Connacht staring at unwanted record

Connacht hope for a major change of fortunes when they face Zebre in the third round of the PRO12 in Parma this evening (5.05pm).

You would have got fair odds on Treviso and Zebre being above Connacht in the table heading into the third series of matches but, as often happens in early season placings, it’s a bit distorted and neither of the Italian sides have won a game either.

Connacht have won all eight league games they have played against Zebre but defeat this evening will see Connacht become only the second ever defending champions in the history of the competition to lose the opening three matches of the title defence.