John Muldoon is confident Connacht will return to winning ways in the GUINNESS PRO12 against Benetton Treviso on Friday, provided his side respect the ability of their Italian opponent’s pack. Pat Lam’s side are looking for their fourth triumph of the campaign after a 39-21 defeat to table-topping Glasgow Warriors in round four and an enthralling 24-24 draw against Cardiff Blues last Friday. The head coach has made five changes to the starting line-up with 20-year-old hooker Shane Delahunt handed his first GUINNESS PRO12 start alongside Denis Buckley and Rodney Ah You in a new-look front row. Eoin McKeon replaces Willie Faloon at openside flanker with Matt Healy starting in place of Danie Poolman on the left wing as Connacht seek their first victory at Stadio Monigo since September 2011. And with his side deflated after failing to defend a 14-point lead against Cardiff, captain Muldoon is especially wary of the threat posed by Treviso’s cunning style and powerful forwards. “We were bitterly disappointed to throw away a 14-point lead,” he told the Irish Examiner. “We’ve aspirations to be a top-six team and a top-six team doesn’t let a side back into a game like that. “But we’ve got to regroup and focus on Treviso. We’ve had a lot of mixed results there. They pride themselves at home and you know you’re in for a battle so it’s not going to be easy. “On the first of September if you’d have told us we would have had three wins, a draw and one loss to the league’s top team, I’d have bitten your hand off. “Traditionally Treviso have a big forward pack and they like to batter you. They’re a very hard team to read because they have so many options and sneaky little things going on. “I don’t know how they find the time of day to do them and to master them but they always come up with something new so we’ll have to work hard but I think the focus will mainly be on us getting our stuff right.” Treviso have attained just one league point in losing their last eight GUINNESS PRO12 encounters since victory over Newport Gwent Dragons at home in April. Sam Christie comes in at fly-half to partner Edoardo Gori at half-back, Michele Campagnaro moves out to the wing and Corniel Van Zyl starts in the second row in place of captain Antonio Pavanello. Yet the biggest boost to Treviso’s chances is the return of Italian international Alessandro Zanni from a long-standing injury, with the flanker eager to express himself in Umberto Casellato’s new-look side. “You have to consider that the team is revamped, even in the technical staff, and the new players and stuff must have time to integrate,” he told la Tribuna. “It is normal to have a difficult time before finding the blend, although I believe that already in these last few games we’ve started to see something good. “I am convinced that other improvements will come and with them the results.” At Stadio Monigo, 8pm local time (7pm Ireland & UK) Live on Nuvolari Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 28th competition game) Assistant Referees: Marius Mitrea, Andrea Spadoni (both FIR) Citing Commissioner: Stefano Marrama (FIR) TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)
