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

I smiled when saw no Marmion on teamsheet as hoped that meant he on bench vs Oz. However he not listed on unavailable list while Rodney and Robbie are..

May I just add: Mils at FB
with Aki and McShaz in midfield- PHWOOAAAARRRRR

salmson wrote:

ConnachtCows wrote: Like the team, except that there is no Craig Ronaldson in the 23, and he's not listed in the unavailable list

Ronaldson butchered 2 tries against Ospreys. Fair rather than harsh IMO.

We don't need him, good defender but not the best attacker. We also don't need his goal kicking for this game. We'll be going into the corner for every penalty. :ohmy: :silly:

All Black centurion Mils Muliaina will make his Connacht debut at the Sportsground tomorrow night lining out at full back in a side that sees seven changes since the trip to Ospreys in the last round of PRO12 action.Centre Bundee Aki will make his home debut and is one of only two players retained in the back line with Matt Healy kept on the left wing.

Outhalf Miah Nikora has been handed his first start of the season and is partnered by scrum half Ian Porter while Dave McSharry makes up the midfield pairing with Aki. 25-year-oldDanie Poolman is recalled to the right wing.

Up front, there are two changes to the pack. Galway man Ronan Loughney switches to tight head prop in the absence of the injured Nathan White and Rodney Ah You who remains with the Ireland squad. Flanker Willie Faloonis named in a back row alongside captain John Muldoon and Player of the Month George Naoupu.

The most notable inclusion on the bench is former Auckland Blues front row forward Tom McCartney who linked up with Connacht from New Zealand at the start of the month. McCartney can play at hooker or loose head prop and the current unavailability of five front row players highlights the value of the 29-year-old’s versatility.On-loan scrum half John Cooney is also included on the bench for his first home game while Ireland squad member Darragh Leader has been released from camp to play a part in tomorrow night’s PRO12 clash

.Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, Head Coach Pat Lam said:

“It’s fantastic to have our three new signings Mils, Bundee and Tom available for this game as we had planned. They have all settled in very well, getting to know their team mates and the new systems and structures. All three are really looking forward to getting out on the field tomorrow night in front of our home fans for the first time.

“We know there is a lot of anticipation around Mils’ debut. This is Connacht’s first All Black about to play at the Sportsground so it’s obviously very exciting for us and our supporters. While the expectation is high, we have to keep in mind that this will be his first game of rugby since March after returning from a long term injury. But Mils is a true professional and has shown his experience during rehab, training and off the field. He is gunning to get out there to perform for the team.

“Miah (Nikora) gets his first start this season at outhalf after working extremely hard to come back from injury and has impressed us in training.  It is a much changed back line from last time but one that we’re excited about. It’s great to have that extra depth in the squad to be able to make those changes.

“This week is huge for us. Games with Zebre have always been particularly tight as they are a proud team with a number of very experienced players. We are fully aware that we cannot afford to take our foot off the pedal at any time tomorrow night.

“We haven’t had a game at home in nearly five weeks so there’s a great buzz about the place and we’re so looking forward to playing in front of a packed out Sportsground. We have three back-to-back home games coming up and protecting our unbeaten home record is very important to us.”

unavailable Injured: Sean Henry, Nathan White, Rodney Ah You, JP Cooney, Jamie Dever, Aly Muldowney, Michael Swift, Jake Heenan, Robbie Henshaw, Tiernan O’Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun.

ConnachtCows wrote: Like the team, except that there is no Craig Ronaldson in the 23, and he's not listed in the unavailable list

Ronaldson butchered 2 tries against Ospreys. Fair rather than harsh IMO.

Like the team, except that there is no Craig Ronaldson in the 23, and he's not listed in the unavailable list

15. Mils Muliaina
14. Danie Poolman
13. Bundee Aki
12. Dave McSharry
11. Matt Healy
10. Miah Nikora
9. Ian Porter

1. Denis Buckley
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Ronan Loughney
4. Mick Kearney
5. Quinn Roux
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Willie Faloon
8. George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Tom McCartney
18. Finlay Bealham
19. Andrew Browne
20. Eoin McKeon
21. John Cooney
22. Jack Carty
23. Darragh Leader

Bit of a rough count of the team from last week but I make it 11 Zebre players on the squad last week. Imagine it'll be similar for Friday:

Looking at the team that started against Scarlets in their last game, thats their starting wings, starting front row and one of the 2nd rows out.

Looking back at the Leinster game in Round 6, the whole front 5 from that game are missing, along with their half backs (back up out half) and wingers.

Their squad might change slightly but even down Nathan White and Rodney our pack should have the measure of these guys.

Leonardo Sarto (wing)
Giulio Toniolatti (wing)
Kelly Haimona (out-half)
Luciano Orquera (out-half)
Guglielmo Palazzani (scrum half)
Matias Aguero (Prop)
Andrea Di Marchi (Prop)
Dario Chistolini (Prop)
Andrea Mancini (Hooker)
Quintin GeldenHuys (2nd row)
Marco Bortolami (2nd row)

How many first teamers are Zebre missing with Italy ?

Looking forward to this one. Ospreys a few weeks ago was a poor performance following on from a convincing defeat away to Exeter but this is a perfect opportunity to get back on track.

This is the first of 3 winnable home games in a row which is a great chance to get us back on track in both competitions.

Really we should be looking for a bonus point win here but my main concern would be that we have the win secured going into the final 10 or 15 minutes.

Connacht v Zebre – Galway Sportsground Guinness Pro 12 Round 8
Friday 21st November 2014 Kick Off 19:35 On TV: TG4 / Nuvolari

After a 3 week break from Pro 12 action, Connacht will hope to continue their positive home form against Zebre. After a couple of disappointing performances away from home Connacht will be aware of the importance of bouncing back against an improving but understrength Zebre side.

Other Match Stats
Connacht have won all 8 previous meetings between the two sides
Connacht picked up a 4 try bonus point in their last meeting with Zebre, the only one they have picked up in the 8 fixtures
Zebre are averaging 12.5 points per game with an average concession of 25 points per game in the league to date.
Zebre have never won in their 14 previous visits to Ireland

Zebre Stats
Website: www.zebrerugby.eu/
Founded: 1973
Ground: Stadio XXV Aprile
Capacity: 3,500
Coaches: Andrea Cavinato
Captain: Gonzalo Garcia

Pro 12 Position 2013/14: 12th P:22 Points:29
Pro 12 Position 2014/15: 11th P:7 Points:5
Heineken Cup 2013/14: 4th in Pool 3 Points: 0
Challenge Cup: 2014/15: 3rd in Pool 5 Points: 4

Previous Fixtures
Scarlets 28-13 Zebre (Pro 12 Round 7)
Brive 21-26 Zebre (Challenge Cup Round 2)
Zebre 24-33 Oyonnax (Challenge Cup Round 1)
Zebre 3-20 Leinster (Pro 12 Round 6)
Zebre 14-15 Ospreys (Pro 12 Round 5)

Next Fixture:
Saturday 29th November Zebre v Edinburgh @ 16.00 (local time) @ Stadio XXV Aprile

European Rugby Challenge Cup Standings (Pool 5)
Gloucester 9
Oyonnax 4
Zebre 4
Brive 1

Zebre Ins and Outs 2014/15
Players In
Giulio Bisegni from Lazio Rugby
Hennie Daniller from Cheetahs
Andries Ferreira from Cheetahs
Andrea Lovotti from Calvisano
Kelly Haimona from Calvisano
Jacopo Sarto from Petrarca Padova
Lorenzo Romano from Calvisano
Michele Visentin from Calvisano
Valerio Bernabò from Benetton Treviso
Edoardo Padovani from Mogliano
Mirco Bergamasco from Rovigo Delta
Oliviero Fabiani from Lazio Rugby

Players Out
Dave Ryan to Ulster
Salvatore Perugini retired
Paolo Buso to Rugby Olympique de Grasse
Emiliano Caffini to Rovigo Delta
Nicola Cattina released
Filippo Cazzola to Fiamme Oro
Roberto Quartaroli to Viadana
Kameli Ratuvou released
Ruggero Trevisan to Benetton Treviso
Michael van Vuuren to Mogliano
Davide Giazzon to Benetton Treviso

Previous Meetings
Sunday 23rd February 2014
Zebre 19-27 Connacht
www.pro12rugby.com/matchcentre/14325.php

Saturday 11th January 2014
Connacht 20-3 Zebre
www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/heineken-cup/2014...7212-connacht-zebre/

So excited to see Mils finally on the teamsheet. I reckon he'll really be a revalation at this level.

Buckley
Harris-Wright
Loughney

Kearney
Roux

Muldoon
Faloon
Naoupu

Marmion/Porter
Ronaldson

Healy
McSharry
Aki
Poolman
Muliaina

We're back in the place where due to injuries the 23 pretty much picks itself. With some of the players being away, and the need to have a kicker on the field, the XV could go lots of different ways - Heff/JHW, George/McKeon, Porter/Marmion, Carty/Ronaldson, McSharry/Ronaldson, Mils/Leader.

With the squad update, we would go with

connachta wrote: Buckley
Heffernan
Loughney
Kearney
Roux
Muldoon
Faloon
McKeon
Marmion
Ronaldoson
Healy
McSharry
Aki
Poolman
Leader

Jhw
McCartney
Bealham
Browne
Naoupu
Porter/Blade
Carty
Mils

" Players not selected to play in the final test with Australia will be released back to the province" Reading between the lines : Marmion 90% available, AhYou 20 % (depends on Furlong/Archer)...