Backrow boost for Connacht

RUGBY:CONNACHT ARE on a good run, winning five out of their last six games in all competitions, with the only loss coming at the hands of last season's Magners League champions Ospreys. Aironi, who Eric Elwood's team meet for the first time, remain at the bottom of the table.

Confidence is high in Connacht and the team has just one change from the side that beat Treviso last Friday. Hooker Seán Cronin is in Declan Kidney’s squad to face Wales on Saturday, leaving an opening for Adrian Flavin to return to the frontrow, with Dermot Murphy shifting to the bench.

The return of club captain John Muldoon after a three-month lay-off with a broken arm, which he suffered against Harlequins, is a welcome boost to the backrow, while the team will again be captained by Johnny O’Connor.

For Aironi, Tito Tebaldi returns at scrumhalf, while James Marshall will play at fullback. Riccardo Bocchino is at outhalf.

Danwel Demas and Kaine Robertson are on the wings, while Matteo Pratichetti and Gilberto Pavan will play at centre.

The backrow is comprised of former Munster player Nick Williams, Gareth Krause and Josh Sole, while captain Marco Bortolami plays alongside Joshua Furno in the secondrow.

Aironi are buoyed with the way they played against Ulster last week and although they lost the match, they were encouraged by the second period.

“We showed good structures both in offence and defence to dominate the second half at Ulster,” said Aironi coach Rowland Phillips.

“If we are to build on that it could be another step towards the first win.”

All tickets bought for the original fixture in December are valid for tonight’s encounter.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; B Tuohy, N Ta’auso, T Nathan, F Carr; I Keatly, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, A Flavin , J Hagan, M Swift, A Browne, J O’Connor capt, R Ofisa. Replacements: D Murphy, R Loughney, R Ah You, B Upton, J Muldoon, C Willis, M Nikora, K Matthews.

AIRONI: J Marshall; K Robertson, G Payan, M Pratichetti, D Demas; R Bocchino, T Tebaldi; A De Marchi, R Santamaria, U Gamboa, J Furno, M Bortolami capt, J Sole, G Krause, N Williams. Replacements: L Ferraro, A De Marchi, L Redolfini, G Biagi, N Cattina, G Toniolatti, G Pizarro, G Rubini.

Referee: J Jones (Wales).