Zebre v Connacht

Seen as its maybe the only game not to have an article to itself.

Sat 13th Oct
Heineken Cup

Zebre v Connacht

14:45 Stadio Aprille XXV

Connacht:
15, R Henshaw;
11-14, T O’Halloran, E Griffin, D McSharry, F Vainikolo;
10,9, D Parks, K Marmion;
1-3, D Buckley, E Reynecke, N White (capt);
4,5, M Swift, M McCarthy;
6-8, J Muldoon, W Faloon, G Naoupu.

Replacements: A Flavin, R Ah You, R Loughney, D Gannon, J O’Connor, D Moore, M Nikora, M Fifita.


On a side note Dubarry Park (Athlone) announced as the home of the Connacht Eagles.

http://www.connachtrugby.ie/2012101083044/connacht-v-zebre-preview

Connacht have played Zebre in Parma this season in the RaboDirect Pro12 and returned with a confidence boosting 30-17 win against a team based around last year’s Aironi squad. Zebre's new Australian born outhalf Daniel Halangahu who has extensive super rugby experience with the Waratahs didn’t play that day and he has certainly bolstered the side which also includes the league’s top line breaker this season Sinoti Sinoti on the wing and Mauro Bergamasco in the back row.

Based on previous experience Connacht will get nothing easy in Italy and John believes that Zebre will see the game as their best opportunity of getting a win in the competition. The squad, he says, are focused on producing a quality performance to kick start the Heineken Cup campaign.

Oh and as I mentioned on Munster thread.

Accum bet on all 4 Provinces to win this weekend?

In the completely non committal ambiguous words of Simon Cowell

“I have a sneaking feeling that you could just quite possibly, may be this years dark horses”

Cue frenzied rapturous applause and screaming

Didnt realise it was zebre first up. Would be great for Connacht to get the BP win here and then face off against one of the big two in galway

Zebre v Connacht.

Nothing sums up the problems the HC has better than this fixture.

Two pointless teams in Europe’s flagship Club Competition...sorry Region\Province and Club Competition.

One to miss me thinks!

I don't know Hersh, Connacht are currently ranked 27th in Europe, above Sale 34th who you don't seam to have a problem with being in it,

http://www.eurorugby.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Rugger&file=latest

or ERC ranking
24th still above Sale, Castres, Montpellier

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/ranking.php

So currently not as bad as Sale both on current performance, and history of European competation!!

Maybe its Sale being in Hcup you should have an issue with, and not Connacht.

Connacht have named their team

Connacht:
15, R Henshaw;
11-14, T O’Halloran, E Griffin, D McSharry, F Vainikolo;
10,9, D Parks, K Marmion;
1-3, D Buckley, E Reynecke, N White (capt);
4,5, M Swift, M McCarthy;
6-8, J Muldoon, W Faloon, G Naoupu.

Replacements: A Flavin, R Ah You, R Loughney, D Gannon, J O’Connor, D Moore, M Nikora, M Fifita.

Zebre v Connacht.

Nothing sums up the problems the HC has better than this fixture.

Two pointless teams in Europe’s flagship Club Competition...sorry Region\Province and Club Competition.

One to miss me thinks!

He says this after Connacht knocking Harlequins out last season.

Kingshu wrote:Oh and as I mentioned on Munster thread.

Accum bet on all 4 Provinces to win this weekend?

Whats odds did you get on that?

HERSH wrote:
Zebre v Connacht.

Nothing sums up the problems the HC has better than this fixture.

Two pointless teams in Europe’s flagship Club Competition...sorry Region\Province and Club Competition.

One to miss me thinks!

Nobody has any yet silly. This weekend is the first round of matches.

Great to see a new generation of young Connacht born players in Marmion, Renshaw, Griffin, O'Halloran, McSharry etc.

Kingshu wrote:I don't know Hersh, Connacht are currently ranked 27th in Europe, above Sale 34th who you don't seam to have a problem with being in it,

http://www.eurorugby.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Rugger&file=latest

or ERC ranking
24th still above Sale, Castres, Montpellier

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/ranking.php

So currently not as bad as Sale both on current performance, and history of European competation!!

Maybe its Sale being in Hcup you should have an issue with, and not Connacht.

Sale earned the right, neither of these did IMO.

So its with the H-cup winners earning an extra place for their Union yo have an Issue with and the Italians entering 2 teams.

Connacht have the hardest method of qualification out of any Union. so maybe cut them some slack.

I'd say it would be a lot easier to finish in the top 6 in the English Prem, than it is to finish above one of Leinster, Munster or Ulster, none of the top teams if Europe would swap Qualifation methods with Connacht.

Really looking forward to this game now. Will it be possible to take in the Bath v Bucharest match on TV this week end?

Everyone remembers the Connacht V Harlequins game last yearand is looking forward to the rematch but in fairness they have been meeting a lot in Europe
In Almin 10/11
Connacht 9–15 Harlequins
Harlequins 20–9 Connacht

I'd say they know each other fairly well now playing home and away this year and last 2 years.

Good thing is sine they have played so much, and Connacht have had a win, and close game last year against them, Harlequins don't hold the fear factor that a team like Tigers would have had.

I can see that Connacht would fancy their chances more against Harlequins than if they had Tigers in thier group. Not saying Tigers are better team than Harlequins, just from a mental point of View Connacht know they can beat Harlequins, they would have had doubts if it was Tigers.

Kingshu wrote:Oh and as I mentioned on Munster thread.

Accum bet on all 4 Provinces to win this weekend?

What are the odds on all four provinces making the quarters!

red_stag wrote:Great to see a new generation of young Connacht born players in Marmion, Renshaw, Griffin, O'Halloran, McSharry etc.

Well Marmion and McSharry aren't from Connacht originally but, it's good to see young Irish players coming through. There is also Denis Buckley in the front row.

Griffin deserves a shot with the Ireland Wolfhounds this season. He is a player I rate very highly.

The Great Aukster wrote:

Kingshu wrote:Oh and as I mentioned on Munster thread.

Accum bet on all 4 Provinces to win this weekend?

What are the odds on all four provinces making the quarters!

Discounting Ulster's game (which must have been odd-on), according to http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/club-rugby/heineken-cup , Munster (42/41), Leinster (1/12), Connacht (4/7).

That would be 168/3444 in my calculation. i.e. Not good.

Making the quarters?: http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/club-rugby/heineken-cup/to-reach-quarter-final :Leinster 4/11, Ulster 8/15, Munster 11/10, Connacht 30/1.
10561/1651.

greytiger wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:

Kingshu wrote:Oh and as I mentioned on Munster thread.

Accum bet on all 4 Provinces to win this weekend?

What are the odds on all four provinces making the quarters!

Discounting Ulster's game (which must have been odd-on), according to http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/club-rugby/heineken-cup , Munster (42/41), Leinster (1/12), Connacht (4/7).

That would be 168/3444 in my calculation. i.e. Not good.

The triple today is about 2.4/1 ie put on €100, win €240, get €340 back. Decent odds for a bet.

http://www.tvrplus.ro/live-tvr-2

Submachine it's on free to air tv in Romania so you can watch it on their website apparently?

I hope for the sake of italian rugby that zebra do better than aironi but we will see...

Kingshu wrote:Oh and as I mentioned on Munster thread.

Accum bet on all 4 Provinces to win this weekend?

Looked into it yesterday - you'd get odds of about 2-1, not worth it.

Connacht leading 9 - 3 at half time. Looks like a tight game there.

I know you all can't wait for the final score so here it is. Connacht won 19 - 10.

Thanks profitius. Who were the try scorers?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Thanks profitius. Who were the try scorers?

Not sure. I think Connacht scored 1 try and Zebre got a consolation try near the end.

Apparently young robbie henshaw had another good game. Things are looking good for the lad.