Connacht must step up for tough Zebre test

Connacht prop Denis Buckley knows the westerners will need a massive improvement to avoid a second defeat in a row away to Zebre in Parma tomorrow.

Now operating under former Connacht coach Michael Bradley, Zebre host the 2015-16 PRO12 champions at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi with the visitors desperate to bounce back from a 36-30 defeat away to Cardiff Blues last weekend.

But they are boosted by the announcement that versatile back row Sean O’Brien (22) has signed a two-year contract extension at the province, which will keep him at the Sportsground until the end of 2019-20. Connacht are fifth in the PRO14 Conference A standings, six points clear of Zebre.

However Buckley knows they could easily lose again after last season’s 25-22 defeat there. “Zebre have been going really well, especially at home. They are not a pushover team anymore,” said Buckley.

“It’s a must-win for us after Cardiff. We need to park that last result and move forward to Zebre and hopefully work on a big result.”

Loosehead prop Buckley (27) has scored seven tries in 128 appearances for Connacht since his debut in the 2011-12 season. The Roscommon native was on the PRO12’s team of the season in 2015-16 when Connacht won the title under Pat Lam after victory over Leinster in the decider at Murrayfield.

But Connacht have slipped back a lot since then and the former Creggs clubman was frustrated with last weekend’s showing in Wales.

The visitors scored four tries but still couldn’t grab an elusive victory over a gritty Cardiff side. “It was a pretty disappointed dressing room. We didn’t play near to our best.

“We still got some good scores, scored 30 points, and there were some real opportunities to win the game.

“But ultimately we coughed up too many soft scores and we didn’t take points at crucial times.

“We left that one behind us and everyone was terribly disappointed by it.”