Zebre's skipper for the game will be Cristiano: the flanker, at his 5th cap in the RaboDirect PRO12, is the third skipper of the franchise official games history after Garcia and Geldenhuys. Official one Bortolami is still recovering from his shoulder surgery. Three local players born in Parma area will start defending "white & black" colours : they are flanker Ferrarini, hooker Manici and scrum-half Tebaldi.
Other three players recovered from their injuries and are back between the capped ones. Two of them, Pace and Buso, will earn a competitive start in the backs.
Here's Zebre line-up for saturday game in Llanelli for the 8th round of RaboDirect PRO12. Kick off at Parc Y Scarlets at 6.30 pm local time:
15 Ruggero TREVISAN*
14 David ODIETE*
13 Matteo PRATICHETTI
12 Daniel HALANGAHU
11 Samuele PACE
10 Paolo BUSO
9 Tito TEBALDI
8 Andries VAN SCHALKWYK
7 Filippo CRISTIANO (cap)
6 Filippo FERRARINI*
5 Filippo CAZZOLA*
4 Josh SOLE
3 Luca REDOLFINI
2 Andrea MANICI*
1 Matias AGUERO
Replacements :
16 Andrea DE MARCHI
17 Luciano LEIBSON
18 Carlo FAZZARI*
19 Emiliano CAFFINI*
20 Nicola BELARDO*
21 Alberto CHIESA*
22 Leonardo SARTO*
23 Alberto BENETTIN*
Coach : Christian GAJAN
* Former member of the Italian Rugby Union academy "Ivan Francescato" of Tirrenia.
Not considered due to injury: Marco BORTOLAMI, Paolo BUSO, Nicola CATTINA, Alberto CHILLON*, Andrea DE MARCHI, Samuele PACE, Sinoti SINOTI, Roberto QUARTAROLI*
Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU, 29th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Greg Morgan, Alan Jenkins (both WRU)
Citing Commissioner: Richard Gwynn (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)
Live on Sportitalia 2 in Italy
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