FIR wrote: Forward

Robert Barbieri (Benetton Treviso, 24 caps)

Mauro Bergamasco (Zebras Wales, 92 caps)

Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester Tigers, 88 caps)

Lorenzo CITIZENS (Benetton Treviso, 13 caps)

Alberto DE MARCHI (Benetton Treviso, 2 caps)

Simone FAVARO (Benetton Treviso, 13 caps) *

Joshua FURNO (Narbonne, 5 caps) *

Quintin Geldenhuys (Zebras Rugby, 30 caps)

Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso, 45 caps)

David GIAZZON (Zebras Rugby, 2 caps)

Andrea LO CICERO (Racing-Metro Paris, 95 caps)

Francesco MINTO (Benetton Treviso, rookie)

Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais, 88 caps) - Captain

Antonio PAVANELLO (Benetton Treviso, 10 caps)

Michele Rizzo (Benetton Treviso, 5 caps)

Ratu Manoa Seru VOSAWAI (Benetton Treviso, 9 caps)

Alessandro ZANNI (Benetton Treviso, 66 caps)



Trocars

Thomas (Benetton Treviso, 20 caps) *

Mirco Bergamasco (Racing-Metro Paris, 87 caps)

Tobias BOTES (Benetton Treviso, 5 caps)

Kristopher Burton (Benetton Treviso, 17 caps)

Gonzalo CHANNEL (La Rochelle, 77 caps)

Edoardo Gori (Benetton Treviso, 16 caps) *

Tommaso Iannone (Benetton Treviso, Newcomer) *

Andrea Masi (London Wasps, 69 caps)

Luke Mclean (Benetton Treviso, 38 caps)

Luke Morisi (Benetton Treviso, 2 caps) *

Luciano Orquera (Zebras Wales, 27 caps)

Alberto SGARBI (Benetton Treviso, 20 caps)

Giovanbattista VENDITTI (Zebras Rugby, 7 caps) *

* Is / was a member of the FIR "Ivan Francescato" Tirrenia

None of these guys are available it seems.

That's a really exciting team, would love to see how the mcsharry/poolman pairing works out, can't believe this isn't on tv arrrggh.

salmson wrote: also nie to see an all-local back row (including replacement).

Speaking of which, is Willie injured?

In fairness to Duffy he was second top scorer (6 to TOH's 7, 4 in the league) last season, though admittedly his league record prior to that (5 in 81) was really poor. Great to see Henshaw retained, also nie to see an all-local back row (including replacement).

I really want to see Henshaw get off the try scoring mark this weekend, each player in the back three should pose the opposition a real try scoring threat.

If there is one criticism of Gav it's that he doesn't score nearly enough tries (9 in 107 Pro12 appearances), so it's important that having seen that Robbie can definitely do the nitty gritty stuff required of a full-back that he also adds something to our attack. Very important that the pressure isn't just on Tiernan & Fets to score tries, they should all be chipping..

ConnachtRugby.ie wrote: Poolman to start as Connacht make six changes
Friday, 02 November 2012 12:06

Six changes to Connacht side for Treviso clash

Danie Poolman will make his first start for Connacht after being named at outside centre for the RaboDirect PRO12 encounter with Benetton Treviso this Saturday at The Sportsground (kick off 5pm).

Poolman is one of six personnel changes to the team that started against Ospreys last weekend, with four of those in the pack.

Denis Buckley returns to the starting XV this week at loosehead prop while Mike McCarthy, on his release from Irish camp, joins Michael Swift in the second row.

Fit-again flanker Andrew Browne was back to full training this week and tomorrow joins Johnny O’Connor and Eoin McKeon in the back row.

The half back pairing of Kieran Marmion and Dan Parks remains unchanged, while Dave McSharry will start alongside Poolman in midfield.

Robbie Henshaw resumes the full back position for tomorrow’s clash while, on the bench, Gavin Duffy makes a welcome return to the squad.

This is Connacht’s first home league match since the fantastic 34-6 win over Leinster in September and Head Coach Eric Elwood is looking for a repeat of that display against Treviso.

“It has become a must-win for us and it is well within our range. We just need to cut out some of the errors and capitalise on the chances we are creating.

“It has been a busy period but there is a break coming up and we need to go into that with a win under our belt,” said Elwood.


Connacht XV

15. Robbie Henshaw

14. Tiernan O'Halloran

13. Danie Poolman

12. Dave McSharry

11. Fetu'u Vainikolo

10. Dan Parks

9. Kieran Marmion



1. Denis Buckley

2. Jason Harris-Wright

3. Nathan White (captain)

4. Michael Swift

5. Mike McCarthy

6. Andrew Browne

7. Johnny O’Connor

8. Eoin McKeon



Replacements (from):

16. Adrian Flavin

17. Rodney Ah You

18. Ronan Loughney

19. John Muldoon

20. Mick Kearney

21. Dave Moore

22. Miah Nikora

23. Gavin Duffy

Treviso team:

15 Brendan Williams

14 Andrew Vilk

13 Christian Loamanu

12 Andrea Pratichetti

11 Angelo Esposito

10 Alberto Di Bernardo

9 Fabio Semenzato

8 Marco Filippucci

7 Valerio Bernabò

6 Manoa Vosawai

5 Corniel Van Zyl (capitano)

4 Marco Fuser

3 Jacobus Roux

2 Franco Sbaraglini

1 Matteo Muccignat



A disposizione:

16 Enrico Ceccato

17 Alberto De Marchi

18 Ignacio Fernandez-Rouyet

19 Giovanni Maistri

20 Enrico Targa

21 Giulio Toniolatti

22 James Ambrosini

23 Luca Morisi

Good to see Duffy back in the mix. With Griffin, Fa'fita and Tonetti out his return is welcome as it may allow Robbie Henshaw move to 13.

Really hoping for a good crowd for this one. We've had an up and down start but Saturday has to be the day to kick start a run of results that'll show we are moving forward.

Treviso at home last year was definitely one of the low points of the last few years, we need to banish that memory on Saturday.

Zebre didn't name any of their Italy squad members in their side for the weekend, so presumably Treviso won't have any of theirs available either.

Lads, these are the games that matter at the end of the season when we need 'scores on the board'.

Seems like every week is a must win , but this is . We must beat them, pure and simple..

Lets be having you all down at the ground on Saturday!!!!

C'mon Connacht....................

Playing a game this weekend myself so cant go

ConnachtCows wrote: McCarthy, Muldoon and O'Halloran are released from the Irish squad for this game.

That's old news. I know you're just back from holidays, but get back up to speed already

McCarthy, Muldoon and O'Halloran are released from the Irish squad for this game.

Beidh mé ann!

Connacht captain Gavin Duffy was welcomed back to training this week along with Andrew Browne and scrum half Paul O’Donohue. The trio have all returned from injury and will be available for selection this weekend when Connacht take on Italian side Benetton Treviso at The Sportsground.

While Mike McCarthy, John Muldoon and Tiernan O’Halloran were called up to the Irish Training Squad this week, they will all be released back to their province at the end of the week for a chance to play on Saturday.

Winger Fetu’u Vainikolo will also return from his time in in France where he trained this week with the Tongan side ahead of the Autumn Internationals.

After last week’s defeat to Ospreys, centre Mata Fifita and versatile forward George Naoupu will not feature this week. The players limped off during last week’s game in Wales and following medical scans earlier in the week, they have both been ruled out of action.

Meanwhile, TJ Anderson, Eoin Griffin, Matt Healy, Ethienne Reynecke and Kyle Tonetti still remain unavailable for selection due to injury.

The team to face Benetton Treviso will be announced by 12pm on Friday 2nd November.

Connacht v Benetton Treviso
The Sportsground
KO 5pm

ummm, wrote: I'd say going scoreless in the last 15 minutes when only needing a DG to win was what cost us!

which wasnt attempted until new years night!