Zebre 34 Connacht 51: Connacht are preparing to step it up as their season becomes considerably tougher with the visit of the Ospreys next up in the Galway Sportsground.

Munster coach Anthony Foley is hopeful winger Keith Earls and scrum-half Conor Murray will be fit for Saturday’s Champions Cup showdown against Stade Francais.

Connacht 29 Dragons 23: Connacht opened their Guinness Pro 12 season with a valuable home win, edging a lively encounter against the Newport Gwent Dragons at the Galway Sportsground last evening.

Fionn Carr’s 77th-minute try sealed a hard-earned 29-23 win for Connacht against Newport Gwent Dragons.

In a big day for Irish teams in the Guinness Pro12, Connacht’s needs are probably greater than the rest.

Tommy Bowe notched his 60th and 61st Guinness Pro12 tries as Ulster led from start to finish in a 27-20 bonus point win over Connacht at the Sportsground.

Guinness PRO12

Newport Gwent Dragons 25 Connacht 30: Connacht maintain sixth place in the Pro12 after seeing off 14-man Dragons at Rodney Parade yesterday.

European Challenge Cup Pool 2

Guinness Pro12

Guinness Pro12

Leinster 21 Connacht 11

Connacht winger Danie Poolman said qualification for the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup is in their own hands as they head to France to take on Bayonne.

European Challenge Cup Pool 2: Connacht 42 Bayonne 19

GUINNESS PRO12:

Connacht 43 Zebre 3

Connacht Rugby 48 La Rochelle 12

Connacht Rugby 48 La Rochelle 12

Glasgow Warriors 39 Connacht 21

GUINNESS PRO12:

Connacht 16 Newport 11

Connacht 16 Dragons 11

Munster warmed up for their Heineken Cup semi-final against Toulon with a bonus-point 32-23 victory over provincial rivals Connacht.

After putting out an unchanged sidefor the last four games, Connacht head coach Pat Lam has made a host of changes to the team to face Munster in tomorrow's interpro at the Sportsground, (kick off 6:15pm).

HEINEKEN CUP POOL THREE:

Connacht 17 Saracens 23

Connacht Head Coach Pat Lam has made a number of changes to the team for their second away trip of the season.

Connacht 26 Ospreys 43

RABODIRECT PRO12

Connacht 22 Ospreys 10

Scarlets 25 Connacht 15

Harlequins 47 Connacht 8

Connacht 30 Newport Gwent Dragons 11

Connacht 30 Newport Gwent Dragons 11

Leinster 17 Connacht 0

Biarritz Olympique 17 Connacht 0

Connacht 22 Biarritz 14

Connacht 23 Edinburgh 24

Connacht 23 Edinburgh 24

Connacht 18 Benetton Treviso 3

Connacht 18 Treviso 3

Former Stormer Danie Poolman makes a timely first start for Connacht against Italian visitors Benetton Treviso at the Galway Sportsground today (5pm).