Zebre vs Stormers Predictions - Stormers set for first win of the season

While I can see the Stormers winning this, Zebre should have the quality to get within nine points.

Last season the Stormers beat Zebre 31-7 on home soil.

Zebre started last season quite well before fading the longer it went on. There is, however, vast improvement from the Italians in recent years.

This season they have started in a similar vain. In round one, Zebre were in a tight battle against Cardiff away from home, eventually losing the game 22-17. They did manage to secure a losing bonus point.

Last week, Zebre were never expected to challenge Munster at home. By half time Munster were well clear, but in one of the more dramatic comebacks in the tournament history, Zebre won the game 42-33.

It was the Italian side’s first ever win over Munster and came as a shock to many. Confidence in the camp will be sky high at the moment.

Zebre will surely rotate a few players but largely keep the core of those who have been successful in the opening two rounds.

The Stormers have been very successful since joining the URC. This is their fourth season and last season was their worst one. In the first two editions of the URC, the Cape Town side were champions and runners-up.

Last year the Stormers were inconsistent in performance and didn’t make it beyond the quarter-final stage. They will be hoping for a top four finish this time around.

Unfortunately, while they wait for the return of the Springboks, the Stormers won’t be at full strength for some time yet. In their opener against Ospreys last weekend, John Dobson’s side were competitive and even led in the second half, but ultimately suffered a 37-24 defeat.

Dobson will almost certainly make changes for this weekend. They will get their international players back over the course of the next few weeks, but not quite yet.