Livewire Devine the star of show

CONNACHT skipper Dave Heffernan said they need to build on this easy win to keep their knockout hopes alive. Academy scrum-half Matthew Devine was the hero as he crowned his first start with two tries in the opening half when the contest was still alive.

“We want to reach the quarter-finals so we needed this bonus point win. Now we will turn our attentions to Dragons next week and go from there,” Hefferman said.

Zebre hit the front with a drop goal from Lorenzo Pani after 13 minutes while they had the first of three men in the bin after centre Fetuli Paea saw yellow for a high hit on John Porch.

Devine tapped and went through a pile of bodies to score his opening try after 16 minutes but Zebre hit back

with a try from Jacopo Trulla. It took Devine just two minutes to cancel that when he sniped and broke from deep, escaping two tackles before rounding out-half Geronimo Prisciantelli for an excellent try. Hanrahan converted to make it 14-8 and Connacht never looked back.

Niall Murray scored just before the break after an excellent crosskick from Hanrahan and they wrapped up the bonus point six minutes after the restart when Tom Farrell scored after good work from Andrew Smith and Sean O’Brien got their fifth try after 52 minutes.

Enrico Lucchin pulled back a try for the Parma side after 65 minutes but they lost replacement hooker Danilo Fischetti for a late tackle and later second row Andrea Zambonin.

Connacht pushed on with Bundee Aki scoring their fifth before Hanrahan crowned a fine display with a try and the rout was completed in the closing stages of a simple win with a penalty try.