Five of seven internationals return for Zebre

Posted on Mar 21, 2013 in Zebre

After two weeks of stop action due to the 6 Nations final rounds, the RaboDirect PRO12 is back in action in Parma where Zebre will try once more to find its first ever win in the competition.

Tomorrow night at 7pm local time the welsh side Scarlets trying to avoid defeat and obtain crucial points for the playoff battle. Zebre technical staff decided to maintain the same back line of last appearance in Galway where the white & black striped boys were so close to a win.

International centre Garcia is not selected and leaves his place to the other international Venditti who returns for the Parma based outfit after scoring the only try of last Saturday’s historical win for Italy against Ireland. The speedy duo Sinoti-Sarto is confirmed in the back three, along with the fullback Benettin. In the halves Chillon and Buso are paired together.

In the front row the Irish prop Ryan is drafted in along with Aguero while the hooker will be Festuccia with his 13th appearance in the RaboDirect PRO12. In the second row Zebre Rugby’s ambassador Marco Bortolami is ruled out of the game with a light injury after gaining 4 competitive starts. His number 5 shirt is taken by Sole who switches from the back row. He will pair with Italian international Geldenhuys. The Italian pack is completed by the South African Van Schalkwyk at number 8 while either side of him will be flankers Caffini and Bergamasco, skipper of the Zebre tomorrow night for the third time.

Bergamasco, 93 caps with Italy, spoke this morning about the tomorrow game with the Italian press :”We surely put on the field our best to face this hard challenge. We need our best ever performance to obtain our goal : the first victory of the season that we miss by inches in the last appearances. We will maintain the same spirit and competitive approach we had before the international games’ stop. The Scarlets have a great roster and a very intelligent way of play, absolutely effective with their backs. We must take the maximum possession not to give the welsh side clean opportunity to counter attack us in the open space with turn-overs. Less mistakes and more possession, this is our target”.

Here’s Zebre Rugby line-up for Friday night game at the Stadio XXV Aprile in Parma facing the Scarlets in the 18th Round of the RaboDirect PRO12 :

15 Alberto BENETTIN*

14 Leonardo SARTO*

13 Matteo PRATICHETTI

12 Giovanbattista VENDITTI

11 Sinoti SINOTI

10 Paolo BUSO

9 Alberto CHILLON*

8 Andries VAN SCHALKWYK

7 Mauro BERGAMASCO

6 Emiliano CAFFINI*

5 Josh SOLE

4 Quintin GELDENHUYS

3 David RYAN

2 Carlo FESTUCCIA

1 Matias AGUERO

Replacements :

16 Andrea MANICI*

17 Andrea DE MARCHI

18 Luciano LEIBSON

19 Michael VAN VUREN

20 Filippo CRISTIANO

21 Tito TEBALDI

22 Luciano ORQUERA

23 Roberto QUARTAROLI*

Coach. Christian GAJAN

* Former member of the Italian Rugby Union academy "Ivan Francescato" of Tirrenia.

Not available for selection through injury : Marco BORTOLAMI, Nicola CATTINA, Filippo CAZZOLA*, Carlo FAZZARI*, Daniel HALANGAHU, Luca REDOLFINI.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 45th competition game) 2nd with Zebre after the Parma game of Heineken Cup Vs Biarritz

Assistant Referees: Stefano Pennè, Stefano Roscini (both FIR)

Citing Commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (FIR)

TMO: Carlo Damasco (FIR)

Zebre make changes for Ospreys clash

Posted on Jan 3, 2013 in Zebre

Pic: Ferrarini during Zebre Vs Ospreys. Credit: "FOTO VASINI"

Christian Gajan, head coach of the Zebre, has announced the starting line-up for the first 2013 game that will take place in Swansea tomorrow, Friday 4th January, against the reigning champions Ospreys. Kick off at 7pm local time for the game of the 13rd round of the competition, the second of the second round. The game will be not televised both in the UK and in Italy. Due to some injuries occurred in the last Italian derby played in Treviso, there are many changes in the 23 selected for this third away game in Wales as said yesterday by the French coach.

Zebre are still searching their first ever competitive win in this season being at the bottom of the table with 5 points earned by one bonus tries and 4 defensive bonus.

The two sides met in round six of the RaboDirect PRO12 in Parma when the welsh side past the “white & black” boys by 34-16 despite not earning the bonus point due to a good second half comeback by the Italians.

A completely new backs line has been selected with Buso and Chillon pairing in the halves while Venditti and Pace will act on the wings. Full-back will be Benettin starting earning his third competitive start in this season of RaboDirect PRO12 after home debut vs Connacht and the away in Llanelli when Zebre risked to achieve their first ever win leading the score for 70 minutes. At centre captain Garcia will pair with Quartaroli, the L’Aquila born young Italian international is back after recovering from his knee injury occurred in Newport in August.

In the backs the coaching staff decided to confirm the second row with the Italian-south African duo Geldenhuys and Van Vuren who performed very well in the line-outs during last game in Treviso with 12 throws completed, one achieved and only one stolen.

On the first row forwards hooker Giazzon is also confirmed while at props will start De Marchi and the Irish Ryan, really effective on the good play of the second try of last Saturday in Treviso. A brand new back row is formed by Van Shalkwyk at number 8, and by flankers Ferrarini and Belardo : first competitive start of the RaboDirect PRO12 season for the Naples born flanker at his 7th overall cap.

On the bench: Important returns for the Australian utility back Halangahu; for centre Chiesa who recovered from his knee injury occurred in early November and the the Argentinian born prop Leibson at his 4th selection in the 23 squad.

Zebre head coach Christian Gajan :”Ospreys won’t underestimate this game although they’ve got a crucial Heineken Cup clash against Leicester Tigers next weekend. They will search to continue their good momentum helped by the usual big crowd of the Liberty Stadium. For us it’s always great to play in front of a big amount of supporters, thought we always have big reasons and expectations. We want to show everybody that we can do well at this level and achieve our goal of the first win soon. Discipline and a correct approach of the game will be the keys of our good performance. Ospreys grew very much since our first meet in Parma in October: we’ll travel to Swansea presenting several players who played less into our roster to take advantage of their good will. This is a normal development in the way of our focus to bring all the players to an higher level of experience”.

 

Pic: Ferrarini during Zebre Vs Ospreys. Credit: "FOTO VASINI"

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Zebre side to take on Munster

Posted on Oct 26, 2012 in Zebre

Zebre’s head coach Christian Gajan has selected his side to face Munster Rugby at Thomond Park tomorrow night at 7.45 pm local time in the 7th round of the RaboDirect PRO12. It is the 4th away game for the new Italian franchise owned by Italian rugby union.

After the captain’s run this morning, at the new Rugby citadel of Parma, the coaching staff has cleared all the doubts about the players to be selected for the first Irish journey of the club.

One game of rest for three of the five internationals capped by Italy for the November test matches: lock Geldenhuys, flanker Bergamasco and winger Venditti. The other two, hooker Giazzon and fly-half Orquera, will take place on the bench replacing teammates not recovering from their injuries for the Limerick game.

There are first competitive starts for a couple of young Italian players, like Parma born Manici at hooker, and Odiete (born in 1993) on the wing after earning his first cap with Zebre in last Saturday loss in Heineken Cup in Biarritz.

In the backs, there are two changes from the French clash with Chiesa starting at fly-half; Martinelli will pair with him in the halves. Captain Garcia is confirmed at centre, with the Australian Halangahu. Trevisan will start as full-back while Pratichetti is confirmed on the wing.

Among the forwards, the front row will have props Redolfini and Perugini, both earing their 29th caps in the RaboDirect PRO12 in their 3rd straight appearance in the league. There is a brand new second row, with Sole and Caffini. In the back row, Cristiano will replace Bergamasco, while Ferrarini is confirmed after two good performances. Van Schalkwyk will start at number 8. The South-African leads also his side with the amount of minutes played in RaboDirect PRO12 with 392 in 5 games so far.

On the bench sits prop David Ryan, who featured 12 times in the red shirt of Munster, being a native of Cork.

The game will be televised live in Ireland on TG4 while in Italy will be broadcasted on delay at 11 pm Italian time on Sportitalia 2.

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Zebre make changes to face Ospreys

Posted on Oct 3, 2012 in Zebre

Christian Gajan, Technical Director of the Zebras, has made few changes to his side that will face reigning RaboDirect PRO12 champions Ospreys on Friday night at the stadium XXV Aprile, in the sixth round of the competition.

The good performance in Glasgow has earned the first point in the table for the new Italian franchise but it costs also in terms of injuries with several players forced out of the second home game in front of Parma’s crowd. Two out of the three fly halves are out: Buso and Orquera, both with a sprained ankle. Winger Pace and flanker Cristiano won’t take part in the game. Prop Perugini makes his return to Zebre side but will be on the bench. Italian international winger Venditti will start after missing the last round, while there are 12 unchanged players in the starting line-up for the challenge of the Welsh side.

Among the backs, Australian Halangahu is confirmed at full-back after his good performance in Scotland. Young winger Sarto, author of the break which resulted in Orquera’s try against the Warriors, will start from the bench with his place going to Venditti. Samoan Sinoti starts on the opposite wing. Garcia is set to lead the white & black team out at Stadio XXV Aprile in Parma.  In the halves the technical staff confirm Chillon at scrum-half with Chiesa at fly-half.

One change in the forwards from last Friday’s match line-up sees Caffini taking the place of the Turin born flanker Cristiano in the the back row. On the bench after their overall RaboDirect PRO12 debut last Friday  are prop Tripodi and scrum-half Martinelli, together with the experienced  Festuccia, Perugini and Sole. The only parmesan born player of the Zebre’s side will be flanker Ferrarini ready to earn another cap from the bench.

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Gajan selects his side for Glasgow clash

Posted on Sep 27, 2012 in Zebre

Christian Gajan, Technical Director of the Zebras, has announced today his side that will take on Glasgow Friday night in the new Scotstoun Stadium at 7.35 PM local time in the fifth round of the RaboDirect PRO12.

After the stop of last weekend due to the postponement of the match against Ulster, the technical staff was able to recover some players missing the last game of two weeks ago played in Edinburgh. The Italian side for this second Scottish trip is full of youngsters with the aim to grow the white & black roster.

Christian Gajan, technical director of Zebre: "Last weekend stop allowed us to make longer & quantity trainings and to recover some of the players. Our work is always trying to grow our effectiveness through seeking different solutions within a squad that includes experienced players and young guys. Youngsters especially need to grow by playing games, this includes also taking gambles.

In Scotland it is always difficult and the weather should not be the best Friday night. It’s always important to have goals. We worked much on the attitude and individual support. These are our goals for this game, to improve as a team and also the responses of individual players”.

Two players will make their RaboDirect PRO12 debut : winger Sarto (’92 class) and lock Van Vuren (’90 class)- who recovered from the shoulder injury suffered in the first pre-season game in Perpignan.

Among the backs Halangahu, after the good performance two weeks ago at centre, moves to fullback leaving space for the return of skipper Garcia, next to him the other centre will be Pratichetti. A round of rest for Venditti, at the other wing will play Samoan Sinoti. In the halves the technical staff has chosen the same pair selected for the game in Parma Vs Connacht: Chillon and Orquera with the first ever seasonal selection on the bench for the young scrum-half Martinelli.

Among the starting XV of the white & black the front-row is formed by Aguero at loosehead prop, Italian international Giazzon as hooker and Redolfini at tight head prop. In the second row alongside confirmed Italian international Geldenhuys there will be another Italian-South African born Van Vuren. In the back-row Italian international Bergamasco, will join Cristiano and former Golden Lions Van Schalkwyk, the South African will start as number 8.

On the bench, a first RaboDirect PRO12 selection with Zebre for prop Fazzari, in addition to 4 other players who attended the Italian Rugby Union academy of Tirrenia.

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Sinoti Sinoti enjoying his new challenge as a full back

Posted on Sep 25, 2012 in Italian Rugby, Zebre

At the end of the first Zebre training session of the week, which will eventually bring the Italian side to their second consecutive away game in Scotland,  we approached the Samoan Sinoti Sinoti, one of three Southern hemisphere foreigners in the white & black roster.  The player spoke to us about his new position on the field, his seasonal objectives and about Italian rugby and its relationship with the Italian fans, who are so devoted to the explosive playing style of the former Hawke’s Bay and Toulon winger.

The 27 year old Samoan played a total of 23 RaboDirect PRO12 games, 20 last season wearing Aironi’s shirt and 3 with the new Italian franchise of Zebre, where he has started at full-back in their first three games. Sinoti scored a try during Zebre’s last appearance at Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh in round 3. Sinoti To’omaga Sinoti also achieved a cap with his national team Samoa in 2010 in their winning away match Vs Japan.

How do you feel playing at full-back after several years as winger?

I am enjoying the new challenge. I have played my whole professional career as a specialist winger & a few games at centre, but this season I have been given the opportunity to expand my game. I like having more space and the freedom fullback provides attacking from the back, but is a difficult position to play and I am still learning the inside and outside of it, but I am trying my best to do a good job there.

Do you prefer starting from behind having more opportunity to be a ball-carrier?

For me there is no difference where I start. If you are a player hungry for work & you are making yourself available you will always have attacking opportunities. I always try to be involved in the game as much as I can, I think you have to create your own opportunities, that’s just my style of play.

Four  tries last season, one in the first three games of RaboDirect PRO12 2012/2013, what’s your personal target?

Before every game I ask my girlfriend how many tries she would like me to score and she always says 3! Obviously every player likes to score tries, and I always try my hardest to score or provide opportunities for my team mates to score. For me its not about how many tries I score by myself, but more that Zebre as a team score tries!

One try during Zebre’s last game in Scotland, how do you train for the next Scottish away game next Friday?

I don’t think there is any difference in preparation from week to week. I always start fresh and go into any game like it is the first game of the season trying to play hard at my best.

Introducing the next game in Glasgow, what kind of game Zebre are expecting?

I think that Glasgow will be very physical up-front: it will be a real battle of the forwards. Also I think they will look to put pressure on our back three as we are a new combination, but I think we can handle it.

Second season in Italy, how do you judge Italian rugby being a foreigner?

I think rugby in Italy is growing every year and there is a lot of potential here. Historically Italians have been really physical and have had a strong forward pack, but with the way the game has evolved in recent years I think there needs to be more focus on attacking through the backline and quick ball play. There are some really talented backs in Italy that would benefit from that style of play.

What do we have to do in Italy to challenge the most powerful European clubs?

I think it is all about belief and having the right mentality. At the end of the day they have 15 men on the field and we have 15 men on the field, we just have to want it more. When we are down we have to stay positive, believe that we can get back up and fight to get there: don’t give up until the whistle blows at 80 minutes.

Where could Zebre finish this season? What do you think are the team’s targets?

I know that as an organization Zebre aim is to win more than Aironi’s four successful games of last season. But I don’t think that we should focus only on five wins and think that is successful. I think we need to push ourselves and expect that we should win all of our games.

You’re the testimonial of our seasonal ticket campaign. You’re very appreciated on the field by supporters. What is your relationship with Italian fans?

I am really appreciative of the support from our fans, especially the Italian ones because everyone here is so passionate. Sometimes I still get surprised that people want to take photos or have autographs because I really am just a normal guy. But I enjoy meeting the supporters, especially the kids because they are so excited, and that is what I was like as a child looking up to my favourite players.

What is it like playing as a full professional without any holiday, you played in the last two seasons of New Zealand’s ITM Cup with Hawke’s Bay during the summer, didn’t you?

It was really hard on my body, I played the 2011 ITM Cup final with Hawke’s Bay on Sunday (scoring a try in the successful game helping his side to be promoted to premiership), left New Zealand on Wednesday, arrived in Italy on Friday and started playing for Aironi the following Saturday. But I’m the kind of person who has to play rugby. I love to play and I cherish every opportunity I get to play a game so I will never complain.

What are your personal goals and what do you want to achieve this season as a rugby player?

Every year my goal is to play my best for my coaches, my team and for myself. This is my job, but I know how lucky and blessed I am to be in this position to do what I love for a living, so my goal is to always enjoy it, have fun and go out there knowing I gave 100%.