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Scarlets too good as Zebre slump to a 12th successive URC defeat

By PA
(Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)

The Scarlets claimed their first away win of the season as they defeated URC opponents Zebre Parma 41-24 at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi. The Welsh side built a victory platform through first-half tries from Corey Baldwin, his fellow wing Ryan Conbeer and full-back Johnny McNicholl.

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Lock Sam Lousi added a bonus-point score early in the second period before flanker Tomas Lezana and substitute Carwyn Tuipulotu also crossed, while fly-half Rhys Patchell kicked a penalty and three conversions, and his replacement Sam Costelow added a two-pointer.

Zebre slumped to a 12th successive URC defeat this term, with their only highlights provided by fly-half Carlo Canna, full-back Michelangelo Biondelli and wing Giovanni D’Onofrio claiming tries. Canna landed a penalty and conversion, and Biondelli and Antonio Rizzi kicked two points apiece.

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      Greg Alldritt & Le Grand Chelem | Le French Rugby Podcast | Episode 22

      We’re joined by Grand Slam winner and Six Nations Player of the Championship nominee Greg Alldritt to find out whether the trophy really got lost in the Seine, how the celebrations went down, what it’s like being a player in this France setup, the relationship with Fabien Galthie, Shaun Edwards and the other coaches, the brotherhood between the players, his rapid rise from Federale 1 to the national team, how much stick Antoine Dupont got for wearing that yellow dressing gown and much more. Plus, Benji and Johnnie analyse Le Crunch in detail and we pick our MEATER Moment of the Week…
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      The Scarlets made a bright URC start in perfect conditions, with Conbeer almost squeezing over for a try after centre Joe Roberts’ well-placed kick caused problems for Zebre’s defence. Patchell kicked the visitors into a 15th-minute lead through a short-range penalty, but there was little to choose between the sides following an error-strewn opening quarter.

      Italy head coach Kieran Crowley, fresh from masterminding a stunning Guinness Six Nations victory over Wales last weekend, looked on, but Zebre were undone by an opening Scarlets try after 22 minutes. Scrum-half Gareth Davies was the creator, delivering an exquisite inside pass to Baldwin, who rounded his opposite number Simone Gesi with ease and touched down, with Patchell converting.

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      Canna opened Zebre’s account when he landed a penalty, but the Scarlets stung their hosts by claiming two tries in five minutes before the interval. Conbeer finished well under pressure from Zebre defenders, with Patchell adding a conversion from the touchline, then an attacking Scarlets line-out saw possession moved quickly and McNicholl crossed between the posts.

      Patchell again slotted the extras as the Scarlets moved through the gears to secure a 24-3 lead at half-time. Zebre dominated early territory in the second period, with number eight Renato Giammarioli prominent, but they could not make it count.

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      And from their first notable attack of the half, the Scarlets secured a bonus point after number eight Sione Kalamafoni was tackled just short of the line and Zebre could not prevent a supporting Lousi from crossing.

      Zebre at least gave their supporters something to shout about through quality tries in quick succession from Canna and Biondelli, but Lezana’s effort ensured that normal service was soon resumed as the Scarlets eased home during a flurry of second-half scoring.

       

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      N
      NH 8 minutes ago
      'The Wallabies need to convert much better - or Melbourne could be much worse'

      Nice one as always Brett. I think the stats hide a bit of the dominance the lions had, and they would look alot worse in that first half when the game was more in the balance. You mention it here but I think it hasn’t been talked about enough was the lineout. The few times the wallabies managed to exit their half and get an opportunity to attack in the 1st half, the lineout was lost. This was huge in terms of lions keeping momentum and getting another chance to attack, rather than the wallabies getting their chance and to properly ‘exit’ their half. The other one you touch on re “the will jordan bounce of the ball” - is kick chase/receipt. I thought that the wallabies kicked relatively well (although were beaten in this area - Tom L rubbish penalty kicks for touch!), but our kick receipt and chase wasn’t good enough jorgenson try aside. In the 1st half there was a moment where russell kicked for a 50:22 and potter fumbled it into touch after been caught out of position, lynagh makes a similar kick off 1st phase soon after and keenan is good enough to predict the kick, catch it at his bootlaces and put a kick in. That kick happened to go out on the full but it was a demonstration on the difference in positioning etc. This meant that almost every contested kick that was spilled went the way of the lions, thats no accident, that is a better chase, more urgency, more players in the area. Wallabies need to be better in who fields their kicks getting maxy and wright under most of them and Lynagh under less, and the chase needs to be the responsibility of not just one winger but a whole group of players who pressure not just the catch but the tackle, ruck and following phase.

      16 Go to comments
      J
      JW 23 minutes ago
      Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us

      Thanks for the further background to player welfare metrics Nick.


      Back on the last article I noted that WR is now dedicating a whole section in their six-point business plan to this topic. It also noted that studies indicated 85-90% of workload falls outside of playing. So in respect to your point on the classification of ‘involvements’ included even subs with a low volume of minutes, it actually goes further, to the wider group of players that train as if they’re going to be required to start on the weekend, even if they’re outside the 23. That makes even the 30-35 game borderline pale into insignificance.


      No doubt it is won of the main reasons why France has a quota on the number of one clubs players in their International camps, and rotate in other clubs players through the week. The number of ‘invisible’ games against a player suggests the FFRs 25 game limit as more appropriate?


      So if we take it at face value that Galthie and the FFR have got it right, only a dozen players from the last 60 international caps should have gone on this tour. More players from the ‘Scotland 23’ than the more recent 23.


      The only real pertinent question is what do players prefer more, health or money? There are lots of ethical decisions, like for instance whether France could make a market like Australia’s where their biggest rugby codes have yearly broadcast deals of 360 and 225 million euros. They do it by having a 7/8 month season.

      68 Go to comments
      LONG READ
      LONG READ Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us Competing interests and rotated squads: What the 'player welfare summer' is really telling us