We can’t take Zebre lightly warns coach Grant
Mon, Nov 16. Kick-off 6pm
ULSTER forwards coach Roddy Grant has fired a warning to not underestimate Zebre after the Italians took Ospreys by surprise earlier this month and gave Scarlets a scare seven days ago.
Zebre produced a stirring second-half fightback to almost complete a shock win at Parc y Scarlets and were edged out of consecutive victories by just one-point. And even after Ulster’s commanding 40-15 victory over Glasgow Warriors on Monday, Grant knows from personal experience that Michael Bradley has the expertise to convert Zebre into a team that can no longer be taken for granted, having been coached by his fellow Cork native at Edinburgh as a player.
“I know Michael well, I had a good two or three seasons with him,” Grant said. “He’s a really good guy, a good coach and passionate about how he wants to play. He wants to play quite an attacking game and they have showed they can do it. “The Ospreys, they’re a good side, a team packed with internationals, and they went across there and lost,” he said.
“They’re always very physical, always a really passionate bunch, as we all know there’s only two Italian pro teams, so they always play with a passion.
“They’ve got some excellent non-Italian players as well, some really physical guys, a really good, young back row which I rate, they’re really good ball carriers, really physical.
“For Italian teams, like the Irish teams, playing at home means a lot to them. “It’s a tough game, for sure, but like always our mindset is to go there and play and win, put in a good performance and impose ourselves on them.” Unbeaten Ulster are the only team within touching distance of Leinster in Conference A, with Zebre propping up the table in sixth.
To Grant’s relief, Ulster should be able to restore their tighthead depth with the return of Tom O’Toole from injury to support firstchoice Marty Moore in their trip to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
While fly-half Ian Madigan has a chance to put up his hand for Ireland selection after Johnny Sexton and Billy Burns both left their match against Wales with knocks.
