Connacht Rugby trounce Zebre

Crowds came to College Road for fireworks, and fireworks is what they got as Connacht Rugby defeated Zebre 43-3 on Friday night in the Guinness Pro12.

Pat Lam’s men picked up a try-bonus in their biggest win of the season, running in five tries in total, as they cut loose in the second half.

The main attraction was, of course, Mils Muliaina, Connacht Rugby’s first All-Black, whose significant pulling-power brought out almost 5,500 supporters despite the rainy conditions. He didn’t disappoint.

Capped 100 times for New Zealand, the World Cup winner made a few line breaks, and provided the assist that set-up winger Danie Poolman for the home side’s first try of the night in the right corner.

Afterwards, the 34-years-old was full of praise for the Connacht Rugby fans, and the electric atmosphere they created during his debut.

“The atmosphere was awesome. The supporters here are really passionate, especially in weather like this and to still have 5,000-odd crowd that turns up. We’re pretty pleased and we’re stoked about turning it on for them,” Muliaina told reporters.

Zebre, missing 13 internationals, were always going to struggle. But desperate discipline really punished them, and they conceded several tries when three of their players were sin-binned.

The fourth try was scored by scrum-half John Cooney, in his first start at the Sportsground, after a powerful break from George Naoupu from the base of the scrum on halfway. Substitute out-half Jack Carty finished the scoring with a break-away try.

Just as Muliaina was causing a stir in Galway, up the M6, on Saturday, another star of Connacht Rugby was lighting up the international stage at Lansdowne Road.

Robbie Henshaw, lining out in the number 13 jersey, put in a decent shift for Ireland, who clung on to beat Australia 26-23.

Improving with every international game he plays, the young Athlone centre was solid without being spectacular alongside Gordon D’Arcy. He kicked well, and made some yardage, while defensively Henshaw was a rock.

Henshaw’s performance against Australia, which backs up his impressive display against South Africa a fortnight ago, galvanises his starting position ahead of the Six Nation’s campaign in Spring and the 2015 World Cup.

He should be available for selection this weekend as Connacht Rugby welcome Scarlets in what is a completely different ball-game to Zebre.

Connacht are sixth in the league table, with 23 points, and are within striking distance of Leinster (24 points), Glasgow (27 points) and Munster (28 points).

The Scarlets are in seventh place in the table, just a point behind Connacht, and this mouth-watering clash is effectively an eight-pointer, in the scramble to secure European Cup qualification. Kick-off is at 7.30pm on Saturday. Tickets are available from the usual outlets.