CONNACHT HEAD COACH Pat Lam has named his starting line-up for tomorrow’s Guinness Pro12 clash with Zebre.
The champions, who suffered defeats to Glasgow Warriors and Ospreys in the opening two games of their title defence, will be looking for their first win of the campaign at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi [KO 5.05pm].
Lam has made six changes in personnel to the side that lost to the Ospreys last weekend, two of which come in the backline.
After making his debut in the opener against Glasgow, 22-year-old Cian Kelleher starts on the wing, with Matt Healy moving to the bench. Kieran Marmion also makes way for Caolin Blade at scrum-half, while Bundee Aki and Eoin Griffin will swap places in midfield.
There are two changes in the front row as Denis Buckley returns from injury to replace Ronan Loughney at loosehead. With Finlay Bealham out through illness, JP Cooney comes in at tighthead.
There’s also a new partnership in the second row as Lewis Stevenson and Andrew Browne start in place of Ultan Dillane and Daniel Qualter.
Connacht:
15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Bundee Aki
12. Eoin Griffin
11. Cian Kelleher
10. Jack Carty
9. Caolin Blade
1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. JP Cooney
4. Lewis Stevenson
5. Andrew Browne
6. Eoin McKeon
7. James Connolly
8. John Muldoon (captain)
Replacements:
16. Dave Heffernan
17. Ronan Loughney
18. Conor Carey
19. Ultan Dillane
20. Rory Moloney
21. Kieran Marmion
22. Shane O’Leary
23. Matt Healy
Zebre:
15. Edoardo Padovani
14. Gabriele Di Giulio
13. Giulio Bisegni
12. Tommaso Boni
11. Venditti Giovanbattista
10. Carlo Canna
9. Guglielmo Palazzani
1. Andrea De Marchi
2. Oliviero Fabiani
3. Pietro Ceccarelli
4. Quintin Geldenhuys
5. George Biagi (captain)
6. Jacopo Sorto
7. Maxime Mbanda
8. Federico Ruzza
Replacements:
16. D’Apice Tommaso
17. Postiglioni Bruno
18. Guillermo Roan
19. Gideon Koegelenberg
20. Derick Minnie
21. Carlo Engelbrecht
22. Tommaso Castello
23. Kayle Van Zyl
