“We’ve got to go and have a look at why. It’s definitely not a system error, so we’ll have a look at the individual errors that cost us. It was a typical first outing – I’ve been watching all the games in the first round of the URC and there have been points where there hasn’t been much flow. We certainly didn’t have flow in our game today. I’m disappointed with the performance but we’ve got to look after next week now.
“It didn’t take me by surprise. Zebre put us under pressure in front of their home crowd. We could have handled it better. We did well when we were in their 22 but the penalties we conceded were between the two 10-metre lines, so we weren’t able to get much territory. That’s something we need to look at.”
This result made it two defeats and a draw in Edinburgh’s last three games against the Italian side, who finished second bottom of the URC table last season and historically have one of the poorest records in the competition.
However, Everitt doesn’t believe they are a bogey team – nor does he think Saturday’s defeat alters his plans for the campaign ahead.
“A lot of teams have struggled here in Parma – it’s not just Edinburgh. They are a good team, on the up,” he said.
“We saw that last year and as I said in midweek, it’s the same group of players who have been together for a period of time and are playing well. We’re just disappointed with the performance we put in.
“It doesn’t change anything at all. We’re in round one of 18 so we’ve got 17 games left. What we don’t want to do is what we did last year in leaving it to the last couple to finish in the top eight. Nothing is broken; we just need to put in a better performance and build momentum from next week onwards.”
Wes Goosen on the ball for Edinburgh with Liam McConnell in support. Image: Jim Parsons
The hosts seemed fired up for the new season as they came flying out from the first whistle, immediately putting Edinburgh under pressure with their kicking game.
Only three minutes were on the clock when hooker Tommaso Di Bartolomeo barrelled through for the opening try, converted by Giacomo Da Re, and Edinburgh’s early attacking opportunities were limited to an audacious drop-goal attempt from almost halfway by Ben Healy, which sailed wide.
The dancing feet of scrum-half Alessandro Fusco carved open visitors to take his side close to the try line and while the Edinburgh defence managed to hold out the initial move wide, prop Juan Pitinari soon powered over as Zebre went two converted tries to the good after 13 minutes.
However, captain Giovanni Licata paid a steep price for a mistimed tackle when his high shot on Ewan Ashman earned him a yellow card, which was upgraded to a 20-minute red following review.
The numerical advantage helped the Scots finally seize the initiative as they immediately responded, flanker Liam McConnell crashing through for his first try in Edinburgh colours from close quarters.
The 21-year-old academy graduate impressed again when a turnover gave Healy the chance to knock a wonderful spiralled 50-22 from just outside his 22 line to five metres from the Zebre try line, but Edinburgh were unable to convert territory into points.
They didn’t have to wait much longer, though, with Wes Goosen to thank for some jinking footwork after collecting a kick that saw him weave through the Zebre line and set up captain Magnus Bradbury for a try in the corner, Healy’s conversion from out wide levelling up the scores.
Skipper Magnus Bradbury scored one of Edinburgh’s four tries. Image: Jim Parsons
It looked like the tide was turning, but instead Zebre wrestled back control when they were restored to 15 men as Simone Gesi cut a fine line to penetrate Edinburgh’s line once more and restore a home lead before the break.
After a chastening and error-strewn first half where they were bested in almost every metric as well as the scoreboard, Edinburgh needed a reaction.
Instead, it was Zebre who started the stronger, a big boot from Lorenzo Pani taking them up to the Edinburgh line with a 50-22 before Fusco again wriggled through a porous defensive line.
This time Everitt’s side did react, striking back when Ben Vellacott crossed the line to continue the ping-pong nature of this try-fest at the Lanfranchi.
The away coach turned to his big guns, bringing on a pair of British and Irish Lions in the muscular form of Pierre Schoeman and Duhan Van der Merwe, and both quickly looked to get on the ball to make their presence felt.
With internationalists Sam Skinner and Hamish Watson also joining the fray, Edinburgh started to ramp up the pressure. When Pitinari was sent to the sin-bin for some cynical defending on the line, a score-levelling try looked moments away – only for a knock-on to thwart those chances.
But with five minutes left on the clock, the grunt work paid off as a powerful driving effort from the forwards sent substitute Patrick Harrison under the sticks as Healy’s boot drew the scores level for a second time.
But, just as the momentum appeared to be swinging the way of the visitors, they took their eye off the ball again. Healy’s kick out on the full put Zebre in good field position, and a scrum penalty against the visitors gave Martin Farias the chance to send a bobbling kick off the post and in with a minute left to the delight of the home support.
Teams –
Zebre Parma: L Pani, M Belloni (I Neculai 66), G Bertaccini, D Mazza, S Gesi, G Da Re (M Farias 64), A Fusco (T Dominguez 75); M Hasa (P Buonfiglio 64), T Di Bartolomeo (G Ribaldi 67), J Pitinari, M Canali (A Ortombina 56). L Krumov, D Ruggeri (S Locatelli 61), B Stavile, G Licata (G Volpi 36)
Edinburgh: W Goosen, H Paterson (D Van der Merwe 53 ), P O’Conor, J Lang, J Brown, B Healy, B Vellacott (C Shiel 73); J Whitcombe (P Schoeman 46), E Ashman (P Harrison 73), P Hill (D Rae 53), M Sykes, G Gilchrist (S Skinner 51), L McConnell (Watson 53), L Crosbie, M Bradbury
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Scorers –
Zebre Parma: Tries: Di Bartolomeo, Pitinari, Gesi, Fusco; Cons: Da Re 4; Pens: Farias.
Edinburgh: Tries: McConnell, Bradbury, Vellacott, Harrison; Cons: Healy 4.
Scoring sequence (Zebre Parma first): 5-0; 7-0; 12-0; 14-0; 14-5; 14-7; 14-12; 14-14; 19-14; 21-14; (h-t) 26-14; 28-14; 28-19; 28-21; 28-26; 28-28; 31-28.
Yellow cards –
Zebre Parma: Pitinari
20 minute Red cards –
Zebre Parma: Licata