Zebre v Connacht: Guinness PRO12 preview
Last Updated: 09/05/15 6:23pm
Mauro Bergamasco will make his final home appearance for Zebre when they host Connacht in the PRO12 on Saturday.
The Italian international will retire from club rugby at the end of the current campaign but leads the side in Parma as they try to catch Treviso in the race for the Italian Champions Cup spot.
Brendon Leonard, who will joing Ospreys at the end of the season, is named in the No.9 jersey and links up Luciano Orquera in the half-backs.
One change for Connacht
Scrum half John Cooney is named to start in an otherwise unchanged backline in what will be his 13th appearance of the season.
Academy fly-half Conor McKeon is in line to earn his first cap for the province after being named on the bench. 24-year-old prop forward JP Cooney has also been included in the matchday squad, replacing the injured Ronan Loughney (groin).
"At this late stage of the season, it's not unusual for us to be light in terms of players available,” head coach Pat Lam said.
“We've always had to rely on our Academy players to step up when needed and with an eye to the future, young Conor (McKeon) will get a well-deserved chance to do that this weekend.
"We all know how crucial this game against Zebre is. It's must-win territory if we want to keep our hopes of Champions Cup qualification alive. While we have a good record against Zebre, we know too well not to underestimate them."
Zebre: 15 Dion Berryman, 14 Giovanbattista Venditti, 13 Matteo Pratichetti, 12 Gonzalo Garcia, 11 Michele Visentin, 10 Luciano Orquera, 9 Brendon Leonard, 1 Matias Aguero, 2 Andrea Manici, 3 Dario Chistolini, 4 Quintin Geldenhuys, 5 Valerio Bernabò, 6 Filippo Cristiano, 7 Mauro Bergamasco (c), 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk.
Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Andrea De Marchi, 18 Luca Redolfini, 19 Andrei Mahu, 20 Jacopo Sarto, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Alberto Chillon, 23 Mirco Bergamasco.
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 John Cooney; 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Rodney Ah You, 4 Ultan Dillane , 5 Aly Muldowney, 6 John Muldoon (capt), 7 Eoghan Masterson, 8 Eoin McKeon.
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Andrew Browne, 20 George Naoupu, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Conor McKeon, 23 Shane O'Leary.
