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Connacht Clinch Bonus-Point Victory Over Zebre in United Rugby Championship
Parma, Italy – January 31, 2026 – Connacht secured a hard-fought 31-15 victory over Zebre in a United Rugby Championship match that went deep into overtime. Oisin McCormack’s try in the 11th minute of stoppage time sealed a bonus point for Stuart Lancaster’s side, though the win required a determined effort against a tenacious Zebre team.
First-Half Battle
Zebre started strongly, finishing the first half with a 3-0 lead. however, this scoreline didn’t fully reflect the dynamic nature of the game, with the Italian side demonstrating an eagerness to attack from deep. Connacht, conversely, struggled with overplaying their hand in the opening 40 minutes.
Second-Half Surge
Connacht responded quickly after the break, with Joe Joyce scoring just 41 seconds into the second half after capitalizing on a charged-down clearance. Number eight Sean Jansen added two tries for Connacht, but Zebre refused to yield.Scrum-half Gonzalo Garcia scored a well-taken try in the 56th minute, demonstrating the home side’s resilience.
late Drama and Sin Bin
A powerful run from Bautista Stavile kept Zebre within striking distance. With the tension mounting, Sam Gilbert landed a crucial penalty in the 79th minute to extend Connacht’s lead. The game took another turn when Zebre center Marco Zanon was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on. McCormack’s late try, converted by Gilbert, secured the