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United Rugby Championship

Dragons step closer to fabled silverware with win in Italy

By PA
Elliot Dee of the Dragons RFC, who scored their last try against Zebre Parma. (Photo by Huw Fairclough/Getty Images)

Dragons reached the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup after claiming a 35-32 victory over Zebre.

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An entertaining start to the quarter-final saw Angus O’Brien’s penalty cancelled out by Giacomo da Re’s kick and Dragons scored the first try when Fine Inisi latched onto Aneurin Owen’s kick before grounding and O’Brien converted.

Dai Richards was sent to the sin bin for the visitors and Jacopo Trulla replied with a try for Zebre, with Da Re adding the extras and Harrison Keddie crashed over following a move from the line-out for Dragons’ second and O’Brien converted.

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The visitors were again reduced to 14 when Inisi was shown yellow and Zebre once again capitalised as Giulio Bertaccini crossed and Da Re converted to level the score 17-17 at half-time, but O’Brien kicked a penalty early in the second half to send Dragons ahead.

Keddie then bagged his brace after reaching over the line to touch down, with O’Brien converting and Da Re kicked another penalty before Elliot Dee scored Dragons’ fourth try of the game, which O’Brien could not convert.

The full-back kicked another penalty in the 76th minute to all-but wrap up victory for Dragons who held on despite two late Zebre tries from Leonardo Krumov and Giovanni Quattrini, with Da Re only converting the latter.

Zebre Parma: 15. Giovanni Montemauri, 14. Mirko Belloni, 13. Giulio Bertaccini, 12. Marco Zanon, 11. Jacopo Trulla, 10. Giacomo da Re, 9. Gonzalo Garcia, 1. Muhamed Hasa, 2. Tommaso di Bartolomeo, 3. Ion Neculai, 4. Matteo Canali, 5. Leonardo Krumov (c), 6. Alessandro Ortombina, 7. Bautista Stavile, 8. Davide Odiase

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Replacements: 16. Giovanni Quattrini, 17. Luca Franceschetto, 18. Juan-Manuel Pitinari, 19. Giacomo Ferrari, 20. Giovanni Licata, 21. Alessandro Fusco, 22. Damiano Mazza, 23. Samuele Locatelli

Dragons RFC:15. Angus O’Brien (c), 14. Dai Richards, 13. Fine Inisi, 12. Aneurin Owen, 11. Rio Dyer, 10. Tinus de Beer, 9. Niall Armstrong, 1. Rodrigo Martinez, 2. Brodie Coghlan, 3. Christian Coleman, 4. Ryan Woodman, 5. Ben Carter (c), 6. Harrison Keddie, 7. Thomas Young, 8. Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: 16. Elliot Dee, 17. Wyn Jones, 18. Owain James, 19. Seb Davies, 20. Shane Lewis-Hughes, 21. Morgan Lloyd, 22. Fetuli Paea, 23. Huw Anderson

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Comments on RugbyPass

c
cnw 7 minutes ago
Veteran commentator on big Retallick call facing Rennie’s All Blacks

It’s about what you want out of the player right? Brodie brings an unrivalled level of brutality that will be sorely needed against the Boks. He is a good line out option and powerful at the scrum. I see him as an ideal partner to Tuipolotu or SB in the impact pack, bringing both punch and set piece power in equal measure - something sorely missed last year, especially when Tuipolotu not playing. That assumes 6-2 and 4x4/5 set up and enables Vaa’i / SB to be utilised at 6 if needed. Equally and alternatively using Brodie means that he can double up with other tall timber, but lighter locks like Darry or Lord, with say Vaa’i or SB moving to 6 for at least part of the game to maintain power across the “second” row.

31 Go to comments
S
SB 15 minutes ago
Hoskins Sotutu: 'I felt like I needed to have a look at other paths'



“Northern Hemisphere rugby looks like it would suit my game.”

If he can bring a consistent work rate, absolutely. He is a very skilled player.



...

3 Go to comments
S
SB 17 minutes ago
Faf de Klerk's return to SA and new club confirmed

Nice return home for him.

1 Go to comments
S
Soliloquin 27 minutes ago
Is Antoine Dupont no longer undroppable?

So you think imposing your norm and your convention to a person choosing their own convention concerning a name is better?

You’re not answering the question. Writing PSDT is definitely not the same as writing Pieter-Steph Dutoit.



...

12 Go to comments
M
Mark 37 minutes ago
Leinster eventually trounce stubborn Sale Sharks in Champions Cup

Sale are a very average side currently, very limited game plan and theyre poorly coached.

As is reflected by their league campaign.



...

1 Go to comments
g
goofygarrot 56 minutes ago
Mitchell confirms Red Roses duo are out with 'long-term' injuries

These two injuries seem a little strange. Both very similar injuries, same game, same half and within minutes of each other. I wonder if the TMO took a very good look at them!

7 Go to comments
T
Two Cents 1 hour ago
'I find that fairly disrespectful': Clark Laidlaw hits back at 'soft draw' claims

The Canes are undoubtedly the form team in the competition to date but even they've had some slips.

The order in which you face certain teams and whether you face them at home or abroad has very little provable impact on the outcome of your season. You still have to get the results.



...

3 Go to comments
T
Two Cents 1 hour ago
Wallaroos' woes against Canada continue despite brave display

It was stoic for maybe 40-50 minutes but too many lapses and too little composure. Only the conditions and it being the first game of the season for the Canucks made the score look the way it did.

The Roos don't transition well from defence to attack or attack to defence and when the game flow forces them to switch is where they usually come unstuck like they did this morning.



...

3 Go to comments
d
d 1 hour ago
The five performers of the week from Super Rugby Pacific round nine

not listed as any of the “five performer” tho, were they? and besides, that’s a rather dismissive aside, isn’t it?!; was he frantically clinical, or clinically frantic? how do those two adjectives end up alongside each other?

7 Go to comments
P
PB 1 hour ago
Veteran commentator on big Retallick call facing Rennie’s All Blacks

So who were the top 3?

Apart from Holland they were all pretty average. Yeah Tupou Vai can play the clown and rile opposition, but he doesn’t command a presence like Rettalick and Holland.



...

31 Go to comments
G
Gary C 1 hour ago
‘The All Blacks may not win next year’s World Cup but at least they have been better set up to succeed’

Agree it is PB. But there is a lot of potential available.

54 Go to comments
P
PB 1 hour ago
Hurricanes vs Blues takes: All Blacks bolter watch, and the title favourites are...

Totally agree, just saying temper the hype

19 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Sam Darry's honest reflection after Hurricanes reality check

Their backline was good, especially Taele, it was the first to disrupt the flow of the Canes and it was only really some brilliance from their insides and outsides that put the points on the board for Canes.

They just shoulda been able to score closing the out the game and within two tries of this Canes team is a good effort. Blues will learn a lot from this big hitout too, perhaps more.



...

5 Go to comments
P
PB 1 hour ago
‘The All Blacks may not win next year’s World Cup but at least they have been better set up to succeed’

That we will still see. Hype vs reality. Until Rennie unveils his team and they have played Ireland, France and the Boks we just don’t know. But what I do know is that 80% will be a very high ceiling

54 Go to comments
C
Chris929 1 hour ago
Mitchell confirms Red Roses duo are out with 'long-term' injuries

Well I meant back when she was 21,22 she was often seen in back row-recent years been just 2nd row. I think shes still a good option with talling out now-big physical powerful 2nd row-could give england a good 50,55 mins before you then bring on lutui. dont get why mitchell wont pick her.

7 Go to comments
K
KC 1 hour ago
Is Antoine Dupont no longer undroppable?

I'm sorry, but I disagree.

Firstly, just because RP contributors do something has no bearing on whether it is accurate, so I don't understand that argument.



...

12 Go to comments
T
TT. 2 hours ago
How the All Blacks can turn the curse of versatility into a blessing

Dear Nick, old reader but new member of the comments section here. Firstly, thanks for all these analysis. I just wanted to ask you about your thoughts on Damian McKenzie as a starter for New Zealand ? Do you think their starting backline could feature Mo’unga, J. Barrett and McKenzie at the same time or would it be too much of a drawback for their defense ? (or even too many playmakers on the pitch ?) At least, it would enable Jordan to come back on the right wing…

I’m asking you that because I was wondering which backs would be on the bench if they decided to use a 6|2… If J. Barrett and Fainga’anuku start in the midfield, does it mean that Tupaea would be outside of the 23 with a 9 and a 10/15 on the bench ? I’ve seen that you rate Love very highly but do you think he would be great in this bench role or do ou see him, as Fabian Holland, as either a starter or outside of the team ? (Btw, I’m a little surprised to see no real emergence of players able to play either 9 or 10 which would be facilitate hugely 6|2 benchs… But maybe, it is too hard to have the sufficient capaicities for both position at the international level ?)



...

114 Go to comments
B
BC1812 2 hours ago
Red Roses player ratings v Ireland | 2026 Guinness Women's Six Nations

Very mediocre ratings, perhaps merited by some, yet they wone by 21 points at a canter.

2 Go to comments
S
Soliloquin 2 hours ago
Is Antoine Dupont no longer undroppable?

Again, context.

I’m French and Polish and well aware of those singularities.



...

12 Go to comments
G
Gary C 2 hours ago
‘The All Blacks may not win next year’s World Cup but at least they have been better set up to succeed’

I think the All Blacks will step up a level or two this year and next PB, no vapes needed.

54 Go to comments
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