Connacht 47 Treviso 8: Pat Lam could hardly have asked for a more routine victory in his 100th game in charge as Treviso, yet again, offered only token resistance in what is turning out to be another disastrous campaign for the Italians.

Defeat in Italy on last season’s PRO12 run-in might not have cost Connacht a coveted home semi-final, but that loss registered in their minds.

Leinster 50 Benetton Treviso 19: It’s only two weeks since Ulster sent Leinster retreating down the M1 in disorder, but some in the northern province could be forgiven for harbouring a sense of foreboding ahead of the sides’ next meeting in the Guinness PRO12 semi-final.

It may have been a day of drama and calculators across most of the Guinness PRO12, but Leinster strolled to the most straightforward and expected of victories against a mostly awful Treviso side at the RDS this afternoon.

Munster head coach Anthony Foley is demanding his players step up to the plate at the Stadio Monigo tonight (7pm Irish time) and beat Benetton Treviso, despite losing lock Paul O’Connell on the eve of the game.

RABO DIRECT PRO12:

Connacht 38 Treviso 6

Treviso 3 Ulster 35

Ulster 48 Benetton Treviso 0

RABO DIRECT PRO12

RABODIRECT PRO 12:

Treviso 18 Leinster 19

Brian McLaughlin praised the fighting spirit of his team after Ian Whitten’s late try rescued Ulster against Treviso on Saturday.

Italy coach Jaques Brunel has made six changes to the squad that lost against Wales in Cardiff last weekend for their final RBS Six Nations game against Scotland in Rome on Saturday.

Wales kept their Grand Slam mission on course after seeing off a determined Italy outfit at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

Wales are optimistic captain Sam Warburton will be fit to lead his team’s RBS 6 Nations title bid against France next Saturday.

Captain Ross Ford believes a Scotland win in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland in Dublin is necessary for the squad to retain belief that they are moving in the right direction.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made four changes to face Ireland in Saturday’s RBS Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium.

Much of the talk leading into this tie surrounded the immediate future of Tomás O’Leary, after French TV claimed the Ireland international had inked a deal with Perpignan.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has chosen what can only be construed as a team hell-bent on winning the first of four important RaboDirect Pro12 games away to Treviso today.

Vive la France.

There might well be a new broom brushing away the cobwebs of the Marc Lièvremont era but looking at Philippe Saint-André’s first XV as France coach, it’s not immediately clear if all that much has changed.

IT’S much change for Munster and minimum alterations for Treviso in advance of tonight’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash at Thomond Park.

FOR Joe Schmidt, the unhappy memories of defeat to Treviso in September of last year were consigned to oblivion when Leinster hoisted aloft the Heineken Cup.

LEINSTER’S much-vaunted strength in depth served them well earlier this season but it will be put to the test again in their RaboDirect Pro12 clash at the Stadio Comunale do Monigo against Benetton Treviso this afternoon.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has named a 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand.

OH, how a few performances can change a team.

SAM WARBURTON believes Wales are turning around their RBS 6 Nations campaign after the “doom and gloom” of an opening day defeat against Grand Slam-chasing England.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made three changes to his side to face Wales in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations match at the Stadio Flaminio.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has made four changes to the side that lost their RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland for Saturday’s game against England at Twickenham.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has handed Benetton Treviso’s Kristopher Burton the number 10 shirt for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland at Rome’s Flaminio Stadium.

LEINSTER head coach Joe Schmidt dismissed questions over his future after his new team’s shock defeat by Treviso at the rain-soaked Stadio di Monigo on Saturday night.

RICHIE REES could have been excused a double-take as he prepared to embark on the biggest week of his rugby life.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has named lock Carlo Antonio Del Fava in his 24-man squad for Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland in Rome.

ITALY head coach Nick Mallett has named his 24-man squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.

Italy head coach Nick Mallett has named his 24-man squad ahead of the RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday.

Italy 25 Ireland 36