A fortnight of European action is in the rear-view mirror and we return to the Guinness PRO14 for one week in what could be a crucial Round 7 when all is said and done.
The weekend features a rematch of last May’s final when high-flying Leinster travel to Glasgow to take on the Warriors while on Friday there are two huge encounters as Munster host Edinburgh and Ulster welcome the Scarlets.
Then on Saturday, the Cardiff Blues are in Italy to take on Benetton, with another Welsh-Italian battle in Newport where the Dragons host Zebre.
Finally the South African pair are on the road, the Isuzu Southern Kings will look to build on their recent win away to the Ospreys when they travel to Connacht, while Toyota Cheetahs will look to imitate their compatriots away in Neath.
Dragons v Zebre Rodney Parade:
The Dean Ryan revolution was not going to happen overnight, but a pair of wins in Europe leave the Dragons well-placed to get out of their pool in the Challenge Cup.
They now return to domestic duty to take on a Zebre side still winless, but also the only team to have denied Leinster maximum points in the Guinness PRO14 this season.
Michael Bradley’s team fell to a narrow loss at home to Stade Français last weekend in the Challenge Cup in difficult conditions.
Their cause should be helped by the Dragons being without some of their young stars, with the likes of Taine Basham and Aaron Wainwright included in Wayne Pivac’s first Wales squad to take on the Barbarians.
Ryan’s team showed their strength in depth with victory in Russia, and will need to back that up against a Zebre side who they thumped in Parma earlier this season to end their away day hoodoo.
Overall Guinness PRO14 head to head record:
Played 13, Dragons won 8, Zebre won 4 with 1 game drawn.
Did you know?
- Dragons have won their last two matches, both in the European Challenge Cup, at home to Castres and away to Enisei but in the Guinness PRO14 their two victories this season were at today’s opponents Zebre in round 2 and at home to Glasgow Warriors in round 4.
- Zebre’s most recent victory in any competition was 58-14 at home to Enisei in December 2018 although they were only defeated by a solitary point last weekend at home to Stade Francais in the European Challenge Cup.
- Zebre have not won outside of Italy in Guinness PRO14 since a trip to Connacht in February 2018, whilst their only previous victory in Wales was at Cardiff Blues in September 2013.
- Dragons have won their last two matches against Zebre and all six against them played at Rodney Parade.
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