Connacht have a Sunday lunchtime date with Benetton Treviso – and with Bundee Aki back in midfield, they will be determined to get as many points as possible against the second-from-bottom Italians.
GUINNESS PRO12: Sunday, February 26
BENETTON TREVISO (11th) v CONNACHT (8th), Stadio di Monigo, 1.30pm local time/12.30pm Irish time
Team News: Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made six changes to his team ahead of Sunday’s GUINNESS PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso at Stadio di Monigo.
Bundee Aki makes a welcome return to the side, lining out in midfield with Craig Ronaldson. Caolin Blade will start at scrumhalf once again having been drafted in late to the starting XV in place of Ireland international Kieran Marmion last Saturday.
Danie Poolman makes his 80th Connacht appearance, coming in to start for Matt Healy who picked up a minor hip injury in training during the week.
Up front, hooker Shane Delahunt earns his third start of the season as he packs down in the front row with props Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham. James Cannon joins Ultan Dillane in the second row, while Nepia Fox-Matamua gets his opportunity in the highly competitive back row alongside Galway duo Sean O’Brien and John Muldoon.
Commenting on this weekend’s opponents, Pat Lam said: “We know from experience how difficult it is to go to Treviso and get a good result. With the travel factor and the short turnaround on the other side, It is so important that we get our mental preparation spot on as well as the physical side of things.
“Every game and every point is vital for us and we will be going to Italy fully intent on improving on last week’s performance (in the 14-9 win over the Dragons).”
Connacht’s injury list currently includes Healy and Cian Kelleher, who both picked up injuries in training this week, Conor Carey, Ivan Soroka, Conan O’Donnell, Marnitz Boshoff, Darragh Leader and Josh Rowland. Hooker Tom McCartney is on paternity leave.
Meanwhile, despite having eight players away with Conor O’Shea’s Italy squad, there is not much disruption to the Benetton Treviso team to face Connacht.
Tommaso Allan, who starts for Italy against England, is replaced in the centre by Alberto Sgarbi who takes the captaincy reins. The only other change is on the left wing where Andrea Buondonno comes in for the unavailable Angelo Esposito.
Dubliner Ian McKinley, a try scorer in last week’s 57-20 defeat at Cardiff Blues, is a familiar face at half-back alongside Tito Tebaldi, while Treviso’s bench includes Mark Irving, Luca Nostran, Enrico Francescato from Petrarca Rugby and Filippo Ferrarini from Rugby Mogliano.
BENETTON TREVISO: Luca Sperandio; Michael Tagicakibau, Tommaso Iannone, Alberto Sgarbi (capt), Andrea Buondonno; Ian McKinley, Tito Tebaldi; Federico Zani, Luca Bigi, Tiziano Pasquali, Filo Paulo, Dean Budd, Marco Lazzaroni, Francesco Minto, Robert Barbieri.
Replacements: Roberto Santamaria, Matteo Zanusso, Mark Irving, Luca Nostran, Filippo Ferrarini, Enrico Francescato, Andrea Pratichetti, David Odiete.
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Danie Poolman; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, James Cannon, Sean O’Brien, Nepia Fox-Matamua, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, John Andress, Quinn Roux, Naulia Dawai, John Cooney, Tom Farrell, Stacey Ili.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Wayne Davies (Wales), Giuseppe Vivarini (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Benetton Treviso to win: 9/2; Draw: 25/1; Connacht to win: 1/7
Pre-Match Quotes: Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht) – “Everyone is in the same boat (during the Six Nations) but the good thing for us is we don’t have too many away (on international duty) so it’s not that much disruption.
“Thankfully, we have a good few guys coming back from injury which is leading to good competition in the side, which is only going to help us as well.
“It’s just confidence now, that’s back-to-back wins for us now and we need to keep on pushing and climb back up the table because there’s still a lot of games for us to push on up the table.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Benetton Treviso – Points: Tommaso Allan 66; Tries: Dean Budd 4; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 68; Tries: Niyi Adeolokun 4
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Benetton Treviso – Played 15, Won 2, Lost 13, 11 Points; L 20-8 v Leinster (away), L 22-11 v Ulster (home), L 64-10 v Ospreys (away), W 27-11 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), L 22-6 v Scarlets (home), L 45-10 v Edinburgh (away), L 31-14 v Glasgow Warriors (away), L 34-28 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 46-3 v Munster (away), L 47-8 v Connacht (away), W 23-12 v Zebre (home), L 35-28 v Glasgow Warriors (home), L 26-8 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), L 40-14 v Leinster (home), L 57-20 v Cardiff Blues (away); Connacht – Played 14, Won 6, Lost 8, 29 Points; L 41-5 v Glasgow Warriors (home), L 32-11 v Ospreys (home), L 17-8 v Scarlets (away), W 28-15 v Edinburgh (home), W 30-25 v Ulster (home), L 24-13 v Leinster (away), L 21-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), W 18-7 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 47-8 v Benetton Treviso (home), L 23-7 v Ulster (away), L 16-9 v Munster (home), L 29-7 v Ospreys (away), W 19-13 v Cardiff Blues (away), W 14-9 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Saturday, March 1, 2014 – Connacht 38 Benetton Treviso 6, the Sportsground
Friday, October 10, 2014 – Benetton Treviso 6 Connacht 9, Stadio di Monigo
Sunday, March 1, 2015 – Connacht 53 Benetton Treviso 5, the Sportsground
Friday, November 6, 2015 – Connacht 33 Benetton Treviso 19, the Sportsground
Friday, April 29, 2016 – Benetton Treviso 22 Connacht 21, Stadio di Monigo
Saturday, December 3, 2016 – Connacht 47 Benetton Treviso 8, the Sportsground
MATCH FACTS:
– Benetton Treviso’s most recent victory was 23-12 at home to Zebre on December 23
– Their only other victory at Stadio di Monigo in the GUINNESS PRO12 this season was against the Newport Gwent Dragons in round 4
– Connacht have won their last two PRO12 encounters but have not won three in a row in the regular season since March
– The westerners won their most recent away game in the Championship at Cardiff Blues in round 14 (their first PRO12 regular season away win in 11 months)
– Connacht have lost only one of their last six clashes with Treviso: 22-21 at Stadio di Monigo in round 21 of the PRO12 last season
This website uses cookies.
Read More