Zebre heap more misery on the Kings, Cardiff get off the mark
The Southern Kings' miserable start to life in the Pro14 took another turn for the worse when they suffered a heavy 43-17 home loss to Zebre, while there were wins for Cardiff Blues and Scarlets on Saturday.
Zebre and the Kings had both lost all three matches before the clash at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and it was the Italian side that kick-started their season with a bonus-point victory.
Early tries from Tommaso Castello and Mattia Bellini set the tone before Renato Giammarioli scored a third midway through the first half for the Parma-based side, who went in at the break with a 22-3 lead.
Tommaso Boni added another following a well executed line-out, but the Kings Were back in at 29-17 following converted scores from Godlen Masimla and Luvuyo Pupuma.
Zebre were not to be denied a first win of the campaign, though, Giulio Bisegni and Jacopo Sarto crossing the whitewash to compound another miserable day for the newcomers.
Cardiff also ended their wait for a first triumph, with Willis Halaholo scoring two tries in a dramatic 17-15 success at Connacht.
Shane Delahunt's try six minutes from time looked to have won it for Connacht at the Sportsground, but Halaholo's second of the game brought the Blues level and Jarrod Evans converted expertly to snatch the victory with time running out.
Scarlets are second in Conference B after Gareth Davies scored one try and laid on another in a 28-8 bonus-point win over Edinburgh, who had Michele Rizzo for dangerous play at a ruck.
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It’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
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