CONNACHT COACH Eric Elwood has named the same team that lost 13-9 to the Cardiff Blues for tonight’s assignment in Italy. There are two changes on the bench with New Zealander Nathan White, who arrived from Leinster during the summer, and Frank Murphy elevated to the match-day squad.
Temperatures are in the mid 30s in Parma, a far cry from the wind and rain that assailed the Sportsground last weekend, so the Irish province’s patterns will be less conservative. It’s the execution that will preoccupy Elwood.
He admitted: “Against the Blues we weren’t tested too much on the defensive side of things as the weather wasn’t conducive, but certainly Zebre will ask questions of our defence. They are a completely new team in their attack and it will definitely be a challenge for us as their first visitors.”
Zebre were beaten 37-6 by the Dragons in Wales and while they’ll present a more formidable obstacle at home, this really is a game Connacht must win.
There were one or two green shoots performance-wise for the Irish province, notably the scrum and it will be an important collision area tonight.
The Italians will try to orchestrate a structured game, dominated by set-pieces, punch holes around the fringes and look to dominate territorially.
Connacht would benefit from a more fluent, open game, played at a high tempo that would suit the greater subtlety of their back play. That will remain an aspiration unless the pack provides a platform.
The visitors must possess the courage to be expansive in the points of attack and the precision to execute ruthlessly. Referee Ian Davies is officiating in just his second Pro 12 match so discipline will be important.
Far tougher challenges lie ahead in both the league and the Heineken Cup but this match is a decent aptitude test for the Irish province and one they should pass.
ZEBRE:S Sinoti; G Venditti, A Benettin, G Garcia (capt), S Pace; L Orquera, A Chillon; S Perugini, C Festuccia, D Ryan, Q Geldenhuys, J Sole, F Cristiano, M Bergamsco, A van Schalkwyk. Replacements: D Giazzon, A de Marchi, L Redolfini, E Caffini, N Belardo, T Tebaldi, A Chiesa, R Trevisan.
CONNACHT:G Duffy (capt); T O'Halloran, E Griffin, M Fifita, F Vainikolo; M Nikora, K Marmion; D Buckley, E Reynecke, R Loughney, M Swift, M McCarthy, J Muldoon, J O'Connor, G Naoupu. Replacements: A Flavin, R Ah You, N White, D Gannon, W Faloon, F Murphy, M Jarvis, R Henshaw.
Referee:Ian Davies (Wales)
Verdict:Connacht
