Tiernan O’Halloran starts as Connacht target home win

Coach Pat Lam has made two personnel changes to his Connacht side for a match the home side will be targeting. Treviso at the Sportsground on Sunday is one Connacht will be expecting to win although the Italians had an impressive five-try win over Cardiff last week.

It has been more than six weeks since Connacht last played at home, so that in itself should give them a lift against a side five places below them in the table.

Tiernan O'Halloran, having shown some good form from the bench, will earn his first start of the season at fullback with Niyi Adeolokun on the right wing. That allows top try scorer Danie Poolman to move in to outside centre while Craig Ronaldson shifts to outhalf.

There are no changes to the pack with Nathan White set to start at tighthead after a late withdrawal against Dragons last week.

“After two good performances off the bench, Tiernan [O’Halloran] certainly deserves his start on Sunday,” said Lam.

“ He brought a lot of intensity when introduced in the last two games and his leadership and communication skills are a big asset in a very young back line. Mils [Muliaina] was close to playing this week but we decided not to take the risk and so Niyi [Adeolokun] gets his opportunity on Sunday.”

Treviso are always strong up front and in recent games have shown how effective they can be moving the ball out wide, an aspect of their play about which Lam is perfectly aware.

“We’re going to have to bring it to another level again on Sunday, especially in defence. We’re sitting in sixth place at the moment but like last week we still don’t have a safety net, and we have to continue to perform as a team.”

CONNACHT: T O'Halloran; N Adeolokun, D Poolman, D McSharry, M Healy; C Ronaldson, J Cooney; D Buckley, T McCartney, N White; Q Roux, A Muldowney; J Muldoon (capt), J Heenan, E Masterson.

Replacements: S Delahunt, R Loughney, R Ah You, M Kearney, G Naoupu, I Porter, J Carty, C Finn.

TREVISO: J Hayward; H Seniloli, A Pratichetti, S Christie, L Nitoglia; J Ambrosini, A Lucchese; M Zanusso, D Giazzon (capt), R Harden; T Vallejos, M Swanepoel; N Cattina, D Budd, M Luamanu.

Replacements: A Anae, R Acosta, S Manu, C Van Zyl, P Derbyshire, A Saccardo, J Carlisle, F Menon.

Referee: A McMenemy (SRU).

Verdict: Connacht