Zebre have fond memories of taking on the Cardiff Blues but Danny Wilson is keen to avoid another Italian disappointment as they travel to Parma in the Guinness PRO12. The Blues were the first team Zebre ever beat, and they have won three of the eight meetings between the sides. In fact Wilson’s men have won just one of their last eight clashes in Italy and the Blues coach wants to put that right. He said: “They are extremely proud of their home venue and home support and they play a sharper game of rugby both in terms of physicality and execution of skill when they are there. “I’ve witnessed that a number of times and there are not many teams that go to Zebre and win by big margins. “As Welsh regions generally in the last couple of years, we have struggled there. We want to put that right. “Last year we didn’t go there with the right mind-set and attitude but I’m hoping that won’t be the case this year. We have talked about that a lot leading into this game.” Wilson clearly means business and has made five changes for the game with Rhys Gill, Matthew Rees and Scott Andrews forming a new look front-row. Nick Williams returns at No.8 and Steven Shingler gets the nod ahead of Gareth Anscombe in the only change to the backline. Zebre, meanwhile, will be looking to make up for the disappointment of last week’s abandonment against Connacht when rain denied them a shot of victory when leading 22-10 at half-time. They have made three changes from that side, with Johan Meyer, Derick Minnie and Andrea Lovotti bolstering the pack. And for head coach Gianluca Guidi, last week’s display against Connacht augurs well for the Italian side. He said: “We saw the response to the two first games on the pitch, even if we didn’t get any match points, it was great to see 15 Italian guys playing so well. “We shouldn’t feel like victims over what happened but be happy with the fruits of the last two weeks of work in Wales and Parma. “The guys are motivated and have shown it on the pitch with an international quality performance. We put Connacht under pressure.” Zebre: Padovani, Di Giulio, Bisegni, Boni, Venditti, Canna, Palazzani, Lovotti, Fabiani, Ceccarelli, Geldenhuys, Ruzza, Mbandà, Meyer, Minnie Replacements: D’Apice, Postiglioni, Chistolini, Bernabò, Sarto, Engelbrecht, Castello, Van Zyl Cardiff Blues: Morgan, Scully, Allen, Lee-Lo, James, Shingler, L Williams, Gill, Rees, Andrews, Earle, Turnbull, Navidi, Warburton, N Williams Replacements: Dacey, G Jenkins, Filise, Cook, E Jenkins, T Williams, Anscombe, Smith. Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record: Played 8, Zebre won 3, Blues won 5. At Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 5.05pm local time (4.05pm Ireland & UK) Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 44th competition game) Assistant Referees: Frank Murphy (IRFU), Luca Trentin (FIR) Citing Commissioner: Marco Cordelli (FIR)
