New-look Zebre are earning their stripes – Wilson
CARDIFF Blues boss Danny Wilson maintains Zebre are a different animal this season after being taken over by the Italian Rugby Union and employing former Ireland captain Michael Bradley as coach, writes Andy Howell.
Ex-scrum-half Bradley was the man who laid the foundations for Connacht to prosper and did a sterling job as caretaker coach of Ireland between the end of Eddie O’Sullivan’s reign and the start of Joe Schmidt’s.
Zebre and Benetton (formerly Treviso), who are coached by highly rated former New Zealand full-back Kieran Crowley, have both made significant strides this campaign with the latter coming close to beating three-time European club kings Toulon in the Champions Cup.
Zebre were pipped in the dying minutes by South Africa high-flyers Cheetahs last weekend but are two places and two points above bottom of the pile Blues in Conference A of the PRO14.
“I’m fully aware that this is a very tough championship now, and we need wins to climb the table,” said Wilson. “It’s a very tight table and one or two wins is going to change the look of it very quickly.”
On the threat posed by Zebre, he said: “They’re bordering on being unrecognisable from what we’ve seen in the past. ARMS PARK 7.35pm CARDIFF BLUES v ZEBRE
“They’re playing a very different brand of rugby and have completely changed their approach. They’ve got some good personnel and athletes in there now and it’s going to be a new challenge for us.
“They’re starting to produce some younger Italian players and there’s some good stuff in the way they’re playing. They’re not reliant on set-piece or a physical game – they’re playing attractive rugby.”
Zebre have beaten Southern Kings and PRO14 big-hitters Ulster this season, while losing by a single point to Edinburgh and Cheetahs, racking up 20 tries in the process.
Wilson is confident, despite the Blues succumbing 30-17 at the Scarlets last weekend, of his men beating Zebre at the Arms Park tonight.
“If we can reproduce the form we’ve shown in recent weeks, I think we’ll hopefully pick up the win, but we know it’s going to be a challenge with the way Zebre are going at the moment,” he said.
“We’re keen to get back to winning ways. We need to show what we showed out in Toulouse, against Lyon and in the second half against Dragons. Up to last weekend, we had won four out of five games, and we’ve played top-of-the-table French opposition and won home and away, picking up a bonus point.
“We’ve also picked up a bonus point against the Dragons and beaten Connacht away, which is a first during my time here, so there are real positives to reflect on.”
Wales record cap holder and Blues captain Gethin Jenkins will make his first appearance of the season after recovering from knee surgery and the latest in a long line of calf problems.
“His leadership abilities and skills go before him and it’s great to have him back in the environment. He demands standards, which is what we’re after,” said Wilson.
Zebre make one change from the side narrowly beaten 24-23 by the Cheetahs last week, with Gabriele Di Giullo coming in. Cardiff Blues: M Morgan; A Summerhill, G Smith, W Halaholo, B Scully; S Shingler, L Williams; G Jenkins (capt), M Rees, T Filise, M Cook, D Welch, J Turnbull, O Robinson, N Williams. Reps: K Myhill, C Domachowski, K Assiratti, G Earle, S Bennett, T Williams, B Jones, T James. Zebre: M Minozzi; G Bisegni, M Bellini, T Castello (capt), G Di Giulio; C Canna, M Violi; S Panico, O Fabiani, E Bello, L Krumow, V Bernabo, G Licata, J Meyer. D Minnie. Reps: L Luus, A De Marchi, D Chistolini, J Sarto, R Giammarioli, G Palazzani, S Bordoli, C Gaffney. Referee: Sean Gallagher (Ire)