Zebre -v- Connacht - HEC October 19th : 13:45 KO

Robbo

Zebre: 15 Ruggero Trevisan, 14 Dion Berryman, 13 Tommaso Iannone, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 David Odiete, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Samu Vunisa, 7 Dries van Schalkwyk, 6 Mauro Bergamasco, 5 Marco Bortolami (capt), 4 Mike Van Vuren, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Tommaso D'Apice, 1 Matias Aguero.

Replacements: 16 Davide Giazzon, 17 Andrea de Marchi, 18 Luciano Leibson, 19 Emiliano Caffini, 20 Filippo Cristiano, 21 Alberto Chillon, 22 Kameli Ratuvou, 23 Leonardo Sarto.

Connacht: 15 James So'oialo, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 George Naoupu. 7 Jake Heenan, 6 Andrew Browne, 5 Craig Clarke, 4 Michael Swift (capt), 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Sean Henry, 1 Brett Wilkinson.

Replacements: 16 Jason Harris Wright, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Ronan Loughney, 19 Ally Muldowney, 20 Mata Fifita, 21 Paul O'Donohoe, 22 Dave McSharry, 23 Gavin Duffy,

Referee: Ian Davies

Betting: Zebre 13/10 Draw 18/1 Connacht 4/7
Handicap: Connacht (-3 points)

A sizeable Connacht contingent have travelled to Parma in the hope of seeing the first win of the new European Campaign. After 8 months out, Dave McSharry returns to the bench having made a cameo for UCD in the AIL and played 80 minutes in the Connacht Eagles game last week. Newly arrived and legal James So'oialo makes his first start. Matt Healy replaces Fionn Carr.

The Connacht lineout was the only flawless operation in Round 1 and with 3 recognised kickers on the pitch, will most likely be used as the preferred platform for attacks. In the absence of Nathan White, Rodney Ah You will be looking to cement his starting position on the back of a monster performance in the loose and in the scrum last week.

Zebre will be looking to restore pride after a heavy defeat to Toulouse last week and will hope to add a first HEC win to their recent first Pro12 win. Dion Berryman scored a spectacular try last week and Zebre will be looking to carries from the base of the scrum as they have before.

ouncer

Very decent Connacht team. Back line starting to take shape. Will be interesting to see how so'oialo does at full back. For an out half ronaldson has slotted in well in the centre. Would have rathered toh on the bench as he can be interesting at both full back and on the wing but as a starting 15 its a strong team.

durkadurka

Delighted to see Dave Mc Sharry there

connemara man

A good team should see a win if they play like they did last week

Robbo

Just realised this is a 13:35 kickoff, which is 10 mins earlier that the title suggests. And now to the pub...

freyners

A win of any type will suit me at this stage, need to stop this streak

freyners

Seems to be a good few Connacht fans there, but that stadium is dead

Irlandczyk

Why are they both wearing away strips? Or am I missing something here?

freyners

Irlandczyk wrote: »

Why are they both wearing away strips? Or am I missing something here?

HC strip for zebre clashes with connacht I think

OldRio

Zebre 3 v Con 6

freyners

What a kick from So'oialo

keith16

Could have been an opportunity for Connacht just now if they had been a little bit smarter.

What a hit that is from Swifty!

blackhound

Massive tackle by Swifty and great turnover from Heenan

Diabhal Beag

I don't think Zebre are that good at the rugby.

keith16

Two great offloads from Zebre to start that last break.

freyners

Clarke showing his worth there, smart not to get the hands in

freyners

Lovely fro Marmion and Heenan there

Rodney knock-on, but pen conn

OldRio

YEsssss

blackhound

Big George over the line

freyners

What a lineout move, George with the try

keith16

Try

blackhound

Great to hear the fields of Athenry

keith16

Parks tags on the extras for 3-13

freyners

Really Really impressed with that lineout move, dummy executed perfectly, love to be in parma atm

freyners

Poolman in touch

keith16

2 mins to HT

3 - 19

OldRio

Great kick from Parks

Zebre 3 v Con 19 HT

Diabhal Beag

Lovely penalty from Parks there

thomond2006

That's a very encouraging scoreline! Another try or two and a BP mightn't be far away!

blackhound

Considering Toulouse got the win last night this group is fairly open. If we get a bp it could go a long way.

freyners

HT 3-19

Defense has been very impressive, Zebre have had some good spells of possession and we have held firm, some great hits from Heenan, Swifty and Wilkinson.
Marmion seems to have recovered from the knock and is looking dangerous around the ruck, 3/4 half gaps and 2 clean breaks so far. Parks is organising everything well and the boot is 100% so far.
Ronaldson and Henshaw look very comfortable together in the centre. Poolman effective as usual, Healy hasnt had much of a chance so far to impress. So'oialo's boot really is something

Pack are going well, Front row comfortable at scrum time, lineout purring bar one mishap (Henry is a very solid thrower). Back row well on top imo. Need to score early (2 pens or a try) next half to quieten zebre and then aim for a BP.

Robbo

Ronaldson didn't back himself but I can't wait to see McSharry unleashed.

freyners

Sloppy sloppy sloppy

freyners

Henry and rodney off, JHW and Loughney on.

freyners

Parks with anything you can do, i can do better moment there

OldRio

Worrying times

freyners

Frankie being awfully quiet on commentary today, first time I can remember him failing to hype someone up during a match

Must not have any clients in the connacht squad

freyners

Why are we kicking, go for a bp

MayoForSam

Dan is in the zone today 28-6.

OldRio

Not sure.
Tis strange

thomond2006

A bit conservative to not go for tries no? The win seems wrapped up.

freyners

He's back....

macslash

Hon Mata!

blackhound

lovely work from the lineout again.

freyners

Another gorgeous lineout move

OldRio

Another try

keith16

Sorry, had to switch off for a while....is that the BP or is another try required?

freyners

Two more

Robbo

Sounds a bit crappy here, did Frankie just rag on POD when he came on?

freyners

Facile win but tbh we had a chance at a bp

Robbo

freyners wrote: »

Facile win but tbh we had a chance at a bp

Kicking anything past 55 mins should not have been done.