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Sèchement vaincu par Gloucester en ouverture de la compétition
Brive have only once failed to reach the knock-out stages of the European Rugby Challenge Cup, but their latest campaign got off to a terrible start in round 1 at Kinghsolm.
Now they will look to put the record straight after their proud history in European rugby took a severe dent against Gloucester. That 55-0 humbling at Kingsholm was both the most points they had conceded and their biggest losing margin in Europe. Now they must somehow pick themselves up if they are maintain their remarkable record in the pool stages of this tournament.
The only time they failed to progress past the first stage of this tournament was 14 years ago. But they must get a result against Zebre at Stade Amedee-Domenech to avoid a repeat of 2000.
Zebre lost their first Challenge Cup tie after failing to hold of another French side, Oyonnax last week.
David Odiete and Andrea Manici both scored to hand Zebre a 14-6 lead at half-time. They also led by eight points going into the final quarter only to lose 33-24 in Parma.
That extended their wait for a European win and plenty will rest upon the experience of Italian internationals Mauro Bergamasco and Valerio Bernabo and former All Black Brendon Leonard.
Match Facts
- These two sides have never met in European competition.
- Brive suffered their record loss in the tournament (0-55) in last weekend’s outing against Gloucester Rugby.
- Brive have lost just two of their 18 games against Italian opposition in the Challenge Cup, with both of these defeats coming in Italy.
- Brive’s loss against Gloucester meant they lost their opening game in the tournament for the first time since 2008/09; they have never lost their opening two games.
- Zebre scored their 10th European try last weekend against Oyonnax.
Après son cinglant revers sur la pelouse de Gloucester
Zebre enjoyed an historic night as they celebrated their first win in European competition with a 26-21 triumph at Brive.
Kelly Haimona and Valerio Bernabo scored tries for the visitors, while fly-half Edoardo Padovani converted both tries and added four penalties.
Brive registered tries through centre Riaan Swanepoel, Andrew Mailei and Thomas Sanchou, with Swanepoel slotting the three conversions.
Both sides had lost their opening Pool 5 encounters and needed to get back on track and Padovani gave the Italians the ideal start by slotting an early penalty.
It took Brive a while to find their rhythm but they clicked into gear to send Swanepoel over on the half-four to take a 7-3 lead.
Padovani responded with a penalty and when Haimona got over the line for a converted score the visitors took a six-point lead into the changing rooms.
Padovani padded the lead early in the second stanza but Zebre were stunned when Brive set went in for their second try as good build-up work paved the way for Mailei to score.
But Italian international gave them some breathing space with his score.
Brive refused to give up the battle, and when they worked an opening for Sanchou a nervy finish was in the offing.
But Zebre held their nerve and Padovani's fourth penalty of the night, seven minutes from time, sealed the win and led to delirious celebrations for the Italian side.
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