What are our realistic hopes for this game?
I thought Zebre played some good stuff in the Sportsground earlier, and look to be getting better.

Now, if we play with the same intensity as we did on Friday night, we should have nothing to fear, but Zebre are obviously going to target this game as their best chance to pick up a win in the HC.

We need a strong start, and not allow them to get any momentum.

I think we'll win, but I dont say that with too much confidence unfortunately

1 Brett
2 JHW
3 Rodney
4 Muldowney
5 Clarke
6 Browne
7 Heenan
8 George
9 Marimon
10 Parks
11 TOH
12 Ronaldson
13 Robbie
14 Dannie
15 So'allio

16 Henry
17 Buckley (if possible)
18 Lougney
19 Swifty
20 ? Fifita or Mick Kearney
21 POD
22 McSharry
23 Duffy / Carr

With intention of Parks coming off for McSharry and Craig going 10 and McSharry first centre

Would be happy with connachta's team. I'm struggling to remember Duffy having a good game so far this season? TOH offers something different anyways.

Cooney is just listed as a prop, is he mainly a LH or TH? If Loosie I'd probably keep him on the bench thought he did well when he came on last week and we need to start bringing the younger props up to HEC speed anyways.

I'd like to see So'oialo taking long range penalties whenever he's on the field, does anyone know if Halfpenny took the kicks while Parks was at Cardiff?

Have to remember this is the game Zebre will target to break their HEC duck, they definitely have no fears against us having played 5 times since their inception.

Healy and McSharry in the backs and Harris Wright in the forwards and Browne into to replace Muldoon

Parks or Duffy are hardly going to be dropped after last week. If McSharry is fit he'll make a huge difference at 12, otherwise the same XV apart from Browne in for Muldoon's enforced absence. Would like to see Kearney back in the 23 but he seems out of favour.

1 Wilko
2 Henry
3 Ah you
4 Muldowney
5 Clarke
6 Browne
7 Heenan
8 Naoupu
9 Marmion
10 Ronaldson
11 Healy
12 So'Oialo
13 Henshaw
14 Poolman
15 TOH


16 JHW
17 Bucley
18 Loughney
19 Swift
20 Fafita
21 POD
22 Parks
23 Carr


I think that's the best team we have now for an away win

Anyone want to speculate as to our likely starting 15? I'm thinking Tiernan might start ahead of Fionn. Not that Fionn played particularly badly against Saracens, but I thought Tiernan did well when he came on. Apart from that I'd only make changes where injuries force us to.

He can't, unless they use their second medical joker and de-register someone i.e. Peter Reilly.

If we swap Buckley in for Reilly, we can still play the more junior (front-row) player in the event of an injury crisis.

3.4 In order to reduce the possibility of uncontested scrums, each club may also nominate further front row players, referred to as 'Emergency Front Row players', who may be registered with ERC on a match-by-match basis provided that all necessary details of the players have been submitted before 12 noon (GMT) on 19 September 2013. The provision for the nomination of Emergency Front Row players is not intended to allow clubs to improve the quality of their squads, and is designed to cater for illness and/or injury in the relevant positions. The players added to squads will typically come from a club's academy or similar.

3.5 Each club may register up to two additional players during the pool stage, each to replace a player previously registered. If a club registers two additional players, one such player must be a front row player. Additional players must have a three-month contract with the club and must not have played for another club in the tournament. Additional player registrations must be submitted by 12 noon (GMT) on the Tuesday before the match. De-registered players may be re-registered (in place of the relevant additional players) during the pool stage.

Squad Update ahead of Zebre gameTraining Pat_Zebre_resized

The Connacht squad returned to training early this week ahead of Thursday’s departure for Italy for the Round 2 Heineken Cup clash with Zebre (KO: Saturday, 19th October at 2:35pm / 1:35pm Irish time).

John Muldoon tore his calf in the second half of Friday’s opening round defeat to Saracens and the medical team have ruled the back rower out of action for up to six weeks.

Brett Wilkinson, who also left the field in the second half after taking a knock to his quad, was rested yesterday. However, the 29-year-old is expected to return to training today.

Training DaveMc_resizedMatt Healy and Ronan Loughney, who both missed last week’s game, are also expected to be fit and available for the trip to Parma.

Meanwhile, Nathan White (calf) faces another two weeks on the sidelines while it has also been confirmed that Eoin McKeon (foot) will be out for another five weeks.

Both Dave McSharry and <strong>Denis Buckley</strong> who featured for the Connacht Eagles at the weekend in the British & Irish Cup came through the full 80 minutes and <strong>will continue to be monitored in the coming days ahead of Friday’s team announcement</strong>.

Zebre v Connacht
Saturday, 19th October
At Stadio Aprille XXV
Kick off 2:35pm local time / 1:35pm Irish time
On Sky Sports Red Button

In the British & Irish Cup the Connacht Eagles welcome the Rotherham Titans to the Sportsground on Saturday afternoon. The round 2 fixture kicks off at 2:30pm and the team will also be announced on Friday.

How can Buckley be in the team when he's not in the ERC squad