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Zebre heap more misery on the Kings, Cardiff get off the mark

By Peter Thompson
Zebre flanker Renato Giammarioli

The Southern Kings’ miserable start to life in the Pro14 took another turn for the worse when they suffered a heavy 43-17 home loss to Zebre, while there were wins for Cardiff Blues and Scarlets on Saturday.

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Zebre and the Kings had both lost all three matches before the clash at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and it was the Italian side that kick-started their season with a bonus-point victory.

Early tries from Tommaso Castello and Mattia Bellini set the tone before Renato Giammarioli scored a third midway through the first half for the Parma-based side, who went in at the break with a 22-3 lead.

Tommaso Boni added another following a well executed line-out, but the Kings Were back in at 29-17 following converted scores from Godlen Masimla and Luvuyo Pupuma.

Zebre were not to be denied a first win of the campaign, though, Giulio Bisegni and Jacopo Sarto crossing the whitewash to compound another miserable day for the newcomers.

Cardiff also ended their wait for a first triumph, with Willis Halaholo scoring two tries in a dramatic 17-15 success at Connacht.

Shane Delahunt’s try six minutes from time looked to have won it for Connacht at the Sportsground, but Halaholo’s second of the game brought the Blues level and Jarrod Evans converted expertly to snatch the victory with time running out.

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Scarlets are second in Conference B after Gareth Davies scored one try and laid on another in a 28-8 bonus-point win over Edinburgh, who had Michele Rizzo for dangerous play at a ruck.

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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