THE ITALIAN JOB

THE Stormers will be looking to dish out some more “slow poison” in Saturday's 8.45pm United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against Zebre at Stadio Sergio Lafranci in Parma.

On top of the URC log after three convincing wins, the Stormers are eyeing a fourth win and second on the road when they face the Italian outfit, who have made a good start to this season’s tournament.

Despite going down 24-0 to Ospreys last week in Wales, Zebre have taken down the Lions (22-20) and Edinburgh (31-28) in hulle agterplaas.

According to Stormers attack coach, Dawie Snyman, it feels as if Zebre are targeting wins at home after resting a vrag sterspelers for the game against Ospreys.

Expecting the Italians to steek uit gevaarlik in Parma, Snyman said: “They have started showing last year already; they are becoming a tougher team to face... picking up some big wins [at home].

“We expect they are targeting [this game], so it’s going to be a very tough on Saturday.”

However, Snyman says the Stormers are not paaping as head coach John Dobson could look to stick to their winning formula of a forwards-heavy bench when he names his matchday squad today.

Forward brekers such as Evan Roos, Ben-Jason Dixon, JD Schickerling and Ruben van Heerden are expected to start with Snyman adding of how the bench must dish out slow poison: “The forwards are doing a really good job at taking the oppositions legs and then we have a great bench coming on that can make the difference and pick up the pace of the game. We are playing against quality sides… you have to sort of grind it out before seeing where the opportunities are.”

URC fixtures:

Friday: Edinburgh v Benetton, Connacht v Bulls, Dragons v Cardiff (all 8.45pm)

Saturday: Lions v Scarlets (1.45pm), Sharks v Ulster (4pm), Leinster v Munster (6.15pm), Ospreys v Glasgow (8.45pm)