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Ulster staged a second-half fightback to beat Zebre Parma 40-36 and get their United Rugby Championship campaign off to a winning start at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
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Zebre had lost 25 matches in a row and were without a victory since April 2022.
But the Italians showed they are a far more serious proposition this season, sharing 12 tries in a dramatic contest and picking up two bonus points.
A see-saw first half produced seven tries with Ulster wiping out the Zebre lead three times before heading into the break 26-21 down.
Zebre struck first as number eight Giovanni Licata prospered from a driving line-out maul for Geronimo Prisciantelli to convert.
Jake Flannery replied by crashing over and Nathan Doak added the extras but Zebre were in front again as Licata claimed a second try following Ben Cambriani’s initial break.
Prisciantelli extended the gap to seven points but Kieran Treadwell soon ran an excellent line and Mike Lowry jinked his way over for Doak to convert.
Ulster boasted the best defence in URC competition last season but they were breached for the third time inside 23 minutes.
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Lorenzo Pani powered his way over from close range and Prisciantelli maintained his 100 per record from the tee.
Ulster levelled again when Flannery floated a pass for Jacob Stockdale to score in the corner and Doak converted to make the score 21-21.
Kieran Treadwell was yellow carded five minutes before the break after Ulster were penalised frequently.
Zebre took advantage of their extra men as Ulster ran out of defenders and Prisciantelli’s kick found replacement wide Scott Gregory free to dot down out wide.
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The gap was extended to 10 points just after the break as Simone Gesi punished weak Ulster tackling.
Ulster went to their bench and it yielded instant dividends as Stewart Moore’s superb offload sent in captain Tom Stewart for a try which Doak added to.
There was an hour on the clock when replacement Billy Burns helped Ulster take the lead for the first time.
Burns’ pass stretched the Zebre defence and James Hume allowed Stockdale to dive in to the corner.
A sixth Ulster try, and a second from Stewart, gave the visitors breathing space and appeared to have put the contest to bed.
But Gesi claimed his second try after Zebre had gone through the phases to set up a grandstand finish.
Zebre even had the advantage of an extra man in the final play as replacement prop James French was sent to the sin bin.
But Ulster stole the ball just yards from their own line to deny Zebre victory.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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