Connacht on the verge of semi-final spot

Connacht need only one point from this evening’s PRO12 fixture in Italy to guarantee a semi-final spot. But coach Pat Lam will want more, such is the expectation on Connacht to deliver a bonus-point winning performance.

New targets have been set after the province qualified for Champions Cup rugby on their own merit for the first time when seeing off Munster two weeks ago. No longer content with that milestone, Lam and co are are now targeting a home semi-final with a view to winning silverware.

“We sat down as a group and all agreed we want to win the PRO12. It is now a realistic ambition,” said Lam. Treviso, fighting with Zebre for the automatic Italian spot in Europe, will not make it easy.