Elwood’s Connacht look to complete Italian job

ERIC ELWOOD has kept faith with the squad that has racked up five wins on the trot at home as Connacht look to record an away victory over Aironi this afternoon.

The only change to the Connacht side is the return of Ireland’s replacement hooker Sean Cronin, while a knee injury to Miah Nikora sees Shane Monaghan come onto the bench.

Johnny O’Connor will lead the side with captain John Muldoon named in the replacements. Having scraped through by 11-6 after a tight contest at the Sportsground two weeks ago, Elwood is expecting a bruising battle up front.

“Everybody realises Aironi are making gains and it’s only a matter of time,” he said. “Now we are their next visitors, it’s a home game for them and they will be targeting us. Because the game was so close in Galway, they will say ‘yes, it’s a big opportunity’.

“All we ask is for the weather to be conducive to playing rugby and we will take our chances. They will have strengthened their squad, they are at home, and they will want to play their type of game — be it scrum, lineout or maul. We need to keep our discipline, and hopefully, if the weather is nice, can exert pressure by playing our brand of rugby.”

That wish is likely to be realised with temperatures expected in the 20s in Viadana, but Aironi are hoping to claim a first league win.

Coach Rowland Phillips has made three changes, with full-back Guilio Rubini returning to full-back and Gabriel Pizzaro in the centre.

James Marshall, who played at fullback in Galway, returns to out-half. Up front, Fabio Staibano is named in the front row.

With five games remaining and a tough finish against Munster and Ulster, Connacht are looking to consolidate their league position. The Dragons overtook Connacht in the standings after their bonus-point loss to Ulster in Ravenhill.

“The next three games are important, starting with this one on Saturday and if we do our business, it will set us up nicely for those final two inter-provincials,” said Elwood.

AIRONI: G Rubini; K Robertson, M Pratichetti, G Pizzaro, D Demas; J Marshall, T Tebaldi; A De Marchi, R Santamaria, F Staibano; J Furno, M Bortolami; J Sole, G Krause, N Williams.

Replacements: F Ongaro, A De Marchi, L Redolfini, G Biagi, N Cattina, P Canavosio, R Bocchino, H San Martin.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; B Tuohy, N Ta’auso, T Nathan, F Carr; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, J Hagan; M Swift, M McCarthy; A Browne, J O’Connor (capt), R Ofisa.

Replacements: A Flavin, R Loughney, R Ah You, B Upton, J Muldoon, C Willis, K Matthews, S Monahan.