Former Connacht boss Michael Bradley returns to the Sportsground for their Conference A duel, with the westerners looking to maintain their winning form against Zebre and crown prop Finlay Bealham’s 100th appearance in a fitting way.
GUINNESS PRO14: Friday, February 16
CONNACHT (5th, Con A) v ZEBRE (7th, Con A), the Sportsground, 7.35pm (live TG4/Galway Bay FM)
Team News: Prop Finlay Bealham will make his 100th appearance for Connacht when they host Zebre at the Sportsground. Kieran Keane’s men, who are currently fifth in Conference A, are aiming to make it eight home wins in-a-row in all competitions in a run that stretches back to September.
Bealham is one of four changes to Connacht’s starting XV from the side that beat the Ospreys last week. With Tiernan O’Halloran sidelined with a hamstring injury, Darragh Leader comes in at full-back to join a back-three that includes wingers Cian Kelleher and Matt Healy.
Sean O’Brien’s return from to full fitness is a further boost as he starts at number 8 after picking up a shoulder injury in the win over the Southern Kings in September. O’Brien features in the back row with openside Naulia Dawai and blindside Eoghan Masterson who captains the side.
The only other change is the inclusion of lock Gavin Thornbury who came on as a replacement a week ago. A strong bench includes returning Ireland internationals Kieran Marmion and Quinn Roux and regular captain John Muldoon, as well as prop Conor Carey who continues his record of being named in every matchday squad for Connacht so far this season.
Ireland international Bealham is looking forward to leading the team out in front of a packed Sportsground, saying: “To be in that bracket of players that have reached the 100 appearance milestone is something I’m really honoured to be a part of.
“From my family’s perspective, they’re really proud. To walk out there for the hundredth time in front of a Sportsground crowd in the great atmosphere they always create is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Meanwhile, there are a few familiar faces in the Zebre camp as former Connacht head coach Michael Bradley and backs Rory Parata and Ciaran Gaffney, who both lined out for the westerners last season, plot the province’s downfall.
Bradley, who coached Connacht between 2003 and 2010, is looking for his Zebre troops to bounce back from a disappointing 33-5 loss to Munster in Limerick. His selection is boosted by three returning players from the Italy squad – hooker Oliviero Fabiani, out-half Carlo Canna and flanker Maxime Mbanda, with the latter two on the Azzurri’s bench against Ireland.
Together with Giulio Bisegni, captain George Biagi and Renato Giammarioli, the trio will head to Rome on Sunday to Italy’s training camp ahead of the third round of the Six Nations. Parata, who starts on the left wing, and Canna are the two back-line changes made by Bradley this week, with a further three alterations up front.
Kiwi second row James Tucker, who was injured on his debut back in November, returns to the engine room, Fabiani slots back into the front row, while Mbanda’s inclusion at openside sees Johan Meyer move to the blindside with Giammarioli, the highly-rated 22-year-old, now stationed at number 8.
CONNACHT: Darragh Leader, Cian Kelleher, Eoin Griffin, Tom Farrell, Matt Healy, Craig Ronaldson, Caolin Blade; Denis Coulson, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Gavin Thornbury, James Cannon, Eoghan Masterson, Naulia Dawai, Sean O’Brien (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Peter McCabe, Conor Carey, Quinn Roux, John Muldoon, Kieran Marmion, Jack Carty, Pita Ahki.
ZEBRE: Ciaran Gaffney; Gabriele di Giulio, Giulio Bisegni, Faialaga Afamasaga, Rory Parata; Carlo Canna, Guglielmo Palazzani; Cruze Ah-Nau, Oliviero Fabiani, Eduardo Bello, James Tucker, George Biagi (capt), Johan Meyer, Maxime Mbanda, Renato Giammarioli.
Replacements: Tommaso d’Apice, Andrea de Marchi, Dario Chistolini, David Sisi, Derick Minnie, Riccardo Raffaele, Serafin Bordoli, Giovanbattista Venditti.
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Lloyd Linton, Bob Nevins (both Scotland)
Television Match Official: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Connacht to win: 1/18; Draw: 35/1; Zebre to win: 10/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Peter Wilkins (Connacht) – “We knew it would be a challenge going over there (in December), but we felt that day we didn’t deliver. We played without the bounce, energy, and enthusiasm we display on our good days. It wasn’t through lack of a focus, concentration or respect for Zebre, we just didn’t deliver.
“They were hungrier and sharper and we need to put it right. We have that opporturnity here at the Sportsground this week, and everyone is motivated. We are not looking at making too many changes because it is important we maintain the success we have had at home over the last few months.
“We are in a good position with guys fresh after the break, and we want to go away (to South Africa) for two weeks with as many as possible players who are match fit and fresh. It is about how we balance and reintegrate players into the squad. This week, it is all about beating Zebre, and our decision making in attack and defence will be crucial.”
Top Scorers – 2017/18 GUINNESS PRO14: Connacht – Points: Jack Carty 91; Tries: Tiernan O’Halloran, Tom Farrell 4 each; Zebre – Points: Carlo Canna 89; Tries: Mattia Bellini 5
2017/18 TEAM FORM: Connacht – Played 14, Won 5, Lost 9, 28 Points; L 18-12 v Glasgow Warriors (home), W 32-10 v Southern Kings (home), L 21-8 v Dragons (away), L 17-15 v Cardiff Blues (home), L 36-27 v Scarlets (away), L 16-8 v Ulster (away), W 20-16 v Munster (home), W 23-15 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), L 36-30 v Cardiff Blues (away), L 24-10 v Zebre (away), W 44-16 v Ulster (home), L 21-18 v Leinster (away), L 39-13 v Munster (away), W 26-15 v Ospreys (home); Zebre – Played 14, Won 3, Lost 11, 17 Points; L 22-12 v Ospreys (away), L 41-10 v Scarlets (home), L 54-39 v Toyota Cheetahs (away), W 43-17 v Southern Kings (away), W 27-23 v Ulster (home), L 16-15 v Edinburgh (away), L 24-23 v Toyota Cheetahs (home), L 37-8 v Cardiff Blues (away), L 36-19 v Munster (home), W 24-10 v Connacht (home), L 27-14 v Benetton Rugby (away), L 20-16 v Benetton Rugby (home), L 40-20 v Glasgow Warriors (home), L 33-5 v Munster (away)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
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
Saturday, April 1, 2017 – Zebre 25 Connacht 22, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Saturday, December 2, 2017 – Zebre 24 Connacht 10, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
MATCH FACTS:
– Connacht are unbeaten in their last three fixtures in all competitions since losing in Munster in the GUINNESS PRO14 on January 6
– Connacht have won their last seven matches at the Sportsground in all tournaments since their 17-15 reversal there to Cardiff Blues in round 4 of the PRO14
– Zebre’s only victory since round 5 of the PRO14 was at home to Connacht on December 2
– The Italians have won just once away from home since October 2016, 43-17 at Southern Kings in September
– Zebre’s only two victories over Connacht have come in their last two encounters, although they have lost on all eight previous occasions they have visited the Sportsground in all tournaments
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