Connacht collared by canny Canna

FORMER Connacht coach Michael Bradley heaped misery on them as he guided Zebre to a deserved success in Parma.

Connacht coach Kieran Keane was baffled why they didn’t push on when they hit the front just after the interval, saying: “We had prepared well, knew what we would face but it just didn’t happen and now we need to see why.”

It’s the second season in a row Connacht have lost in Parma and they could have few complaints.

Zebre, featuring seven who played for Italy against the Springboks last week, led 6-0 at the break, having edged in front after 11 minutes when Carlo Canna converted a penalty in front of the posts, before he landed another on half-time.

Steve Crosbie missed two penalties in between and when Connacht went to the corner with a kick, they were unable to break through.

But Crosbie did convert Tom Farrell’s try and when Canna and Jack Carty swapped penalties Connacht were 10-9 ahead.

But it was Zebre who pushed for home with the impressive Johan Meyer chasing a kick to score.

Canna converted and widened the gap to nine with a shrewd drop-goal.

Connacht’s woe was completed when former Italy winger Gio Venditti raced through a sloppy defence.