Treviso and Zebre joined the Guinness PRO12 in 2010, to many queries.
In fact, that’s not completely true, because back in 2010 Zebre were operating under the name Aironi and playing their games at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana. Nowadays they have shifted to the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma and have changed their kits marginally to include the stripes of the animal they are named after. And, despite inheriting most of the same players as Aironi, there is one key difference between the two teams.
Zebre are winning games.
Take their games against Edinburgh and Cardiff. Edinburgh especially were on a high having won their first four games of the season and yet when they arrived in Italy they were promptly sent packing with their first loss of the season and without even a losing bonus point either. A huge result for the men from Parma, and their second win over Edinburgh in the last two seasons.
Then the equally remarkable win over Cardiff for a completely different reason: they were exacting revenge for an 11-try drubbing at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park on the opening day of the season. Chucking the form book out of the window, Zebre picked up their first bonus point win ever in that game, winning by a score of 26-15 and sending the Blues home feeling rather, well, blue.
People wondered how competitive the Italian sides would be in the PRO12 when they joined, and although between them they picked up just ten victories in their first season, Treviso’s seventh place finish in the 2012/13 season (in which they picked up ten wins by themselves) proved that the FIR were seeing progress and, although Treviso have regressed slightly, Zebre are now making considerable strides too.
They haven’t suddenly become world beaters, no, but Zebre have finally shaken off the “whipping boys” tag that Aironi had been given for the first few years they were in the PRO12. Now they lie ninth in the PRO12 table with two wins to their name and already they hold a five point advantage over their rivals from Treviso in the race for the Italian Champions’ Cup spot.
Teams no longer go to Italy with the view of picking up a four try victory – most are now happy enough to escape from the Mediterranean coast with four points let alone four tries. And with Zebre now looking dangerous at home, Edinburgh and Cardiff will not be the last teams this season to leave Parma with their tails between their legs and either one point or even no points to their name.
And the benefit for Zebre is that nobody expects them to win so there is very little pressure on them. With their last few wins that’ll probably change now but the expectation on them is still low and that will work in their favour. Do not expect them to still be the team that everybody beats anymore – those days are long gone, and form suggests that tag won’t ever be back at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
Zebre are on the up.
Main Photo
