Ross takes no chances

Connacht are taking no chances when they face little-known Rovigo in Italy for their third European Shield match tomorrow. Coach Glenn Ross has named a full strength side - the same team which started against Perigeux on Wednesday.

And, having arrived on Thursday, Ross has conducted only one training session at Rovigo, some 50 minutes from their Padova base. Two players are on the injured list but should be fit to line out. Conor McGuinness is suffering from the flu while Ian Dillon has a hamstring injury. The pair were exempt from training and the team trip to Venice, although this was kept fairly low-key in an effort to rest the team, as they have played two hard matches in the previous week.

Ross can be thankful that Perigeux gave Connacht a fright. In what should have been an emphatic victory, Connacht scraped through by a single point with an injury-time try. The coach is conscious of complacency, particularly now the side has notched three victories on the trot.

As a result, he has reason to be concerned with an Italian side that boasts three internationals. "I see Rovigo as a very dangerous side if we do not play our game plan correctly," he says.

Most importantly, Ross sees victory as imperative if Connacht are to advance to the Shield quarter-final for a second year. "We have another big game next week against Narbonne, who are a very strong side, so this an opportunity to get another two points that could prove invaluable in the future."

Connacht: W Ruane; R Southam, P Duignan, M Murphy, N Carolan; S Allnutt, C McGuinness; J Screene, B Mulcahy, M Cahill, G Heaslip, J Duffy, J Charlie, I Dillon, B Gavin.

Bath coach Andy Robinson keeps faith with England forward Ben Sturnham, who was sent off against Bedford last weekend, for today's visit by London Irish in the English premiership. Sturnham, awaiting a RFU disciplinary hearing, lines up alongside Martin Haag in the second row as Robinson names an unchanged side.

London Irish make three changes from the team beaten 3329 by Richmond last Saturday. Right wing Justin Bishop returns, while out-half Matt Jones replaces James Brown and prop Michael Worsley takes over from Peter Rogers, who faces a lengthy lay-off with knee trouble.