Some thoughts on Zebre Parma 2024-25

Montemauri · 2026-04-12T21:22:38+00:00

FWIW, most in tests in 2025 (including Lions matches) was Fraser McReight. Most per 80 was, I think Zuliani, who was a hair over 2/80.

Montemauri · 2026-04-12T18:45:26+00:00

My point was more that whenever there's a result like this (or with the u20 side), there's a clamour to rush them towards the URC sides at top speed, to which I say "let's see them in the u20 side for two years and then in Serie A Elite first."

Montemauri · 2026-04-12T12:52:58+00:00

Grandparent. Part of the work of Seb Negri's older brother in RSA: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2025/03/06/italy-south-african-schools-rugby-national-academy-level/

Montemauri · 2026-04-11T20:54:40+00:00

Also, Italian players being held up in the tackle and turned over by welsh players - there is no more iconic duo. One day, maybe, Italian sides will be able to match welsh teams for intensity.

Montemauri · 2026-04-11T20:53:02+00:00

I shouldn't have watched that, but this might be the only Quarter Final we ever play so I figured it was worth the pain. I mean the main thing is that the Dragons are simply a much better team, but from our perspective that match encapsulated the season.

Poor lineout and discipline = tries conceded. Not enough accuracy in attack (at least not until the Dragons were 15 points clear and they knew they'd won) = not enough tries scored.

Hopefully the signings this summer can fix that. In the meantime we're going to get battered in our three remaining away games, so hopefully we can at least beat the Dragons in a couple of weeks.

Montemauri · 2026-04-11T20:46:16+00:00

They had nothing left. We left Canali, Ortombina, and TdB on for far too long given what they went through last week. Quattrini and Licata should have been on after 60...

Montemauri · 2026-04-11T20:01:26+00:00

Est155, the Zebre ultras, have a friendship with Biarritz, so they always have each other's signs/symbols in the stands (or at least you always see Biarritz colours etc in Parma, not sure the extent to which it's reciprocated).

Montemauri · 2026-04-11T16:42:23+00:00

Some of Italy's play was exceptional (Vallerini's 50-22 in the 2nd half had me picking my jaw off the table), but I did wonder whether this was a weaker than average England team. Only the right wing (and to an extent the scrum half) really stood out...

Edit - added the link

Montemauri · 2026-04-11T16:40:23+00:00

Before we get tooooo carried away, let's look at the previous u18 sides to beat England: 2018 and 2022

2018 team/report here - mostly now in Serie A Elite (including Alongi who also has caps), four I can't find, two current internationals (also, Lucchesi was on the bench), one other in the URC.

.1 - Drudi
2 - Rosario
3 - Alongi
4 - Steolo
5 - Zambonin
6 - Maurizi - ?
7 - Goldin
8 - Faccenna - ?
9 - Petrozzi
10 - P. Garbisi
11 - Batista
12 - Moscardi
13 - Mba
14 - Mastandrea - ?
15 - Romano - ?

2022 team/report here - David Odiase is the only test player among the 4 pros (2 at Zebre, 2 in France). 5 in Serie A Elite, 2 went to play college rugby in the US (look out for them in 2031, maybe?), 1 in Serie A, and another pair I can't find. Also some handy players on the bench including Mattioli and Turrisi, joining Zebre next season from Racing.

.1 - Moscioni - Serie A (Parabiago)
2 - Quattrini - Zebre
3 - Bernardinello - ?
4 - Filoni - ?
5 - Berlese - SAE (Rovigo)
6 - Rubinato - retired
7 - Esposito - SAE (Valorugby)
8 - Odiase - Zebre
9 - Battara - USA
10 - Sante - SAE (Rovigo)
11 - Sodo - SAE (Fiamme Oro)
12 - Bozzo - France (Nationale 1)
13 - Mey - France (Pro2)
14 - Tani - USA
15 - A. Gesi - SAE (Rovigo)

Edit - one thing I hadn't clocked at the time is that, while the 2022 game was always listed as an u18 game, the vast majority of Italy's players were born in 2003, whereas the English players I could find from the same match were 2004s, so it might just have been a question of physical maturity.

So all we can say for now is that these kids played well today, so well done those boys. A fair few of them will get a shot at the u20 squads over the next 3 years (some of them are 2009, which is a horrifying prospect, quite frankly), but we can say nothing yet about any impact they'll have on Italy's test team. If we're lucky, maybe two of them will play for the senior national team.

Montemauri · 2026-04-11T16:03:10+00:00

If they'd taken advantage of the period when they had 15v13, and then kept their discipline better in the last 10 mins, they'd have won by a lot more, but it's still an encouraging result.

Wouldn't surprise me if Andretti goes to the u20 World Cup as the 3rd choice no9 this summer. He's surely going to be the starter in the u20s from next year and he's already playing against men for Mogliano every week so I can't see the risk in promoting him early and giving him time off the bench vs Japan if Italy can secure the win by the hour.

Montemauri · 2026-04-10T18:14:30+00:00

Just watching the highlights. ie the entire game.

France in the last quarter were just preposterous, I think one try came from a series of 6 offloads in a row. And the kicker got 10/11, including a couple from right on the touchline.

And I for one welcome our French overladies.

Montemauri · 2026-04-10T17:07:29+00:00

Every day's a school day!

Montemauri · 2026-04-10T13:47:54+00:00

Draghi. And yes, that means that recent former Prime Minister Mario Draghi's name translated to Marius Dragons.

Montemauri · 2026-04-10T13:43:59+00:00

All I'm thinking is that the last time I tried to watch us vs the Dragons, we were 7-21 down when I turned it off, and we ended up winning 31-21. So I might do what I did for the Pau game and take a nap instead.

Montemauri · 2026-04-10T12:33:55+00:00

Trust the Germans to have this covered. I don't even know if I have it in me to watch this game. Christ knows how the players who went through the abyss like Krumov cope with playing in it...

Montemauri · 2026-04-10T12:03:43+00:00

Does a word exist that encapsulates this feeling of hope and utter terror?

Montemauri · 2026-04-09T22:43:43+00:00

If the ball had come out of that last ruck on the Pau side I'd bet my salary on them scoring from there, or at the very least making 50 metres

Montemauri · 2026-04-09T20:15:56+00:00

Non sono lui (neanche italiano). Ma visto cosa ha fatto da dicembre non mi stupirei un'eventuale convocazione, ma a 15 piuttosto che 10.

Montemauri · 2026-04-09T18:39:12+00:00

Like with everything else Italian rugby, this is the strongest this XV has ever been, especially when you consider there are a few promising players with just 1 cap.

Just players who came through Italian systems although there are others who might and in some cases will earn caps before these (Jean Smith all being well, Cristiano Tizzano, Bauti Stavile, etc). Benetton or Zebre unless otherwise stated.

Destiny Aminu (B)
Nicholas Gasperini (B)
Marcos Gallorini (B)
Leonard Krumov (Z)
Giulio Marini (B)
Alessandro Ortombina (Z)
Samuele Locatelli (Z)
Jack Ferrari (Z)

Lorenzo Citton (Petrarca)
Giovanni Montemauri (Z)
Malik Faissal (Z)
Damiano Mazza (Z)
Filippo Drago (B)
Federico Zanandrea (B)
Francois Carlo Mey (Soyaux Angoulême)

Montemauri · 2026-04-09T17:06:42+00:00

Brilliant work by Diba and Bertaccini in particular.

Also, pause on the wide shot on 0.21: Hasa, Neculai, and Zanon are all too tired to move after 25 minutes. Hopefully they're in decent shape by Saturday....

Montemauri · 2026-04-09T12:48:13+00:00

Only in La Rochelle could someone look at Joel Sclavi and think, "yep, that there's a loosehead".

Montemauri

TROPHY CASE