ZEBRE
DISCUSSION POINTS
Appearances can be deceiving. Even though Zebre finished bottom of Conference A, they bagged seven wins last season – their best showing since their 2012 inception – and rustled up more points than Southern Kings and Dragons. This all came under the tutelage of ex-Connacht and Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley.
This time out, aided by Azzurri legend Alessandro Troncon, they will look to better that win ratio with the help of the excellent Edoardo Padovani and powerful utility back Francois Brummer.
Zebre’s tempo will again be set by gifted half-backs Marcello Violi and Carlo Canna, who can bring the likes of Giovanbattista Venditti and Matteo Minozzi into play.
The pre-season message to fans from captain Tommaso Castello is Ti Aspettiamo, which translates as ‘we’re expecting you’. It is a clear plea for more support – more success on the field will help.
KEY MAN
He may have been born in Irvine and educated at Fettes, but George Biagi is as Italian as prosciutto. The lock is reliable at the set-piece and wily enough to know his way around the murkier areas of rucks and mauls. He leads by example and gives Zebre hard-bitten experience.
ONE TO WATCH
If there was one bright spot from a dismal Six Nations for Italy, it was the joyful broken-field running of Matteo Minozzi, who crossed the whitewash four times in five games. Just 22, the hot-stepping full-back is full of enterprising play.
WHAT’S REALISTIC?
Michael Bradley will have set his squad a target of at least matching their seven wins from last season, and after skittling Ulster and Ospreys last time out, they will be targeting Glasgow and the mighty Leinster at home.
IF THEY WERE MUSICIANS…
Dua Lipa – Seen as lightweight by some, they had a breakthrough year as hard graft began to pay off.