Connacht went into this match with 5 wins from 6 matches and were full of confidence, albeit conscious that this an Aironi team that are improving with every game. Conditions were terrible with a swirling wind and pouring rain but as the game kicked off the skies cleared a little. Connacht kicked off and it wasn’t long before Connacht’s big guns were called into action, Ray Ofisa, Michael Swift and Adrian Flavin all making big hits and the Connacht forwards came out the better of the opening exchanges. They were rewarded with a 5th minute penalty which outhalf Ian Keatley was unable to convert. Fionn Carr was unlucky to cross the line on a number of occasions, a well weighted grubber through from Keatley travelled a fraction too far and 20 minutes later Connacht were pulled back for a forward pass. Connacht threw everything at the Italian sides defence but it held firm until the 40th minute when Ian Keatley raced over for a superb try, referee James Jones had to go to the TMO to confirm the try which gave Connacht a 8-0 lead at half time.

Ian Keatley had a chance early in the second half to stretch Connacht's lead but the outhalf pulled his effort wide. On 52 minutes Keatley made up for his earlier miss with a huge strike from outside the Aironi 10m line. On 64 minutes, Aironi pressure on the Connacht line forced James Jones to go to the TMO for the second time. The effort was judged to be held up but Jones pulled play back for an earlier penalty which scrumhalf Tito Tebaldi slotted to get the Italians off the mark. The game never sparked in to life with the snow coming down heavily. With six minutes to go Tebaldi got his second penalty to set up a nail-biting finish, but Connacht held on for the win. Full-time in the Sportsground, Connacht 11-6 Aironi. Next up is the return leg in Italy on the 26th of March, while Connacht's next home game is against Edinburgh on the 1st of April.