Zebre claim third straight win by beating Dragons

Rugby World Cup

Zebre (14) 31

Trys: Prisciantelli, Paea Cons: Da Re 4 Pens: Prisciantelli, Stavile, Stavile, Paea Cons:

Dragons (21) 21

Zebre climbed five places to 10th in the Rugby World Cup table with a bonus-point win against bottom side Dragons in Parma.

As the Dragons led 21-7 just before half-time, Brodie Coghlan, the team’s hooker, crossed for two tries before center Joe Westwood scored from center Huw Anderson.

At the end of the first half, Giovanni Licata, the hosts’ number eight, scored a fine try, and flanker Bautista Stavile, the hosts’ opener, gave off a strong start to the Zebre revival.

Zebre full-back Geronimo Prisciantelli scored a third try early in the second half from lock Rusiate Nasove, who then threw a penalty over center Fetuli Paea for the bonus-point lead.

Despite having substitute scrum-half Alessandro Fusco shown a 71st-minute yellow card for a professional foul, the hosts capitalized on the strength of their bench in the second half and held on to win.

Dragons left Italy without any points thanks to Prisciantelli’s late penalty. For the first time in seven years, the revitalized Italian team won the league for the third time.

In contrast, Dragons, who are still rooted at the bottom of the URC table and 15 points adrift, have lost 11 games in a row.

Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Luca Rizzoli, Juan Pitinari, Matteo Canali, Alessandro Fusco, Giovanni Montemauri, Jacopo Trulla, and others.

Sin-bin: Fusco 71

Huw Anderson, Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen (capt), Ashton Hewitt, Will Reed, Dane Blacker, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, George Nott, Ryan Woodman, Taine Basham, Shane Lewis-Hughes, and others.

James Benjamin, Owain James, Paula Latu, Steve Cummins, Barny Langton-Cryer, Che Hope, Harri Ford, and Scott Williams are the replacements.

Eoghan Cross (IRFU) as the referee

Lorenzo Negro (FIR) and Filipo Russo & Lorenzo Russo (FIR) as assistant referees.