CONNACHT ARE THE first Irish province in action tomorrow, on a day when all four sides are in Heineken Cup action.
Pat Lam will be hopeful that his side can get things off on the right foot as they take on Zebre in Parma, with a 1.35pm (Irish time) kick-off.
We’ve picked out three of the key battles for Connacht as they look to back up last weekend’s spirited showing against Saracens by claiming their first European win of the season.
Craig Clarke v Marco Bortolami
AFTER A FEW weeks of leg-stretching, Craig Clarke’s impact was at full force for Connacht at home to Saracens last week.
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The Kiwi claimed a third of his side’s line-out ball on what was a flawless night for the western province’s set-piece with a total of 15 throws won (including one steal) in an area which Saracens made their own last season.
In Parma, Clarke will look to take the 6″5′ heartbeat from Zebre, Marco Bortolami. While the lock will be the obvious opponent at line-out time, he sets the tone for his side. If he is able to make his presence felt at the breakdown then Zebre will have also set the pace of the game to their liking.
Kieran Marmion v Brendan Leonard
Even aside from his first half try, Kieran Marmion was outstanding as a guiding force against Saracens and his team will be expecting another night full of good decisions and better service from their scrum-half.
Opposite him tomorrow will be Brendan Leonard, a team-mate of Craig Clarke on the Chiefs squad that has torn up the Super XV. If the hosts do get the front foot through the pack, their best player will be the first man to the ball and he is more than capable of exploiting any holes they can punch open.
Connacht v Connacht
You don’t exactly have to look far for an example where a side takes their eye off the ball a week after emotionally and physically spilling everything onto the field.
Many books could be written on what steps Connacht could or should take to avoid falling into the same trap as Munster in Edinburgh, but getting their mindset right for this fixture against an opponent they are expected to beat – a rare position for Connacht – is perhaps the most important factor in taking four points back west.
The loss of John Muldoon will not help matters; the captain was a massive driving force on this trip last season and scrambled over for the vital try in a 19 – 10 win.
This time around, the new Italian club has a win to point to as belief, Connacht are in for a dogfight in Parma and if they are to avoid an upset they’ll have to summon the same attitude as Saracens demanded – with a reduction in the early nervous errors which cost them 14 points in a six-point game.
Marmion, mindset and Marco: 3 key battles for Connacht away to Zebre
CONNACHT ARE THE first Irish province in action tomorrow, on a day when all four sides are in Heineken Cup action.
Pat Lam will be hopeful that his side can get things off on the right foot as they take on Zebre in Parma, with a 1.35pm (Irish time) kick-off.
We’ve picked out three of the key battles for Connacht as they look to back up last weekend’s spirited showing against Saracens by claiming their first European win of the season.
Craig Clarke v Marco Bortolami
AFTER A FEW weeks of leg-stretching, Craig Clarke’s impact was at full force for Connacht at home to Saracens last week.
The Kiwi claimed a third of his side’s line-out ball on what was a flawless night for the western province’s set-piece with a total of 15 throws won (including one steal) in an area which Saracens made their own last season.
In Parma, Clarke will look to take the 6″5′ heartbeat from Zebre, Marco Bortolami. While the lock will be the obvious opponent at line-out time, he sets the tone for his side. If he is able to make his presence felt at the breakdown then Zebre will have also set the pace of the game to their liking.
Kieran Marmion v Brendan Leonard
Even aside from his first half try, Kieran Marmion was outstanding as a guiding force against Saracens and his team will be expecting another night full of good decisions and better service from their scrum-half.
Opposite him tomorrow will be Brendan Leonard, a team-mate of Craig Clarke on the Chiefs squad that has torn up the Super XV. If the hosts do get the front foot through the pack, their best player will be the first man to the ball and he is more than capable of exploiting any holes they can punch open.
Connacht v Connacht
You don’t exactly have to look far for an example where a side takes their eye off the ball a week after emotionally and physically spilling everything onto the field.
Many books could be written on what steps Connacht could or should take to avoid falling into the same trap as Munster in Edinburgh, but getting their mindset right for this fixture against an opponent they are expected to beat – a rare position for Connacht – is perhaps the most important factor in taking four points back west.
The loss of John Muldoon will not help matters; the captain was a massive driving force on this trip last season and scrambled over for the vital try in a 19 – 10 win.
This time around, the new Italian club has a win to point to as belief, Connacht are in for a dogfight in Parma and if they are to avoid an upset they’ll have to summon the same attitude as Saracens demanded – with a reduction in the early nervous errors which cost them 14 points in a six-point game.
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European Rugby Champions Cup Connacht Connacht H Cup Italian Job Parma Zebre