Pat Lam throws the dice on a talented but very young backline.
CONNACHT
Starting XV: 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Eoin Griffin, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion
1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Sean Henry, 3 Nathan White, 4 Mick Kearney, 5 Andrew Browne, 6 John Muldoon (c), 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Eoin McKeon
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Michael Swift 20 George Naoupu, 21 Paul O’Donohoe, 22 Dan Parks, 23. Gavin Duffy
Unavailable/Injured: Craig Clarke, Aly Muldowney, Dave Nolan, Willie Faloon, Dave McSharry, Craig Ronaldson, Danie Poolman, Miah Nikora, and Kyle Tonetti.
Starting XV: 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Fionn Carr, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Eoin Griffin, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion
1 Brett Wilkinson, 2 Sean Henry, 3 Nathan White, 4 Mick Kearney, 5 Andrew Browne, 6 John Muldoon (c), 7 Jake Heenan, 8 Eoin McKeon
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Denis Buckley, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Michael Swift 20 George Naoupu, 21 Paul O’Donohoe, 22 Dan Parks, 23. Gavin Duffy
Unavailable/Injured: Craig Clarke, Aly Muldowney, Dave Nolan, Willie Faloon, Dave McSharry, Craig Ronaldson, Danie Poolman, Miah Nikora, and Kyle Tonetti.
Zebre
Starting XV: 15 Guglielmo Palazzani, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Dion Berryman, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Alberto Chillon
1 Matias Aguero, 2 Davide Giazzon, 3 Dario Chistolini, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys (c), 5 George Biagi, 6 Filippo Ferrarini, 7 Dries van Schalkwyk, 8 Samu Vunisa
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice , 17 Andrea de Marchi, 18 David Ryan, 19 Marco Bortolami, 20 Nicola Cattina, 21 Roberto Quartaroli, 22 Ruggero Trevisan, 23 David Odiete
Unavailable/Injured: Paolo Buso, Filippo Cazzola, Tommaso Iannone, Brendon Leonard, Andrea Manici, Matteo Pratichetti, Leonardo Sarto, Giovanbattista Venditti
Starting XV: 15 Guglielmo Palazzani, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Dion Berryman, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Alberto Chillon
1 Matias Aguero, 2 Davide Giazzon, 3 Dario Chistolini, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys (c), 5 George Biagi, 6 Filippo Ferrarini, 7 Dries van Schalkwyk, 8 Samu Vunisa
Replacements: 16 Tommaso D'Apice , 17 Andrea de Marchi, 18 David Ryan, 19 Marco Bortolami, 20 Nicola Cattina, 21 Roberto Quartaroli, 22 Ruggero Trevisan, 23 David Odiete
Unavailable/Injured: Paolo Buso, Filippo Cazzola, Tommaso Iannone, Brendon Leonard, Andrea Manici, Matteo Pratichetti, Leonardo Sarto, Giovanbattista Venditti
Venue: Sportsground
Date: Saturday, 11th January 2013
Kick-off: 15:40
TV Broadcasts: Sky Sports Xtra (15:30), Sky Sports 2 - Red Button (15:40)
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
Date: Saturday, 11th January 2013
Kick-off: 15:40
TV Broadcasts: Sky Sports Xtra (15:30), Sky Sports 2 - Red Button (15:40)
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
MATCH DISCUSSION THREAD ON THE FORUM
Connacht's back line is completely unchanged from the one that took on the international stuffed Leinster backline. That means a second start for Jack Carty who won many plaudits for his assured display at out-half last week. Leader is also retained at full-back where he had been tested by garry-owens by the Leinster back-line and came through with flying colours. The centres who did so well against the famous Irish duo of D'Arcy and O'Driscoll will have another chance to improve on their partnership against their less well-recognised Zebre counter-parts.
Up front the most welcome and impactful change comes in the form of the re-introduction of Jake Heenan at the openside. The 21 year-old flanker has admirably filled the space left by last year's Player of the Season Willie Faloon, and his return allows Muldoon to resume his usual duties on the other flank. Muldoon is given the captains armband as Clarke has picked up a neck injury, a deserved slap on the back following on from his recent efforts. Eoin McKeon starts at Number 8 ahead of Naoupu.
In the tight five, the loss of Captain Clarke is a big blow to Connacht, both for his leadership and his fantastic work in the lineouts. Into that considerable gap Andrew Browne is asked to partner with Mick Kearney, forming a relatively light-weight back row. Up front Henry recovers from injury and is preferred to Jason Harris-Wright at hooker.
At fullback for Zebre is Palazzani who is in try-scoring form having picked up one against Ulster and last week in Zebre's first every home victory, over their Italian rivals Treviso. Admitedly last week's effort was created by van Schalkwyk's self-collected chip, but against Ulster his try showed he can spot a defensive gap and has the side-step to take advantage of it. On the wings are the familiar faces of Giulio Toniolatti and Dion Berryman, both having played against Connacht already this season.
In the centre ex-Saracen's Fijian centre Ratuvou, yellow-carded against Munster for a dangerour tackle, is playing alongside Garcia whose ability from the kicking tee makes him a decent backup to Orquera. Garcia has already played against Connacht twice this season, and played against both Griffin and Henshaw seperately but not in combination. The out-halves are the ever reliable Orquera and Alberto Chillon, who is slotting into the place vacated by Brendon Leonard.
The Italian's front-row is their first choice selection of Aguero, Giazzon and Chistolini. This is the same front-row that took on Wilko, JHW and White in the opening game of the season. The rest of the pack is also as expected and as strong a selection as Zebre could pick, with Ferrarini, van Schalkwyk and Vunisa being a dynamic ball-carrying back-row.
Zebre come off the back of their first ever home-win against any team in any competition. They have also picked up a number losing bonus points over the last number of fixtures including one away against Ulster. They will obviously be looking to keep this momentum going against their most likely target in the HEC. How can they do that?
Well Zebre have a heavier pack than Connacht (894kg vs 868kg), and they will hope to drag Connacht into a dogfight and to dominate in the scrum. They may be successful if Connacht do not move the ball but their selection suggests that Connacht intend to do just that. At scrum time though Connacht won't have any other option than to front up to the Italians, but they showed aginst Toulouse that they can keep parity in the scrum against heavier packs.
Connacht will look to keep the ball moving and to tire out that heavy pack of Zebre's hopefully chipping away at the scoreboard while they do. The hope for Connacht fans is that as Zebre struggle to reach rucks that they will lose their discipline and attack them from the sides or fail to keep their feet. For this to work Connacht will need their support players to ensure that Connacht men are not isolated, and Connacht need Neil Paterson to be policing the area with consistency.
Connacht can win this well but they are up against a Zebre side that are improving and looking to strike back against a side that they have lost to twice already this season.
