Parma Again? Connacht Return to the Scene of Their Last Away Win

This one looks straightforward on odds sheets, but it isn’t. Connacht’s away record has been grim, Zebre are a different animal in Parma, and the biggest swing factor is simple: who’s actually released to play.

Team News

Connacht Rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster has named his matchday squad for Saturday’s BKT United Rugby Championship clash away to Zebre Parma (kick-off 3.00pm Irish time), making five changes to the side that started last week’s historic fixture against Leinster at Dexcom Stadium.

In the pack, Jordan Duggan, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce and Sean O’Brien all come into the starting XV. Duggan replaces Billy Bohan at loosehead, while Aungier starts at tighthead in place of the injured Sam Illo. Joyce returns to the second row and O’Brien is named on the openside flank. Paul Boyle captains the side once again from blindside flanker.

The other change comes in the back three, where Chay Mullins is named on the left wing. Niall Murray replaces Darragh Murray among the replacements, with Cian Prendergast unavailable for selection.

Otherwise, Connacht retain continuity across much of the side. Dylan Tierney-Martin continues at hooker, Josh Murphy partners Joyce in the second row, and Sean Jansen completes the back row at number eight. In the backs, Caolin Blade and Josh Ioane continue at half-back, with Cathal Forde and Harry West again paired in midfield. Shane Jennings and Sam Gilbert complete the back three.

Zebre Parma, meanwhile, are heavily affected by the Six Nations window, making nine changes from the side that faced Glasgow Warriors last weekend. The Italian side are without a number of first-choice options, including David Odiase, Alessandro Fusco, Damiano Mazza and Lorenzo Pani, forcing head coach Massimo Brunello into reshaping both the pack and the backline.

Among the changes, Paolo Buonfiglio, Giampietro Ribaldi, Matteo Canali, Giacomo Ferrari and Davide Ruggeri all come into the Zebre pack, while Gonzalo Garcia, Marco Zanon, Simone Gesi and Giovanni Montemauri are introduced in the backs. Leonard Krumov captains the side from the second row.

Despite last week’s narrow defeat to URC leaders Glasgow, Zebre will again look to lean on their physicality and work rate at Stadio Lanfranchi, though the enforced rotation significantly reduces their experience levels.