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Zebre Parma end URC season without a win

By PA
ebre Parma head coach Fabio Roselli before the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and Zebre Parma at Musgrave Park in Cork. (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Zebre Parma ended the United Rugby Championship season without a victory after falling to a 50-35 defeat by the Lions at Loftus Versfeld.

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An 18th loss from as many outings came despite a first-half hat-trick by wing Simone Gesi, who opened his account just 36 seconds into the game.

With both sides bottom of their respective shields and having no prospect of reaching the play-offs, the clash had a training-run feel that was reflected in an overall try count of 13.

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Zebre entered the match off the back of a 78-12 mauling by the Bulls and they at least went down fighting in Pretoria, finishing with a flourish.

The Lions did the bulk of the damage in the third quarter, outscoring the visitors from Italy three tries to nil, and saw Sanele Nohamba and Edwill van der Merwe cross twice each.

It was a nightmare afternoon for defence coaches with the carnage to come signposted by Gesi strolling over after just 36 seconds.

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fl 48 minutes ago
Jean de Villiers: ‘Next year will be the acid test for this group’

Kolisi, du Toit, and Etzebeth may well make 2027, but if they do they will be a long way past their best. Rassie doesn't seem to have a huge amount of faith in Ruan Venter, or (bizarrely) in Hanekom. Nortjé looks great, but while Moerat and Louw have put in some good performances they look a little way off the standard set by the players they would need to replace. Before the July tests SA fans were telling me that B-J Dixon was a like for like replacement for PSDT, which has since been proven to be nonsense. SA have good depth, but Nortjé is the only new player who has really cemented a spot in the 23, and they urgently need others to step up.


In the backs I think de Allende is more likely to make 2027 than Am, given how much Am's form has dropped off since 2021, but neither of them are going to be at their best. Mngomezulu, Moodie, Fassi, and Willemse will probably all be great in 2027. Arendse, Kolbe, Esterhuizen, & Kriel will all be slightly past their best, but at least a couple of them will still be test quality, so there shouldn't be any issues there. The problems Rassie is going to have will be less about whether they have the personnel available, and more about whether they are able to tactically adapt to life without a world class big crash-ball 12 (Esterhuizen and de Allende might be able to play the role in 2027, but they won't be world class) and without world class zippy poachers on the wing (Kolbe and Arendse might still be playing good rugby in 2027, but its hard to believe they'll be running in the same kind of tries that they are now). Its possible that Tony Brown's attacking system is intended partly to overcome these issues (loose forwards in the wide channels might serve as replacements for de Allende, and quick ruck ball will allow tries to be built over multiple phases instead of relying on moments of genius from Arendse and Kolbe), but there might still be a period of adjustment going in to 2027.


In the front three I think Steenekamp is a great find, and Thomas du Toit has finally emerged as a world class player after years of relative mediocrity, but hooker is still a problem. Grobbelaar looks fine, I guess, but he's not Mbonambi, which is what SA will need him to be by 2027.

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