Zebre v Dragons - RaboDirect PRO12 match preview

Last updated: 24th February 2013  

Marco Bortolami

Marco Bortolami: captains Zebre against the Dragons

Darren Edwards Newport Gwent Dragons

Darren Edwards: Dragons head coach has experienced trio back to face Zebre

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Dragons coach Darren Edwards has named the experienced Adam Hughes, Ashley Smith, Wayne Evans and Phil Price in his line-up to face Zebre on Sunday.

Centre Hughes moves to the right wing, similarly alongside Hallam Amos. Meanwhile Smith, Evans and Price will all take their primary positions.

Edwards' men try out a different centre pairing with Pat Leach and Smith who last played side by side against Mogliano. The Dragons smashed the Italian side at Rodney Parade 53-3. Edwards has also made a change in the front row with Price at loosehead, but has kept the same locks.

As for the bench there is a welcome return from injury of Rob Sidoli who comes back after celebrating the birth of his second daughter. He sits alongside Owen Evans, Dan Way, Jonathan Evans, Tom Prydie and Jack Dixon who have all been changed from last week.

Meanwhile, Zebre will be hoping to claim their first ever victory in the RaboDirect PRO12 against a team that lost 60-3 to Glasgow Warriors at Rodney Parade last weekend.

Still without their internationals, Zebre are led by Marco Bortolami in a selection that is missing Daniel Halangahu. Alberto Chiesa subsequently wears the number 10 jersey.

Zebre: 15 Alberto Benettin, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Samuele Pace, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Sinoti Sinoti 10 Alberto Chiesa, 9 Alberto Chillon, 8 Andries van Schlakwyk, 7 Josh Sole, 6 Filippo Ferrarini, 5 Marco Bortolami (capt), 4 Michael van Vuren, 3 Luca Redolfini, 2 Carlo Festuccia, 1 Matias Aguero.
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Andrea de Marchi, 18 Carlo Fazzari, 19 Emiliano Caffini, 20 Filippo Cristiano, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Paolo Buso, 23 Andrea Bacchetti.

Dragons: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Adam Hughes, 13 Pat Leach, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Steffan Jones, 9 Wayne Evans, 8 Phil Price, 7 Hugh Gustafson, 6 Nathan Buck, 5 Ian Nimmo, 4 Adam Jones, 3 Lewis Evans (capt), 2 Nic Cudd, 1 Ieuan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Dan Way, 19 Rob Sidoli, 20 Jevon Groves, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Tom Prydie, 23 Jack Dixon.

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