Zebre welcome Connacht to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi this afternoon in a rescheduled GUINNES PRO12 round 3 game that could take the westerners closer to the top half of the table.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, April 1
ZEBRE (12th) v CONNACHT (7th), Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 3.30pm local time/2.30pm Irish time
Team News: Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made five personnel changes to his starting XV for today’s rearranged GUINNESS PRO12 match against Zebre in Parma.
With Ireland internationals Tiernan O’Halloran and Kieran Marmion on a scheduled rest week, there are four enforced changes to the back-line as Connacht look to make it four wins out of five in the PRO12.
Ireland Sevens player Josh Rowland comes in for his first Connacht senior start at full-back, having made his debut off the bench against Glasgow Warriors last weekend. John Cooney starts at scrum-half, while Danie Poolman comes in on the right wing.
There is a new midfield partnership as former Lansdowne back Tom Farrell starts at outside centre with Bundee Aki shifting to number 12 for the trip to Italy.
Up front, there is just one change with Eoin McKeon replacing Jake Heenan, who struggled to shake off a minor shin injury picked up in the last round.
Ivan Soroka, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade and Eoin Griffin are all additions to the bench with the fit-again Griffin in line to make his first appearance since last September. Ronan Loughney, Niyi Adeolokun and JP Cooney all picked up minor injuries in training this week which ruled them out of selection, while Naulia Dawai did not travel as he awaits a visa renewal.
Commenting on the game at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Pat Lam said: “We have had to make a few changes this week due to unfortunate niggles picked up in training. But we’re going over to Parma with a clear game-plan. We are fully focused on putting in a performance against Zebre that will get us the points on offer.”
Meanwhile, Zebre boss Victor Jimenez has welcomed back seven Italy internationals for the visit of the defending PRO12 champions – six in the starting XV and full-back Edoardo Padovani on the bench.
Giulio Bisegni and Carlo Canna are reintroduced at outside centre and out-half respectively, while there is a completely new front row comprised of Andrea Lovotti, Tommaso d’Apice and Dario Chistolini. The trio have 45 internationals caps between them.
In all, there are seven personnel changes to the side that went down 50-14 to Munster at the same venue last Saturday. George Biagi returns to captain Zebre from the second row, with Josh Furno promoted from the bench to start at blindside flanker.
ZEBRE: Dion Berryman; Kayle van Zyl, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Boni, Lloyd Greeff; Carlo Canna, Marcello Violi; Andrea Lovotti, Tommaso d’Apice, Dario Chistolini, Gideon Koegelenberg, George Biagi (capt), Josh Furno, Derick Minnie, Federico Ruzza.
Replacements: Sidney Tobias, Andrea de Marchi, Pietro Ceccarelli, Valerio Bernabo, Oliviero Fabiani, Guglielmo Palazzani, Matteo Pratichetti, Edoardo Padovani.
CONNACHT: Josh Rowland; Danie Poolman, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Stacey Ili; Jack Carty, John Cooney; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux, Andrew Browne, Sean O’Brien, Eoin McKeon, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ivan Soroka, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, James Cannon, Eoghan Masterson, Caolin Blade, Craig Ronaldson, Eoin Griffin.
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Graeme Wells (Scotland), Emanuele Tomo (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Zebre to win: 13/2; Draw: 35/1; Connacht to win: 1/12
Pre-Match Quotes: Denis Buckley (Connacht) – “It was very frustrating (against Glasgow) at Scotstoun Stadium last weekend. There was a lot of good in that game, and some of the rugby we played was great. But on the flip-side of that, when you look at some of the tries we conceded, it didn’t make for a good review on Monday morning.
“We left behind easier tries than the ones we scored, in terms of the defensive picture that Glasgow gave us, and the options we took. We might have had a six-on-three overlap for example, and we would take the ball down the other side, and that came down to us not being vigilant enough.
“There were a lot of positives but it was a very mixed bag. We were frustrated not to come away with anything (from a 35-24 loss), but it’s all systems go for Zebre in Parma this weekend, and we need to win to push further clear of Cardiff Blues in the race for Champions Cup rugby next term.
“It’s never an easy place to go to, but when you factor in that Zebre want revenge for the game that got cancelled, and you also have lads fighting for their team, it’s going to be very difficult in Parma.
“It’s going to be tough conditions over there as well. It was 25 degrees in Italy earlier in the week, and it might even be hotter at the weekend. We haven’t played in those sort of conditions all season long, so that provides its own test.
“But if we can get our game-plan right, play to it, and go through our processes correctly then we can take care of business and get a much-needed win in Italy. If anyone thinks it would be easy to win in Italy, last weekend put everything in perspective, when the Ospreys lost (13-5) to Treviso at Stadio di Monigo.
“It has happened to us against Treviso a few times over there, but luckily enough we haven’t slipped up against Zebre. And that’s probably a combination of us showing them the respect they deserve and executing our game-plan every time.”
Andrew Browne (Connacht) – “It’s huge to get 150 caps (for Connacht). This province and this team has given me everything. There were a lot of times throughout the years where I didn’t think I would get this.
“I owe a lot to Connacht Rugby, and the best thing I can do is just try and do my best on the pitch to try and repay them any way I can. It all comes down to happiness. I have been very happy here. Throughout the years the ambition of the province, and where I have seen it go and come from…
“It’s a great place to be, Galway is a great place to live, Connacht is a great province to represent. This team has given me a lot so I would like to repay it.
“You just have more of a voice than you did when you were younger. I came in when there were so many experienced heads around. Back then you don’t think you are going to get 150 caps.
“The young guys now look up to you for a bit of advice and leadership. It’s just about pointing them in the right direction and leading from the front. Saying the right things at the right time, and leading with your actions.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Zebre – Points: Carlo Canna 66; Tries: Giovanbattista Venditti, Dries van Schalkwyk 4 each; Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 70; Tries: Niyi Adeolokun 6
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Zebre – Played 17, Won 1, Lost 16, 9 Points; L 59-5 v Ospreys (away), L 11-6 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), L 23-21 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 49-5 v Munster (away), L 33-28 v Glasgow Warriors (home), W 19-14 v Edinburgh (away), L 33-10 v Leinster (home), L 31-24 v Scarlets (home), L 23-12 v Benetton Treviso (away), L 24-19 v Edinburgh (home), L 70-6 v Leinster (away), L 40-10 v Ospreys (home), L 42-7 v Scarlets (away), L 40-17 v Ulster (home), L 33-3 v Connacht (away), L 68-21 v Ulster (away), L 50-14 v Munster (home); Connacht – Played 17, Won 8, Lost 9, 39 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), W 34-19 v Benetton Treviso (away), W 33-3 v Zebre (home), L 35-24 v Glasgow Warriors (away)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Sunday, February 23, 2014 – Zebre 19 Connacht 27, Stadio XXV Aprile
Friday, November 21, 2014 – Connacht 43 Zebre 3, the Sportsground
Saturday, May 9, 2015 – Zebre 10 Connacht 40, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Friday, October 16, 2015 – Connacht 34 Zebre 15, the Sportsground
Saturday, February 20, 2016 – Zebre 34 Connacht 51, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Friday, March 3, 2017 – Connacht 33 Zebre 3, the Sportsground
MATCH FACTS:
– This original match on September 17 was abandoned at half-time by referee Ian Davies due to thunderstorms, with Connacht trailing 22-10 at that stage
– Zebre’s most recent victory was 19-14 over Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield on October 28, while their most recent victory in Parma was against the Newport Gwent Dragons in round 22 last year
– Connacht were beaten 35-24 in Glasgow in round 18 to stop a run of four successive GUINNESS PRO12 victories
– Connacht have won just twice on the road in the PRO12 this season, both in February, on trips to Cardiff Blues and Benetton Treviso
– The two sides have met on 15 previous occasions in all competitions with Connacht triumphant in each instance
– Connacht have already been victorious in Parma this season, having beaten Zebre 52-7 in the second round of the European Champions Cup
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