In what is an anti-climactic finale to their European campaign, Connacht complete their home programme in the Parken Pen Shield at the Sportsground (today, 2.30) when entertaining Roma Olimpic. If nothing else, it affords Steph Nel's much-improved team the chance to spread their wings as they did in the second-half of their Celtic League quarter-final thriller against Glasgow last time out.
That was over a month ago now, but the break has at least afforded Connacht the opportunity to play close to their full hand against the Italians. Aside from the returning Marnus Uijs and Des Dillon up front, Connacht's captain, Mark McConnell, could also be in line for a 20 minute or so comeback after undergoing a back operation.
The one absentee is flanker Paul Neville due to a damaged hand.
Roma have picked a team with five internationals and the Argentinian-Italian combination of Gonzalo Camardon and Giovanni Raineri gives them an experienced half-back axis. They ran Connacht close in the first meeting but their aggregate effort in two away games to date has been 0-133, featuring a 35-point swing in the two meetings with Narbonne.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; G Duffy, D Yapp, T Allnutt, W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; D McFarland, M Uijs, P Bracken, D Bowne, R Frost, M Swift, D Dillon, J O'Connor. Replacements - R McCormack, T Kearns, M McConnell, C Rigney, J Charlie, J Ferris, P Duignan.
ROMA: A Onori; A Ausiello, F Roselli, L Corona, A Merlo; G Raineri, G Camardon; M Cuttitta, A Murrazzani, A Castellani, F Pennese, E Matrullo, D di Luna, C Caione, V Biagio. Replacements - F Spazzolini, F Patrizi, L Gorla, L di Luia, M Pietrosanti, AN O ther, AN Other.
Referee: J Hogg (Scotland).
