Zebre ring the changes for Edinburgh clash

By GARETH BLACK
Published on 14/09/2012 00:00

FORMER Waratahs playmaker Daniel Halangahu will make his debut for Zebre in tonight’s PRO12 clash with Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

Director of Rugby Christian Gajan has made several changes to the starting XV that lost to Connacht last week.

Centre Matteo Pratichetti will make his first appearance in a Zebre shirt alongside Australian utility back Halangahu in an all-new midfield.

Alberto Chiesa is handed the stand-off role ahead of Luciano Orquera, while another Italian international, Tito Tebaldi, will feature at scrum-half.

On the bench, full-back Paolo Buso and young hooker Andrea Manici are also set for debuts. Italian international lock Quintin Geldenhuys will be Zebre’s skipper for the game in place of the injured Gonzalo Garcia.

Veteran international second-rower Marco Bortolami is also on the injury list.

“This week we worked a lot on the effectiveness of our game and what we’re missing,”said Gajan.

“In the first two games we lost too many balls that we had cleverly obtained. For this game we decided to select players who have played less, in order to grow our youngsters.”

Backs coach Alessandro Troncon said this week’s challenge is more difficult than last Friday. “Edinburgh reached the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup last season, while Italian teams never made it even to the quarters,” said Troncon.

“It will therefore be tough and we need all the enthusiasm possible. But I am happy with what I saw in Parma against Connacht”.