Pat Lam announced team tonight:
Wilkinson, Harris-Wright, White, Swift (Capt), Browne, Muldoon, Falloon, Naoupu
Marmion, Parks, Griffin, Poolman, Healy, Carr, Henshaw

I was chatting to some of the back room staff at a recent event. McSharry will be back in approx. three weeks, Tonetti will be a bit slower to return, sounding like Nov.

RogueXV wrote:

connachta wrote: Squad Update ahead of Rabo PRO12 opener
Zebre are in Galway on Saturday and the visitors are still looking for that elusive first ever win in the competition, but should be buoyed by the fact that the last two times the teams met there was less than seven points separating them. <strong>The Italian outfit have recruited well in the summer and should pose a much stiffer threat this season.</strong>

As far as I'm concerned they already posed a stiff enough threat last season. Any stiffer and Connacht will be lucky to win two of the four off them. No disrespect to Zebre and their recruiting job, but it will be unacceptable for Connacht to lose to them at home to start the season. Cannot think of a worse way to start Lam's tenure as coach than that.

Couldn't agree more. The two games in Galway last year were a nightmare, we built up substantial leads in both but ended up stumbling over the line in both through Dan Parks and Zebre's lack of composure/discipline/belief.

Zebre went close in a lot of games last season and showed that on their day they can be a decent side. They were certainly the better side in the league game last March but if we aren't going to be chasing our tail for the next few months this is a match we need to start with a win and a convincing performance.

There is enough quality and experience at this stage in the Connacht squad that we should be embracing the role of favouritism especially at home. We have the guts of our squad fit and available to us, there are no excuses for Connacht not to win this one.

I really hope the crowd gets behind the team from the off. The Sportsground was dreadfully flat for a lot of these type of games last year. I know the players need to get the crowd going to some extent but it'd be nice to start the season with a bit of buzz around the ground.

I understand the point but its not like Connacht are unique in that regard, Bent just injured himself in training lately at Leinster for instance. It is especially unfortunate when an injury occurs by your own team mate however, but I don't think its that common at the same time.

Not sure what you mean. Poolman and McKeon picked up their injuries against Castres and Newcastle respectively, and I haven't heard anything to the effect that Nikora was injured in training, which leaves only Duffy in that category. Did you hear different?

In any case, better a few knocks than turning up hopelessly undercooked like the opener against Cardiff last year (shudder).

BTW: McSharry and Tonetti are not expected to play until end this month or start October.

it seems like we have this bad habit of players picking up injuries in training, i think the same happened last year. The key senior guys need to keep fit but there has to be a common sense approach when it comes to full-contact training just as we are about to start the season and surely there's a lesson to be learnt.

Any news on Tonetti, I thought he was progressing on the same course as McSharry.

connachta wrote: Squad Update ahead of Rabo PRO12 opener
Zebre are in Galway on Saturday and the visitors are still looking for that elusive first ever win in the competition, but should be buoyed by the fact that the last two times the teams met there was less than seven points separating them. The Italian outfit have recruited well in the summer and should pose a much stiffer threat this season.

As far as I'm concerned they already posed a stiff enough threat last season. Any stiffer and Connacht will be lucky to win two of the four off them. No disrespect to Zebre and their recruiting job, but it will be unacceptable for Connacht to lose to them at home to start the season. Cannot think of a worse way to start Lam's tenure as coach than that.

That's way better than November announcement!

While on the topic of injury updates I was talking to Dave McSharry at Jersey launch. He said he felt he was back to full fitness but wasn't available for selection until 3rd rabo game as part of his return to fitness programme

Squad Update ahead of Rabo PRO12 opener
The Connacht Rugby squad trained in Galway today ahead of the new season kick off against Zebre this Saturday. The first game of Connacht’s RaboDirect PRO12 campaign will take place at home in the Sportsground this Saturday (KO 5pm).

Head Coach Pat Lam was pleased to welcome Danie Poolman back to full training this week. The 24-year-old centre/winger who missed both the Wasps and Newcastle pre-season games, is now available for selection this weekend.

Eoin McKeon who suffered an ankle sprain last week is among the new injury concerns and likely to be out of action for up to two weeks. McKeon is joined on the sidelines by outhalf Miah Nikora who is also unavailable this week with a shoulder injury.

The team is set to be announced at noon on Friday.

Zebre are in Galway on Saturday and the visitors are still looking for that elusive first ever win in the competition, but should be buoyed by the fact that the last two times the teams met there was less than seven points separating them. The Italian outfit have recruited well in the summer and should pose a much stiffer threat this season.

Tickets for Connacht v Zebre are on sale now from the Connacht Rugby office, online on tickets.ie and in Centre and SuperValu stores province wide.

Connacht v Zebre
At the Sportsground, 5pm.
Referee: Rhys Thomas (WRU, 2nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Hagan-O’Connell, D O’Flynn (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Walsh (IRFU)
- See more at: www.connachtrugby.ie/2013090383422/squad...-ahead-of-rabopro12-

Cant wait for this game. It feels so long since I've been to the Sportsground.
Hope the team show up hungry. A fast start will get the crowd involved early

Ok brief report ahead of the match, a few details which may be of interest, stats, match reports from previous matches against Zebre. Thanks to pinky for his contribution with this.

Connacht v Zebre – Galway Sportsground
Saturday 7th September 2013 Kick Off 17:00

This will be the first of four meetings with Zebre this season, and despite being relatively new to professional rugby, they are already familiar opponents, having also played Connacht four times last season.
The next meeting will be the Heineken Cup clash in Parma on October 19th, with good deals to be had on flights and accomodation for those planning to travel. See the Parma link in the Match Travel section for details.

ZebreStats

Founded: 1973 (Formed as Professional Team in 2012)
History: 1973 – 1997 Invitational Selection for North West Italy.
Ground: Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma
Capacity: 3,500
Captain: Marco Bortolami
Director of Rugby: Roberto Manghi

Rabo Direct Pro 12 League Position 2012/13: 12th Points 10
Heineken Cup: 4th in Pool 6 Points 1
ERC European Ranking 35th (1 pt)

Last Friendly Result
Mogliano 5-28 Zebre

Next League Fixture:
Friday 13th September 2013 19.30 (local time) Zebre v Munster @ Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma

Heineken Cup (Pool 3)
Saracens
Toulouse
Connacht
Zebre

Players In
Dario Chistolini (Gloucester) (Prop)
George Biagi (Bristol) (Lock)
Samuela Vunisa (Calvisano) (Back Row)
Brendon Leonard (Waikato Chiefs)(Scrum Half)
Guglielmo Palazzani (Calvisano) (Scrum Half)
Tomasso Iannon (Treviso) (Wing / Out-Half)
Giulio Toniolatti (Treviso) (Wing)
Kameli Ratuvou (Saracens) (Wing)
Dion Berryman (I Cavalieri Prato) (Full Back)

Players Out
Flavio Tripodi (Released) (Prop)
Josh Sole (Bay of Plenty Steamers) (Back Row)
Nicola Belardo (Calvisano) (Back Row)
Tito Tebaldi (Ospreys) (Scrum Half)
Luca Martinelli (Fiamme Oro Rugby)(Scrum Half)
Daniel Halangahu (Narbonne) (Out Half)
Alberto Benettin (Released) (Out Half / Centre)
Alberto Chiesa (Calvisano) (Centre)
Samuele Pace (Rugby Colorno) (Centre)
Sinoti Sinoti (Wellington) (Wing)


Previous Meetings

March 1st 2013 2013 Rabo Direct Pro 12:
Connacht 23-19 Zebre

Connacht succeeded in winning their third RaboDirect Pro 12 game on the trot when they out-fought Italian visitors Zebre last evening.
As expected against these gritty Italians, it was hard fought, with long periods in the game on a knife edge, but Connacht wrested control in the final 10 minutes to claim their seventh win of the season and their fourth over the Parma side.
Connacht coach Eric Elwood said having already beaten the side three times this season, there was huge expectation on Connacht.

Read More at
www.irishtimes.com/sport/connacht-make-i...inst-zebre-1.1316766

January 18th 2013 Heineken Cup Pool 6:
Connacht 25-20 Zebre

Connacht completed a hard earned 25-20 win again Zebre as they wrapped up the Heineken Cup pool stages with a third victory.
The first half at the Sportsground passed with few incidents of note, Connacht gaining the upper hand thanks to three penalties and a drop goal from Dan Parks.
Eric Elwood's men led 12-6 at half-time, with Daniel Halangahu landing a penalty double for Zebre.
A penalty try should have inspired further tries from the home side, but Halangahu's boot closed the gap for the Italians and winger Ruggero Trevisan's well executed try set up a tense conclusion at 19-17.
Halangahu's fifth penalty goal had Zebre 11 minutes away from a famous first win, however Parks split the posts on two more occasions for a handsome 20-point haul.

Read More at:
www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/2013...-victory-over-zebre/


October 13th 2012 Heineken Cup Pool 6:
Zebre 10 – 19 Connacht

Connacht opened their 2012/13 Heineken Cup campaign with a 19-10 victory away to Italian side Zebre. A second half try from Man of the Match John Muldoon along with 14 points from the boot of Dan Parks secured the win for Eric Elwood’s men.

Read More at:
www.connachtrugby.ie/2012101383048/winni...or-connacht-in-italy

September 7th 2012 Rabo Direct Pro 12:
Zebre 17 – 30 Connacht
Connacht got their first Rabo Direct Pro12 campaign up and running with victory against Zebre in Italy on a 30-17 scoreline.
Tiernan O'Halloran, George Naoupu and Mike McCarthy all went over for tries to set Eric Elwood's side on their way.
Miah Nikora kicked three penalties and three conversions to seal the success.
Read More at:
www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/rabo-direct-pro-1...ctory-against-zebre/

My Italian is nonexistent but it looks like zebre have beaten mogliano 28-5 away tonight. Mogliano are current Italian champions Leonard scored a try.

connachta wrote: and their coach is Jeremy Davidson, that explains the Irish colony!

And Nigel Brady has just joined them from Ulster

Unlike last season Zebre will be hitting the ground running this year. significantly they have lost Daniel Helangahu who was their top scorer in Rabo last year (only played against us in october hk game) and Sinoti. They have done well to replace Tebaldi with Leonard. I have no doubts they will win a few rabo games. I still think a 5 points are very achievable (for us).