Benetton dramatically beat Cardiff to create Italian rugby history
Benetton made history by becoming the first Italian team to reach the semi-finals of a European tournament as they came from behind to beat two-time EPCR Challenge Cup champions Cardiff 27-23 at Stadio Monigo.
Having built up a 10-point lead in the first half, the home side found themselves trailing by 10 after a bad start to the second period, but hit back to clinch the win – and a semi-final trip to Toulon – with a juggling corner try from Marcus Watson with 10 minutes to go.
Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young had asked for the same intensity as his team had shown a week earlier when they dumped Sale Sharks out of the competition and his players certainly came out of the blocks right from the kick-off.
Leading by example, skipper Josh Turnbull turned over a ruck on the home 22 to set up Rhys Priestland for his first shot at goal with 38 seconds showing on the clock. Back in his favoured number 10 role after a starring performance at full-back against Sale, the former Wales international gave his side an immediate lead.
It did not take long for Jacob Umaga to level things up for the home side and it was the Italians who were on the front foot for much of the rest of the first half.
Emotion, ???? emotion ?@BenettonRugby, the first Italian club to reach a semi-final of either the #HeinekenChampionsCup or #ChallengeCupRugby! ? #ItJustHitsDifferent pic.twitter.com/QTPJj7AsYj
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 8, 2023
A second Umaga penalty gave them the lead in the 11th minute before South African full-back Rhyno Smith galloped over in the right corner for the first try of the match midway through the opening period. Umaga’s conversion made it a 10-point gap, but Cardiff cut that to three by the break after Thomas Young pounced following a piece of good fortune in the home 22.
Tomos Williams ran up the blindside from a scrum near halfway and his chip ahead allowed Owen Lane to chase it down and try to regather. He stumbled as he tried to catch the ball, but somehow rolled it backwards. Young was on hand to pick up and race over. Referee Luke Pearce declared a try and the TMO confirmed it after a review.
Priestland’s touchline conversion made it a one-score game and then turned the scoreboard on its head at the start of the second half. Within three minutes of the restart, it was Priestland’s penalty that levelled the scores and then he converted a great try by Wales centre Mason Grady off the left touchline.
All of a sudden, there was daylight for Cardiff at 20-13 and they seemed to be on their way to the final four. Back-to-back penalties allowed Benetton to kick their way into the corner and from the lineout, they battered away at the Cardiff line until Italian national captain Michele Lamaro found a gap through which to score.
Umaga’s conversion made it 20-20, but five minutes later Priestland banged over a 42-metre penalty to give his side the lead once again. But Benetton refused to be denied and after kicking deep into the Cardiff 22 once again they sent Watson racing in at the corner for a try which Tomas Albornoz converted off the touchline to force Cardiff to score more than a penalty to win.
Benetton then defended their line superbly at the death, winning a scrum after holding up a driving line-out before successfully holding out a final attack in their 22 which ended with Lopeti Timani being penalised for a neck roll.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments