We never won away to Aironi, I'm not going to make the mistake of thinking we'll beat Zebre without a fight!

there may be experienced players in there but by my reckoning there are 7 acadamy players in the squad and 3 in the team. * appears to indicate acadamy.
Dave Ryan is also listed at TH and afaik he is a LH specialist. Munster tried to convert him but it was a failed experiment which is why he was released.
Fingers crossed but looking good.

Porterbelly wrote: Plenty of experience in that Aironi team.

Not sure if this was just a Fraudian slip PB ,but would be curious to see how many went from Aironi to Zebre.

Hope this game goes better than the one last year against Aironi (Which unfortunatly was also on TG4)

Doing my best to get the Early season optimism back after last weeks loss to the Cardiff 4th team development Junior subs.A 4 pointer here would do nicely .C'MON CONNACHT

Plenty of experience in that Aironi team. Loads of international experience.

Bergamasco, Perugini, Geldenhuys and Sole in the pack. Over 250 Italian caps alone there

(From Rabo site)

Zebre line-up to play Connacht is as follows:

15 Sinoti SINOTI
14 Giovanbattista VENDITTI*
13 Alberto BENETTIN*
12 Gonzalo GARCIA (captain)
11 Samuele PACE
10 Luciano ORQUERA

9 Alberto CHILLON*
8 Andries VAN SCHALKWYK
7 Mauro BERGAMASCO
6 Filippo CRISTIANO
5 Josh SOLE
4 Quintin GELDENHUYS
3 David RYAN
2 Carlo FESTUCCIA
1 Salvatore PERUGINI

replacements
16 Davide GIAZZON
17 Andrea DE MARCHI
18 Luca REDOLFINI
19 Emiliano CAFFINI*
20 Nicola BELARDO*
21 Tito TEBALDI
22 Alberto CHIESA*
23 Ruggero TREVISAN*

*Italian "Ivan Francescato" Academy Member

Just to point out that the Connacht Clan App will always give you the start times relative to whatever time zone you happen to be in.

Smart, huh?

The Rabo site has it listed as 19.05 on the front page and on the fixtures page. That's local Parma time. KO is definitely 18.05 Galway Central Time.

Does anyone know the correct time for this game.
The Connacht website and TG4 have it listed as 19:05
The Rabo Pro12 website has it listed for 18:05

sea_point wrote: I've sadly got more chance of seeing the game on SportItalia than on fecking TG4...

Aironi and Treviso games were on RAI last year. I don't have Skysports Italia, but I do have RAI! Arrrrgh!

There is no GBFM commentary this week, they don't have sponsorship this season, so far

I've sadly got more chance of seeing the game on SportItalia than on fecking TG4...

Porterbelly wrote: I think that 1905 kick off time is 1805 Irish time.

TG4's coverage starts around 6 so I presume so

I thought the TG4 website said they were starting at 7. I'll take another look.
Working until 6:30 on Friday. GBFM will have to do until I get home

ummm, wrote: The time in brackets gave it away

I see :lol:

The time in brackets gave it away

I think that 1905 kick off time is 1805 Irish time.

TG4's coverage starts around 6 so I presume so

Game 2 of the Rabo Pro12 2012/2013 Season

Venue: Stadio Aprille XXV
TV Coverage: TG4 18:05

Previous Results: Never Played before

Recent Rabo Results:
Connacht 9 - 13 Cardiff
Newport Gwent Dragons 37 - 6 Zebre

Rabo Pro 12 Preview:

Stadio XXV Aprile becomes the 36th different ground, and the third in Italy, to host a game in the history of this tournament. The new Italian Franchise, Zebre, lost 6-37 to Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on their debut in RaboDirect PRO12 last Friday.

Connacht have lost their last two matches in the competition to Glasgow Warriors and Cardiff Blues, whilst their only
victory on the road since round one last season was 27-19 at the Dragons on 30 March. The Irishmen have won just one
previous RaboDirect PRO12 game in Italy: 11-9 at Treviso on 3 September 2011.

The two sides have never met before.

Stadio XXV Aprile, 7.05pm local time (6.05pm Ireland & UK).

Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 2nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Stefano Roscini, Elia Rizzo (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Archile Reali (FIR)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)
Live on Sportitalia and TG4

Connacht Team:
15 Gavin Duffy (C)

14 Tiernan O’Halloran

13 Eoin Griffin

12 Mata Fifita

11 Fetu’u Vainikolo

10 Miah Nikora

09 Kieran Marmion

01 Denis Buckley

02 Ethienne Reynecke

03 Ronan Loughney

04 Michael Swift

05 Mike McCarthy

06 John Muldoon

07 Johnny O’Connor

08 George Naoupu



16 Adrian Flavin

17 Rodney Ah You

18 Nathan White

19 Dave Gannon

20 Willie Faloon

21 Frank Murphy

22 Matthew Jarvis

23 Robbie Henshaw