Late tries from impressive scrum half Brendon Leonard and super sub Guglielmo Palazzani’s effort in the 82nd minute left the Ospreys with just the losing bonus point and four points behind fourth-placed Ulster having played a game more.
A below par performance from the Welsh region saw them trail 16-6 at halftime with Giovanbattista Venditti’s try and 11 points from the boot of Luciano Orquera putting the Italian side in front.All the Ospreys had to offer was two penalties courtesy of Dan Biggar’s boot.
The Ospreys jumped out of the blocks in the secone spell with Justin Tipuric scoring just 40 seconds after the re-start. Ashley Beck then powered over to put the Ospreys in front.
When Alun Wyn Jones went over for the Ospreys’ third try, the Ospreys looked certain of victory and chasing a fourth bonus point try but when Leonard dived over after a strong burst from Tommaso Iannone the Italians sniffed a famous victory.
Both sides were reduced to 14 men in the dying stages with Jones sinbinned along with Samuela Vunisa but it was the home side who gained the honours when Palazzani pounced to take Zebre off the bottom of the points table and just one place ahead of Treviso, ensuring the battle for the Italian berth in next year’s European Champions Rugby Cup remains alive.
