Mils Muliaina tasted victory on his Connacht debut, as the Irishmen clocked up a bonus-point win over Zebre at the Sportsground.

The World Cup winner, the first ever New Zealand international to play for the Irish side, set up Danie Poolman to score the first of five tries as Zebre were blown away.

The Italians, without 13 internationals as they prepare to face South Africa on Saturday, could only keep their hosts at bay for a short time and, as indiscipline set in, they slumped to a heavy defeat.

Connacht let their visitors off the hook three times in the opening ten minutes, with Ian Porter kicking two wayward penalties, while David McSharry slipped as he raced for the line after a great burst from Matt Healy.

Porter finally found the target with a nerve-settling kick on 14 minutes, but Zebre profited from a Connacht mistake at the line-out, with David Odiete getting them on the board with a penalty.

The home side’s response was instant though. A sensational run from Poolman led to a penalty and Porter’s kick sailed over.

Connacht were on top and dominant in the scrum, but were struggling to turn their superiority into points until Filippo Cristiano was sent to the sin bin.

Within two minutes of gaining a numerical advantage debutant Muliaina, who has won 100 caps for the All Blacks, delayed his pass on the 22m line before setting up Poolman to dive over in the corner for his third try of the season.

Porter missed his conversion, though did add two more penalties before half-time to give his side a 17-3 advantage, as Odiete missed a chance to reduce the arrears with the final action of the opening period.

Connacht, who had struggled at the line-out all night, profited when they got it right early in the second half.Mick Kearney carried the ball over as Zebre failed to stop the maul and Porter nailed his conversion 5m in from the touchline.

Odiete thought he had crossed in the corner to reduce the arrears, though his foot was adjudged to have hit the touchline after consultation with the TMO and his score was chalked off.

Zebre’s chances of launching a comeback were wiped out with two players – Andries Ferreira and Andrea Lovotti – sent to the sin bin inside two minutes and a penalty try duly followed. Nikora tapped the conversion.

The home side turned the screw when replacement John Cooney raced down the right and crossed, but Jack Carty missed the chance to add two points more.

However, he made amends, converting his own try on 69 minutes to complete the scoring.

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