Connacht make five changes for trip to face Zebre

Connacht play Zebre at 3pm on Saturday

Connacht lost to Leinster last weekend. Pic:  ©INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon

Connacht have made five changes to their team to play Zebre at Stadio Serigo Lanfranchi on Saturday from the team which lost to Leinster last weekend. 

With Billy Bohan, Darragh Murray and Cian Prendergast unavailable, they have been replaced by Jordan Duggan, Niall Murray and Sean O’Brien.

The other changes are the inclusion of Jack Aungier at tighthead prop who replaces the injured Sam Illo, and Chay Mullins on the left wing.

The replacements includes three academy players in Matthew Victory, Fiachna Barrett and Sean Naughton, while Oisin McCormack is also named in the matchday squad for the first time this season. 

"We were all gutted not to win last week on such a special night for the club, but we’ve had to quickly move on," said Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster. 

"The same amount of points are on offer this weekend and we know a win will keep us in the hunt for a playoff spot.

"We’re obviously missing the lads away on Ireland duty but overall we’ve been able to keep selection relatively consistent these last few weeks, particularly in the backs. It’s been a long stretch of games but we’ll do everything we can to finish it on a high and hopefully head into the next block of games with a spring in our step.”

CONNACHT: Sam Gilbert;  Shane Jennings, Harry West, Cathal Forde, Chay Mullins; Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade; Jordan Duggan, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier; Josh Murphy, Joe Joyce; Paul Boyle (C), Sean O’Brien, Sean Jansen 

Replacements: Matthew Victory, Peter Dooley, Fiachna Barrett, David O’Connor, Niall Murray, Ben Murphy, Sean Naughton, Oisín McCormack