrote: »

Great to see this televised.

Surprised to see this game covered live as nothing but pride riding on it.

I wonder will the weather hold? Hoping for a good match tonight

tiger_cub

is there anyone at the gym that will take sympathy on me stuck in hospital and post regular up dates here?

irishbucsfan

tiger_cub wrote: »

is there anyone at the gym that will take sympathy on me stuck in hospital and post regular up dates here?

Yeah sure.

Connacht started strong. Still 0-0

irishbucsfan

Connacht mangle the Zebre scrum and win a penalty

clsmooth

3-0 Connacht. Nice break by Henshaw earlier

irishbucsfan

Connacht win a penalty 40 meters out.

Parks scores

3- 0

Robbo

A great break by Henshaw from fielding a garryowen in his own 22. Perhaps a little green in his decision making. The scrum is well on top.

I believe this ref has a rep as being stark ****ing mad.

3-0 Connacht, Parks pen from Zebre pinged for going in from the side.

irishbucsfan

3-3

McSharry caught in oosession in the connacht 22

Robbo

tiger_cub wrote: »

is there anyone at the gym that will take sympathy on me stuck in hospital and post regular up dates here?

If you have a smartphone, get the Tuneit radio app and listen in to Galway Bay FM.

Podge_irl

tiger_cub wrote: »

is there anyone at the gym that will take sympathy on me stuck in hospital and post regular up dates here?

Well I just ran a solid 15 minutes on the treadmill and now its onto the erg*



*none of this is actually true. I'm drinking beer instead.

gally74

Robbo wrote: »

A great break by Henshaw from fielding a garryowen in his own 22. Perhaps a little green in his decision making. The scrum is well on top.

I believe this ref has a rep as being stark ****ing mad.

3-0 Connacht, Parks pen from Zebre pinged for going in from the side.

Thank god Toulouse didn't get him

irishbucsfan

Another eevastating scrum from Connacht.

White is mashing Perugini to bits

Robbo

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Another eevastating scrum from Connacht.

White is mashing Perugini to bits

The secondary shove as well is doing some damage.

I think a policy of willfully knocking on in their half should hasten the inevitable Zebre yellow.

Tidy DG by the Man with the Golden Sideburns.

irishbucsfan

Park drop goal

9-3

Perugini is going nuts, mostly out of embarrassment no doubt.

thomond2006

Ref telling Perguini to "calm down"

You're on a hiding to nothing there ref.

its_phil

O'Halloran having a very good game.

Bushbleacher

so far so good..only a matter of time before Perugini is carded

irishbucsfan

Parks making a few errors

its_phil

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Parks making a few errors

dont think the cross field was his fault, did look like O'Halloran jumped early

its_phil

Excellent work by the Connacht backs to win the penalty in front of posts.

eyeball kid

12-3 now. Parks with all the point so far. 34 mins gone.

Watching on a poor stream and picture quality isn't the best. Whats the weather like there?

irishbucsfan

its_phil wrote: »

dont think the cross field was his fault, did look like O'Halloran jumped early

Wasnt a great kick though. And he had one out on the full as well as that mad garryowen!

Its annoying how much of his game is dependent on kicking. Id love to see Madigan inserted into this back line.


Edit: He's taking the ball standing almost completely still as well.

Robbo

Need a bit more imagination from 9-10-12 to make a breakthrough. Zebre can't keep that level of defence up in the second half and they by rights should be very close to a yellow.

blackhound

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Id love to see Madigan inserted into this back line.

I'd take that madigan for macca. Sounds good to me.;)

CIARAN_BOYLE

blackhound wrote: »

I'd take that madigan for macca. Sounds good to me.;)

Macca has no contract and can go where he wills. Madigan is contracted by Leinster at the moment for another season. He is going nowhere at the moment.

If you want a Leinster player out of contract then look at Carr.

tiger_cub

Podge_irl wrote: »

Well I just ran a solid 15 minutes on the treadmill and now its onto the erg*



*none of this is actually true. I'm drinking beer instead.

auto correct on my phone/ pain meds

Thanks for the updates lads! I'll get ye all a pint at ospreys game.

its_phil

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Macca has no contract and can go where he wills. Madigan is contracted by Leinster at the moment for another season. He is going nowhere at the moment.

If you want a Leinster player out of contract then look at Carr.

Someone is a bit touchy over Madigan..

irishbucsfan

Zebre hooker given the crook at half time. He had a shocking firs half so no surprise.

irishbucsfan

Connacht taking a 5 meter scrum!

its_phil

Beauty of a kick by Parks for Connacht lineout at Zebre 5

Robbo

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

Macca has no contract and can go where he wills. Madigan is contracted by Leinster at the moment for another season. He is going nowhere at the moment.

If you want a Leinster player out of contract then look at Carr.

Oooooooooooooooh

irishbucsfan

Penalty try!

shuffol

Was the ref playing a penalty try advantage there?

eyeball kid

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Penalty try!

Thanks, you just spoiled it for me! :pac:
Didn't realise my stream was about 2 mins slow!

19-6 now (unless someone else has scored in the 2 mins)

Tox56

its_phil wrote: »

Someone is a bit touchy over Madigan..

He's just making the point. A lot could happen in 2 seasons, Sexton picks up a knee injury tomorrow that rules him out for the season, a Madigan-inspired Lenister thrash Exeter, we get through to the quarters, then semis and Madigan leads Leinster to a famous 4 in 5 in the Aviva, making the plane for the Lions as a result...

He would be a good fit for Connacht though, could be the spark to really unleash the talent in that backline.

shuffol

Ridiculous call by ref there

Robbo

Penalties are going to be a massive problem I fear.

CIARAN_BOYLE

its_phil wrote: »

Someone is a bit touchy over Madigan..

damn straight

seanin4711

why do we make such hard workbout if these games? same with aironi before zebre.

Robbo

This game is crying out for Jarvis' hands.

thomond2006

seanin4711 wrote: »

why do we make such hard workbout if these games? same with aironi before zebre.

Because you can't deal with being hot favourites?

seanin4711

only one team out in second half and it ain't us