URC – Emirates Lions Target Extending Unbeaten Run Against Zebre Parma

 

The Emirates Lions target extending their unbeaten run to four matches when they line up against Zebre Parma in Italy on Saturday at 13:30 (SA Time), and they will draw inspiration from the fact that the home side have secured only one win in their four matches so far this season.

The Johannesburgers defeated Ulster and Edinburgh at home before grinding out a valuable 23-19 victory against the Dragons in Newport last week, but they will be careful to write off the Italians who, despite suffering heavy defeats against the DHL Stormers and Glasgow in the last two weeks, started off the season on an encouraging note going down by only five points against Cardiff away before creating an upset by defeating Munster 42-33 at home.

The Emirates Lions have been far more effective on attack despite the hosts having a game in hand with 113 points scored to Zebre Parma’s 67 in their three outings, while the Italians have conceded exactly double the number of points, meaning they will have to step up their defence, in particular, to keep alive hopes of coming away with a victory.

The visitors from Johannesburg will draw additional inspiration from the fact that they have won all three of their previous matches against the Italians, the first of which was at the same ground, Stadio Sergio Lafranchi.

Zebre Parma Head Coach Massimo Brunello said: "We came out frustrated from the match in Glasgow, but there has been an important reaction during the week from both the players and the staff. We have prepared well for the game because the Lions are a tough team to face, capable of playing well in open spaces, even though the match will definitely be affected by the rain. We will need to be very attentive in our tactical play and focus on territory, as that will make a big difference."

Emirates Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has switched up his starting XV. A noticeable change in the midfield which sees Marius Louw and Henco van Wyk combine for the first time this season. Both have had impressive cameos off the bench in recent matches and will be tasked with bringing pace and physicality come Saturday afternoon.

Richard Kriel will come up against his former team after returning from a shoulder injury which kept him out of action for nearly three months. The elusive winger will run out in his familiar No14 jersey.

Current Vodacom URC Player of the Season Sanele Nohamba returns to the playmaker role alongside Morne van den Berg who retains his position at halfback.

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen is anticipating an “attacking cracker". His team have shown a real eagerness to move the ball while scoring 15 tries in winning their first three league matches and he feels their Italian hosts will buy into that approach.

“If you want to make it open and really want to play an expansive game, they are happy,” he said.

“It looks like they can thrive and survive under that, so I think it’s going to be an attacking cracker.”

Zebre will certainly be keen to rediscover a cutting edge. Since crossing six times in their famous victory over Munster, they have only touched down once in the subsequent defeats to the Stormers and Glasgow.

Teams:

Zebre Parma: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Iacopo Bianchi, 6 Davide Ruggeri, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Juan Pitinari, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti (c). Replacements: 16 Luca Bigi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Leonard Krumov, 20 Luca Andreani, 21 Gonzalo Garcia, 22 Giacomo Milano, 23 Fetuli Paea

Emirates Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 Johannes Pretorius, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Reinhard Nothnagel, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Juan Schoeman. Replacements: 16 Pieter Botha, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Rynhardt Jonker/Erich Cronje, 23 Rabz Maxwane.