Summary

  • Cardiff beat Zebre 40-27 in 10-try thriller

  • Hosts took control as Teddy Williams, Javian Sebastian, and Taine Basham crossed

  • Francisco Minervino scored from maul for visitors

  • Alex Mann grabbed bonus point try as Cardiff led 26-8 at half-time

  • Tom Bowen added two more tries in second half

  • Giacomo Ferrari, Giulio Bertaccini and Marco Zanon scored as Italian side stormed back

Send us your views

Live Reporting

  1. Goodbye from Cardiff

    FT: Cardiff 40-27 Zebre

    Cardiff ZebreHuw Evans Picture Agency

    Job done, but Cardiff had a few jitters after taking their eye off the ball in the final quarter.

    Zebre deservedly leave the Welsh capital with a bonus point but it looks like they will prop up the URC unless anything dramatic happens.

    The Blue and Blacks intend to operate at the other end of the table in their bid for qualify for the play-offs for successive seasons.

    Corniel van Zyl's men are two from two at the start of the URC but need to go up a few gears in the coming weeks.

    They've got Leinster away and Sharks at home either side of a trip to Northampton in the Champions Cup, while they finish the first block at Ospreys.

    Some positives in attack but lots of work to do in defence.

    Nonetheless, an entertaining and winning start for Wales in round two of the URC.

    Join us tomorrow for updates of Ospreys at Lions and then the derby at Rodney Parade between Dragons and Scarlets.

  2. 'The boys stuck in together'

    FT: Cardiff 40-27 Zebre

    Cardiff flanker and man of the match James Botham said to S4C:

    "We started off really well and second half we knew they would come out all guns blazing.

    "We had a few young boys coming on and it was great to get the result.

    "We have a few work-ons but the boys stuck in together and showed what we can do.

    "Everyone wants to play for each other, there's nobody going individual and we are gelling together."

  3. Full-time: Benetton 19-22 Connacht

    Benetton drew with Dragons in round one and tonight they have been edged out by Connacht in Treviso.

    Ciaran Frawley with the late winner for the Irish province as former Wales boss Wayne Pivac still hunts a first win since taking the reins at Benetton.

  4. Full-time: Edinburgh 17-13 Stormers

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland at Hive Stadium

    Edinburgh have done it!

    It's a nervy ending as Edinburgh concede a penalty and Stormers kick to the corner.

    Rather than allowing the South Africans to get their maul set, Edinburgh compete in the air and Liam McConnell - who has been a menace on the Stormers throw all night - disrupts and the ball breaks on the Edinburgh side.

    The ball is kicked out and the home fans erupt. That's a real gutsy win for Sean Everitt's side.

  5. Full-time

    Cardiff 40-27 Zebre

    That's it, five points for Cardiff and a four-try bonus for Zebre.

    The Italians showed real spirit to be fair, although it looks like they will prop up the table again this season.

  6. Man of the Match: James Botham

    Cardiff 40-27 Zebre

    James Botham has been everywhere tonight and the Cardiff flanker gets the nod.

    Worthy winner although his fellow back-rower Alex Mann also stood out.

  7. Cardiff 40-27 Zebre

    Zebre are hunting a double bonus but lose possession in midfield.

    Just over a minute to go now and Cardiff will take the spoils, although they made hard work of it by clocking off.

  8. try

    Try! Edinburgh 17-13 Stormers

    Rory McHaffie, con Grayson

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland at Hive Stadium

    Back come Edinburgh!

    They absolutely hammer at the Stormers line and are repelled over and over until eventually they go wide.

    James Grayson's pass is a bit messy to substitute winger Rory McHaffie, but the 19-year-old does brilliantly to gather and beat the cover defence and dive over in the corner. What a way to mark your home debut!

    Grayson's touchline conversion is an absolute beauty and Edinburgh lead by four again.

  9. Cardiff 40-27 Zebre

    Cardiff are killing the clock. Something that I didn't expect to be writing.

    The excellent Gesi knocks on under the high ball and that will get rid of another minute or so while waiting for the scrum.

  10. Cardiff 40-27 Zebre

    A timely defensive stand by Cardiff just outside their 22 with a choke tackle by Alex Mann earning a turnover.

    Strong scrum and good exit needed by the Blue and Blacks.

    Few saw this coming at 40-8.

  11. Cardiff 40-27 Zebre

    Cardiff are hanging on!

    Terrific scrambling by lock Teddy Williams to snuff out the danger after a break and chip down the left by dangerman Gesi.

    Cardiff haven't had territory and Zebre's discipline has improved.

    There are some nerves here at the Arms Park.

  12. try

    Try! Edinburgh 10-13

    Hacjivah Dayimani, con Ahmed

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland at Hive Stadium

    Wandisile Simelane thought he had wrestled back the lead when he dived over in the corner, but the Stormers wing had a foot in touch before scoring.

    Edinburgh's reprieve is short-lived though as they come back for a scrum in the shadow of the posts, the South Africans turn on the power and number eight Hacjivah Dayimani is able to break off and dot down.

  13. converted try

    Converted try: Cardiff 40-27 Zebre

    Giacomo da Re (con: Giacomo da Re)

    Hello...

    Zebre have their bonus point and are now within 13 points of Cardiff.

    Big burst by full-back Giovanni Montemauri - more poor defence - and it's finished by da Re, who adds the extras.

  14. Cardiff 40-20 Zebre

    Cardiff have to be careful here. They are another Zebre converted try away from having a bit of a nervy finish.

  15. try

    Try: Cardiff 40-20 Zebre

    Giulio Bertaccini

    A third try for Zebre, and not one that Tom Bowen will want to watch back.

    Strong finish down the right by Bertaccini but the tackling wasn't great.

    Conversion wide but Zebre have a quarter of an hour to hunt a consolation four-try bonus.

  16. try

    Try! Edinburgh 10-6 Stormers

    Paul Hill, con James Grayson

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland at Hive Stadium

    Finally we have a try!

    It comes from a loose Stormers lineout - it has been wobbly all night - and a couple of phases later substitute hooker Jerry Blyth-Lafferty makes a storming break to take Edinburgh to the brink of the line.

    They have a couple of cracks before another sub, prop Paul Hill, dives over.

  17. converted try

    Converted try: Cardiff 40-15 Zebre

    Giacomo Ferrari (con: Giacomo Da Re)

    Zebre might get the chance to push for a four-try bonus and will feel that they've had enough chances to already have it.

    A dart by Patricio Baronio Guana, a charge by Damiano Mazza and a finish down the left by replacement forward Giacomo Ferrari.

  18. Cardiff 40-8 Zebre

    Stormers in front and Benetton have inched into the lead. They are 19-17 in front against Connacht in Treviso.

    56 minutes on the clock here in Cardiff as Zebre are held up over the line.

  19. Stormers lead

    Edinburgh 3-6 Stormers

    Andy Burke
    BBC Sport Scotland at Hive Stadium

    A second penalty in the space of three minutes from Yaqeen Ahmed puts Stormers in front.

    Work to do for the home side.

  20. Changes - and a big debut

    Cardiff 40-8 Zebre

    Big moment for teenage hooker Tom Howe, who is on for his Cardiff debut.

    Jarrod Evans came on before that try for Callum Sheedy while Ellis Bevan has also come on at scrum-half.