Guidi: Zebre youngsters are showing plenty of promise

Ulster put recent poor form firmly behind them thanks to an all-star showing by fly-half Paddy Jackson, who kicked 12 points from the tee, and No.8 Nick Williams whose first-half try-double ended Zebre's hopes of a first GUINNESS PRO12 victory outside Italy since 2013.

Zebre remain above their Italian rivals Benetton Treviso, but otherwise prop up the GUINNESS PRO12 standings with six games left of the season.

But Guidi insists he is pleased with how his side are faring in the league at the moment, as he bloods young talent with so many of his regulars on international duty with Italy.

"We are pleased with the performance made by the guys who played rugby on a difficult pitch: I'm happy when the team tries to express themselves," he said.

"My players have graced the shirt of Zebre in a beautiful game played at the same level as Ulster; but we struggled in the scrum.

"Tonight we could have maybe won a bonus point, but we accept this defeat as the youngsters took to the field with the right attitude from the first to the last minute.

"This hard period of matches during the Six Nations has given the players plenty of invaluable experience; this bodes well for the future."

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