our old frailties were'nt really tested by Zebre but at least we won comfortably, if we are going to beat Scarlets then the areas of the game that let us down against Cardiff and Ospreys have to improve.

Nikora had an armchair ride this evening but as far the kicking duties go he does'nt have the power to take penalties from distance. I thought Porter was poor enough, he kicked out on the full twice which other teams would have punished us for. Cooney played well when he came on.

Some interesting positional decisions will have to be made by Lam, for me the 2 changes in the backs I would make are Marmion for Porter and Henshaw for Mils. I think the McSharry/Aki combination has a better balance to it, the Ronaldson experiment didn't really work and Mcsharry was hard done by in my opinion, yet again defensively he was excellent this evening. In the forwards I would just change the front row and bring in Rodney and McCartney, I doubt if JHW will be fit.

Job done. The conditions early on had me a bit worried that a bonus point might be hard won but with Zebre missing so many anything less then a 5 pointer would have been poor.

Negatives first:
Lineout continues to be a bit of a disaster that no-one can emerge with credit from. Fortunately we got a couple of crucial ones right but a lot to work on in that area. Its not just a case of the throw in being poor which it has often been but unfortunately even when we get that right its just too predictable to defend against even against average sides. It wasn't punished tonight but certainly will be against stronger opposition.

Restarts were sloppy enough at times, a couple of stupid kicks out on the full or missing touch and kicking the ball away with a two man advantage was disappointing. Conditions have to be factored in for some of the handling errors and other mistakes but the conditions can't really be blamed for the lineout as Zebre hadn't many problems.

Positives
Still unbeaten at home this season! If we win the next two home games we can carry it into the new year which would be great
Up to 23 points on the table. Long time ago since we could say that in November.
The scrum butchered Zebre as you would have expected.
Early on we didn't really play the conditions as well as we should, once we did we started to grind them down
Muliaina showed his class on a couple of occasions. Made one good break which I think he would have finished off a couple of years ago. A bit disappointed with some of the scores we left behind us in the first half but we got there in the end.
George is really playing for a new contract, looking much more like the player we saw in his first spell. Thought Matt Healy stood out also.

Really it was a perfect game for the lads to get under their belt. After 3 weeks off we got a handy run out to get back on the horse ahead of more serious tests and all 3 new signings got their home debuts under their belt. Hopefully we have a full deck to choose from next week.

After the results tonight it looks like Dragons are starting to get cut adrift with the two Italians now and whoever loses in Murrayfield on Sunday will have a lot of ground to make up also.

A win next week is essential no ifs buts or maybes. Hopefully we can get a big crowd and get the required result.

ummm, wrote: I thought that was an incredibly intelligent game from Connacht. They took their points when on offer and didn't push, a 14 point lead at half time was on the back of knowing when to go for the points and Porter kicked really well.

We got the most from the ref, he seemed to give us way more leeway than Zebre, and we knew we'd have the advantage that would give us try opportunities at some point.

I'll take that!

Agreed. Some people in the crowd around me were upset at us repeatedly going for the posts early doors, it was almost as if the scars of Cardiff were fully healed. Keep the score board ticking over, take your points, break the opposition. Win the game first, then go for the bonus.

Zebre infringed over and over, i think it was the 6th penalty after about 25 minutes before the ref finally produced a yellow. This did not seem to deter them for infringing after that, it must have been penalty 12 or 13 before the next yellows came out. Saying that we were luck not to see a yellow towards then end of the game.

Our defense was quite solid, we seem to harden the closer teams get to our try line, no bad thing.
It was not a good night for Rugby, at times we did not play the conditions, overcomplicated moves at close quarters resulted in repeated and messy bouts of catch the butter ball.

The only real downside was the lineout.

Also, how much smoke can a burger van produce. A one point i could just about make out the corner by the main gate. I've seen football games halted for less.

Muliana was very decent each time he had the ball
Both Healy and Poolman prooved to be extremely talented wingers once more
Aki and Naoupu are ok, our front row is great even with Loughney back to TH
Add Marmion and Henshaw to this, and Scarlets are beatable
Tough though, our defence still shows weaknesses, as well as rucks and Lineout. 2nd row and 10 are liabilities we have to deal with.. Hope to see Muldowney back next week, with Browne starting to let the lineout settle down

I thought that was an incredibly intelligent game from Connacht. They took their points when on offer and didn't push, a 14 point lead at half time was on the back of knowing when to go for the points and Porter kicked really well.

We got the most from the ref, he seemed to give us way more leeway than Zebre, and we knew we'd have the advantage that would give us try opportunities at some point.

I'll take that!

Bonus point! More a relief than anything else as I was sure they weren't going to take full advantage of their two man advantage.

And another, Carty working on his football skills during the break!

Really need to work on the lineout.

Despite the half time lead I'm feeling uneasy about the game so far. Zebre have looked dangerous enough with ball in hand so if they score a quick 2nd half try it could get interesting. Thankfully they have not had their hands on the ball that often, but ref is only too happy to blow his whistle and Connacht could easily find themselves a man down if the run up a string of penalties.

Anyone used the TG4 live player before? Is it any good?

Finally we get to see Mils Muliaina in action. Had a horrible feeling that while the target was always the Zebre game for him that we wouldn't see him.

Hopefully should help boost the crowd.

Nikora at out half really shows how limited our options are in that position but I think it is probably the right time for a switch, he should be able to do the job in a game like this but in terms of our overall ambitions, its worrying.

The IMF wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: Robbie and Rodney in the Ireland 23.
No Marmion, but he's obviously been kept, just in case anything happens Murray or Redden

Keats was released back to Munster so not sure why Marmion is not in the Connacht 23. He's had 20mins rugby over the last two weeks which makes it all the more frustrating.

Maybe he is rested due to Player Welfare programme? Not worst game for him to miss if it is the case?

On TG4 i think

Hoping Connacht play this one smart. Build up the dominance and keep the scoreboard ticking over in the first half and then hopefully set the Kiwis loose in the 2nd half to secure a try bonus point. Though after the Cardiff game I guess there is some debate as to what point is appropriate to go hunting for the bonus point. In the end I'll be happy with a win and no injuries. Will it be on TV at all?

Happy that McCartney can switch to prop right now, when we need him!

Does someone know how long Dever is out for ?

Can't wait to see Mils on the pitch

ConnachtCows wrote: Robbie and Rodney in the Ireland 23.
No Marmion, but he's obviously been kept, just in case anything happens Murray or Redden

Keats was released back to Munster so not sure why Marmion is not in the Connacht 23. He's had 20mins rugby over the last two weeks which makes it all the more frustrating.