United Rugby Championship
Cardiff (26) 40
Tries: T Williams, Sebastian, Basham, Mann, Bowen 2 Cons: Sheedy 4, Evans
Zebre (8) 27
Tries: Minervino, Ferrari, Bertaccini, Da Re Cons: Da Re 2 Pens: Allen
Cardiff continued their promising begin to the United Rugby Championship (URC) marketing campaign with a six-try house victory towards Zebre.
Wing Tom Bowen crossed for 2 tries, with additional scores from lock Teddy Williams, prop Javan Sebastian, quantity eight Taine Basham and flanker Alex Mann as Cardiff adopted up the opening weekend victory towards Scarlets.
Cardiff led 40-8 midway by way of the second half however allowed Zebre, who misplaced 47-13 to Bulls within the opening spherical, again into the sport because the Italian facet scored three tries within the remaining 21 minutes.
Following a first-half attempt from hooker Francisco Minervino, Zebre's second-half revival offered scores for replacements Giacomo Ferrari and Giacomo Da Re, and centre Giulio Bertaccini.
The match was performed in entrance of a crowd of seven,231 on the Arms Park, which was an identical attendance to that of the opening Welsh derby sport between Scarlets and Cardiff in Llanelli.
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Cardiff safe bonus level in first half
Cardiff made 4 personnel modifications to the facet s, with hooker Dafydd Hughes and James Botham introduced in for captain Liam Belcher and flanker Dan Thomas. Lock Josh McNally led the facet in Belcher's absence.
Injured wing Mason Grady and full-back Cameron Winnett have been dominated out as Harri Millard and Bowen have been named on the wings and Jacob Beetham slotted in at full-back.
Zebre dominated the early exchanges with Italy worldwide Tommaso Allan lacking a simple penalty earlier than slotting over the opening three factors.
Cardiff rallied and after a flowing transfer, lock Williams powered over following a deft Mann try-scoring move.
It was an excellent manner for Williams to mark his first aggressive house sport for Cardiff after struggling a severe foot damage in October 2025 on the Arms Park.
The hosts prolonged the lead with a easy faucet penalty transfer as Hughes launched his front-row colleague Sebastian.
Zebre demonstrated a extra scientific edge with Minervino pushed over, nevertheless it didn’t take lengthy for Cardiff to take management once more.
Basham, who has loved a barnstorming begin to the season, made issues look straightforward as his energy and athleticism enabled him to crash over straight from an attacking scrum.
Cardiff have been having fun with themselves and secured the bonus-point attempt within the thirty sixth minute when Mann crossed to attain.
A fizzing try-scoring move from centre Ben Thomas and an outrageous Hughes dummy have been the highlights within the build-up to the attempt because the hosts led 26-8 at half-time.
Bowen on the double however Zebre bounce again
The second half began with some extra ingenuity from fly-half Callum Sheedy, who final week went viral s.
On this event, it was his intelligent grubber kick of a unfastened ball that went into the fingers of Bowen, who left out.
Cardiff began the substitute course of with hooker Evan Lloyd displaying his versatility by protecting the again row and approaching for Basham.
The stage was additionally set for 18-year-old hooker Tom Howe, who was launched for his senior Cardiff debut.
The alterations didn’t halt Cardiff's momentum, initially, with Bowen sprinting over for his second rating after being arrange by scrum-half Johan Mulder.
Zebre had not given up hope, although, and gained some reward with scores for Ferrari and Bertaccini as the house facet grew to become more and more sloppy.
The Italians secured a bonus-point attempt as they took benefit of Cardiff inexplicably shedding focus, with Da Re crossing following a searing break from full-back Giovanni Montemauri.
That proved the tip of the scoring with Cardiff realizing there could be no repeat of this lacklustre remaining quarter after they journey to face defending champions Leinster in Dublin subsequent Saturday.
Line-ups and match officers
Cardiff: Beetham; Millard, Malan, B Thomas, Bowen; Sheedy, Mulder; Sio, D Hughes, Sebastian, McNally (capt), T Williams, Mann, Botham, Basham.
Replacements: Howe, Barratt, S Wainwright, Thornton, E Lloyd, Bevan, J Evans, Emanuel.
Zebre: Montemauri; Belloni, Bertaccini, Mazza (capt), Gesi; Allan, Dominguez; Pisani, Minervino, Castellano, Canali, Krumov, Ruffolo, Locatelli, Ruggeri
Replacements: Quattrini, Pelliccioli, Barbotti, Ortombina, Ferrari, Guana, Zanon, Da Re.
Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARFU)
Assistant referees: Ben Connor (WRU), Lucas Yendle (WRU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU).
