Match Preview: Zebre vs. Ulster Rugby

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ADM
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Match Preview: Zebre vs. Ulster Rugby

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[/tag][tag=content]In my opinion it’s always a good thing to get the trips to Italy out of the way as early as possible.

Now admittedly the scheduling of the Pro12 is something we can’t control, but managing to get the visit to the Stadio XXV Aprille done and dusted by round four is something which I think the Ulster management will welcome gladly. Even if Zebre, and by the same token Treviso, are not the most taxing of opposition, a trip abroad is never an easy proposition and the sooner we have that trip behind us the better.

Not that I don’t expect us to return from Parma with the four points, not at all, in fact even with our depleted team I still anticipate four tries to be scored. However it is well worth remembering that while our unbeaten record against Zebre is still intact, any games we’ve played them in away from home have been tight affairs with usually only a few points separating the two teams.

Indeed, it wasn’t exactly a convincing performance that saw off the Italians a couple of weeks ago at the Kingspan, regardless of the fact that we got the bonus point in the end. At home you can get away with sub-standard efforts, but very rarely are you given the liberty to be off your game away from home and expect that to be the case this weekend as much as any other weekend.

It is worth pointing out that the majority of this Zebre side were part of the teams that conceded 64 points and scored just 18 in their last two games against us and Munster, so they will be hurting and looking for something of a vengeance tomorrow. Four points are not necessarily in the bag and with an increasingly more influential Italian crowd getting behind Zebre, leaving the Stadio XXV Aprille with the win will not be an easy task.

Therefore, with a bit of inexperience across the park, we should be heading over with the mentality that we will be in for an arm wrestle that will not be won easily. As I said, I still expect us to triumph, and possibly even with four tries to boot, however it will not be a victory that will come easily. Zebre will cause several nose bleeds in Parma this season as they continue to improve from season to season, and we have to be on top of our game to ensure we won’t be their first.

That requires several of our fringe players to step up. With Dan Tuohy picking up his unfortunate injury last Friday it means Neil McComb is thrust straight into action in his place, while Clive Ross and Stuart McCloskey also make their first appearances of the season. It will be down to the more experienced heads in the team to make sure that we leave the Stadio XXV Aprille on Saturday with all four points.

Andrea Cavinato has made just three changes to the team that were defeated by Munster last week. Matias Aguero and Dario Chistolini are the new props replacing Andrea Lovotti and Luciano Leibson, while in the backs there is a recall for winger Leonardo Sarto at the expense of David Odiete. Quintin Geldenhuys captains the side from lock with club captain Gonzalo Garcia only on the bench, which also includes Italian international fly-half Luciano Orquera.

Les Kiss has elected to continue his policy of rotation, resulting in ten changes to the side that defeated the Blues last Friday. Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave and Paddy Jackson retain their places in the backs with Michael Allen and Craig Gilroy joining Bowe in the back three, the former on the wing and the latter at full-back. The aforementioned McCloskey partners Cave at centre while there is a first start of the season for Michael Heaney at scrum-half. It is all change in the front row with Callum Black, Rob Herring and Declan Fitzpatrick coming in, while Neil McComb is promoted to the starting line-up in Dan Tuohy’s absence. Roger Wilson and Clive Ross join Nick Williams in the back row with Wilson captaining the side.

Our performances so far haven’t been stellar, but the results have been pretty good and I think all Ulster fans would happily take the position we’re in at the moment had it been offered to us at the start of the season. Still, there’s no room to rest on our laurels and until Peter Fitzgibbon blows for full-time on Saturday, we haven’t won this match yet by any stretch of the imagination.

We should though. Emphasis on should.

Zebre vs. Ulster Rugby
Saturday 27th September, 15:00
Stadio XXV Aprille
Guinness Pro12 – Round 4

ZEBRE
15. Hendrik Daniller, 14. Giulio Toniolatti, 13. Giulio Bisegni, 12. Kelly Haimona, 11. Leonardo Sarto, 10. Edoardo Pavodani, 9. Guglielmo Palazzani; 1. Matias Aguero, 2. Andrea Manici, 3. Dario Chistolini, 4. Quintin Geldenhuys (capt.), 5. George Biagi, 6. Mauro Bergamasco, 7. Filippo Cristiano, 8. Samuela Vunisa.

16. Oliviero Fabiani, 17. Andrea Lovotti, 18. Luciano Leibson, 19. Andries Ferreira, 20. Valerio Bernabo, 21. Alberto Chillon, 22. Gonzalo Garcia, 23. Luciano Orquera.

ULSTER RUGBY
15. Craig Gilroy, 14. Tommy Bowe, 13. Darren Cave, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Michael Allen, 10. Paddy Jackson, 9. Michael Heaney; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Declan Fitzpatrick, 4. Neil McComb, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 6. Roger Wilson (capt.), 7. Clive Ross, 8. Nick Williams.

16. Rory Best, 17. Ruaidhri Murphy, 18. Wiehahn Herbst, 19. Lewis Stevenson, 20. Mike McComish, 21. Paul Marshall, 22. Ian Humphreys, 23. Andrew Trimble.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 59th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Mateo Liperini, Stefano Penne (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Russell Howell (WRU)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)[/tag]
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