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PRO14 strugglers Zebre have shaken up their coaching team

(Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Michael Bradley has shaken up his management team at Zebre, the struggling Guinness PRO14 franchise that won just two of twelve matches in the suspended 2019/20 campaign. The former Connacht and Edinburgh coach has been with the Italians since 2017 and having extended his own deal last January through to 2022, he had now opted to alter his support staff in the hope of securing improved results in the seasons ahead.  

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Bradley had been respectively using Alessandro Troncon and Carlo Orlandi as his backs and forwards coaches but they have now been replaced by Fabio Roselli and Andrea Moretti, who have carved out encouraging reputations at international level with the Italy U20s side.

Zebre team manager Andrea de Rossi sad: “After thanking Orlandi and Troncon, it was right to welcome two coaches who have done very well with the national academy and the U20 national team. 

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RugbyPass brings you This is Zebre, the behind the scenes documentary on the Guinness PRO14 club based in Parma

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RugbyPass brings you This is Zebre, the behind the scenes documentary on the Guinness PRO14 club based in Parma

“Both have been protagonists of a path of progression and growth towards the highest level so it is natural to give them this chance. They arrived here in May and immediately made themselves available to Michael and all the coaching staff for the first meetings. 

“I’m sure they will do well and above all, they won’t have any problem fitting in as they know most of the players, many of whom have come from the academy and the U20 national team.”

Roselli, who won 17 caps for the Azzurri and appeared at the 1999 World Cup, was previously an assistant at Zebre for two seasons prior to Bradley’s arrival while Moretti, a winner of 13 caps and another who played at the 1999 World Cup, was forwards coach in 2010/11 at Aironi, the franchise that predated the foundation of Zebre.  

Bradley told RugbyPass last winter that he remained confident Zebre were on the right track despite results. “We are not happy with the results to date but the direction the team is going in, we have got a much better team this year. People from the teams that we have played recognise that as well and have set their teams up accordingly. 

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“For the first time we have the ability to rest and rotate players which puts us on the same level as most of the other sides, so we will stick with the brand of rugby we are trying to play which is keeping the ball alive, keeping it up off the ground, keeping it fast. 

“We will make mistakes but if we keep practising and keep our focus on this area, we will get better and better and we will start knocking over some decent teams and getting to the play-off side of things.”

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SK 20 minutes ago
Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones

The way they are defending is sometime pathetic to be honest. Itoje is usually on the inside of the rush and he is paired with a slower tight forward. Unable to keep up with the rush we have seen the line become disconnected on the inside where the big boys are. How many times have we seen Earl rush past the first receiver almost into no mans land covering no attacker. It looks like a system without any guidance. Tome Wright, Ikitau and a number of Wallabies went back to this soft centre as did Williams, Jordan and several others. Also when the line is broken the multiple lines of defence seems to be missing. The rush is predicated on a cover and recovery system with multiple lines of defence but with England you dont see it any more. Fitness and conditioning seems to be off as well as players are struggling to keep up with the intensity of the rush. Felix Jones has left a huge hole. The whole situation was and is a mess. Why they insist on not letting him go and having him work remotely is beyond me. Its leading to massive negative press and is a hot button issue thats distracting from the squad. Also the communication around Jones and his role has been absolute rubbish and is totally disjointed. While some say he is working remotely and playing a role others are saying theres been no contact. His role has not been defined and so people keep asking and keep getting different answers. England need a clean break from him and need to start over. Whatever reason for his leaving its time to cut the rope before the saga drags the whole Borthwick regime down. As for Joe El Abd well good luck to him. He is being made to look like an amateur by the whole saga and he is being asked to coach a system thats not his and which has been perfected and honed since 2017 by Nienaber, Jones, Erasmus and Co and which was first started by White in 2004. He is literally trying to figure out a system pioneered by double world cup winning coaches at the highest level and coach it at the same time. Talk about being on a hiding to nothing.

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