The Italians did the double over the Blues last season and so Adam Jones, Josh Turnbull and Manoa Vosawai will be charged with sparking a revenge mission in Parma at Staio XXV Aprille.
“What has happened in the past with Zebre is gone. We are a new squad now, a new team and we’re all looking forward to getting into the serious nature of Guinness PRO12 rugby and showing what we are capable of as a group,” said Blues skipper Matthew Rees.
“We’ve recruited strongly for this season and the opening game is the chance to make a real statement of intent about what we can achieve this season.”
Rees is joined in the front row by 2009 British & Irish Lions team mate Jones and Sam Hobbs. Turnbull and Vosawai join Sam Warburton in the back row.
“We’re looking forward to the first game of the new Guinness PRO12 season against a Zebre team who will no doubt be keen to make a positive start on home soil,” explained Blues director of rugby Mark Hammett.
“We need to focus on ourselves and performing; we have real competition for places right across the squad. Every player knows they need to produce in Italy to keep hold of the jersey.”
Rhys Patchell and Lloyd Williams are paired at half back after impressing together in the final pre-season fixture with Leicester Tigers. Gavin Evans and Cory Allen will form a midfield partnership while rising star Owen Jenkins is named on the wing for the third PRO12 start of his career. His first start also came in Italy against Benetton Treviso last season.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Owen Jenkins, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lloyd Williams; 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Matthew Rees (c), 3 Adam Jones, 4 Chris Dicomidis, 5 Filo Paulo, 6 Josh Turnbull, 7 Sam Warburton, 8 Manoa Vosawai
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Dafydd Hewitt
