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Zebre Parma scrum-half Marcello Violi
Zebre Parma and Biarritz Olympique meet for the first time in the EPCR Challenge Cup when they go head-to-head in Round 1 at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday.
The two sides have faced off in European competition twice before, though, with the TOP 14 outfit triumphing 38-17 at home and 32-6 in Italy in the 2012/13 European Cup pool stage.
Other key facts:
- Zebre are unbeaten in their last four pool stage games in the Challenge Cup (W2, D2), although they did draw both of their home games during that run. It is their longest unbeaten spell in the pool stage of the competition.
- Biarritz are making their first appearance in the Challenge Cup since 2013/14. They lost their last two games in the competition but have never lost three consecutive games in the Challenge Cup.
- Zebre spent the least time in possession of any club in the Challenge Cup last season (12m 44s per game), while only three teams averaged fewer carries than them (77).
- Zebre’s Renato Giammarioli made five successful offloads in the Challenge Cup last season. Only Leicester’s Jasper Wiese (6) made more.
Biarritz's fly-half Brett Herron
A quartet of tries helped Biarritz Olympique to a 26-13 away victory over Zebre Parma as the two sides met for the first time in the EPCR Challenge Cup, in Round 1 at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday.
Antoine Erbani, Baptiste Erdocia, Ushangi Tscheisvhili and Billy Scannell crossed the line, with Gilles Bosch adding two conversions and Brett Herron another.
Forward delight 💪
Ushangi Tcheishvili powering over to extend @BOPBweb's lead in Parma 🏉#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/1QisYwkUK1
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) December 11, 2021
Jacopo Trulla scored the home side’s only try of the match while Antonio Rizzi converted and scored two penalties.
Zebre have now lost their best-ever unbeaten streak in the pool stage of the Challenge Cup, which had extended to four matches (W2, D2).
The two sides had faced off in European competition twice before, with the TOP 14 outfit winning both the previous matches too – 38-17 at home and 32-6 in Italy in the 2012/13 European Cup pool stage.
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