Zebre Parma are set for an Irish challenge this weekend as they take on reigning champions Leinster Rugby at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 25 October, with kick-off at 18:30 (local time). It’s the team’s second away fixture of the season, as coach Massimo Brunello’s men travel to the Irish capital following a battling home performance against the table-topping Stormers.
Brunello has named his lineup for the fifth round of the URC: Pani; Belloni, Bertaccini, Zanon, Batista; Da Re, Dominguez; Odiase, Locatelli, Ferrari; Krumov (C), Carrera; Nocera, Quattrini, Hasa.
Replacements: Di Bartolomeo, Buonfiglio, Gallorini, Milano, Licata, Prinsloo, Roger Farias, Morisi.
Among the replacements is Marcos Gallorini, who joins the squad as a permit player from Benetton Rugby.
“We’ve prepared this match against the defending champions with a lot of energy and precision,” said coach Brunello. “Against Leinster, we’ll need to secure a solid share of possession to limit their attacking game and perform well at scrum and lineout. Keeping pressure throughout the match will be key, and our defensive focus must be at its best to win turnover ball – which remains one of our strongest attacking weapons. The goal is to build on the good performances we’ve shown in recent weeks.”
Fans will be able to follow the match live from the Zebre Club House at Parma’s Cittadella del Rugby, open from 5:00 p.m. and offering a pre-match aperitivo with cold cuts and pizza.
Zebre Parma lineup:
15 Lorenzo Pani
14 Mirko Belloni
13 Giulio Bertaccini
12 Marco Zanon
11 Albert Einstein Batista
10 Giacomo Da Re
9 Thomas Dominguez
8 David Odiase
7 Samuele Locatelli
6 Giacomo Ferrari
5 Leonard Krumov (C)
4 Franco Carrera
3 Matteo Nocera
2 Giovanni Quattrini
1 Muhamed Hasa
Replacements:
16 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo
17 Paolo Buonfiglio
18 Marcos Gallorini
19 Giacomo Milano
20 Giovanni Licata
21 Migael Prinsloo
22 Martin Roger Farias
23 Luca Morisi