Former England star leads Benetton to huge URC result over Lions

Benetton claimed a first-ever win in Johannesburg with a commanding 42-31 bonus-point victory over the Lions in the United Rugby Championship.

The visitors fell behind to an early long-range penalty from Lions fly-half Jordan Hendrikse, but hit back almost immediately when former England fly-half Jacob Umaga pounced on a loose ball and raced clear for the opening try, which he also converted.

Benetton struck again soon after, working the ball wide from a lineout drive for Ignacio Mendy to score in the corner. Umaga added a penalty before combining with Brex in a smart loop move that led to a powerful carry from Odogwu, who offloaded for Leonardo Marin to finish. Umaga converted for a 22-3 lead.

The Lions responded with a maul try from Venter, converted by Hendrikse, but Benetton stretched further ahead before the break. Mendy added his second after slicing through from deep, and although the Lions replied through Louw just before half-time, the Italians led 32-17.

After the break, Mendy was again at the heart of the action, initiating a sweeping move finished by Federico Ruzza. Umaga added the extras.

Fixture

United Rugby Championship

Lions

31 - 42

Full-time

Benetton

All Stats and Data

Despite three yellow cards reducing Benetton to 13 men for 20 minute of the second-half, their defence held firm.

The Lions crossed through Van der Merwe, and later grabbed a bonus-point try via Pretorius, but it wasn’t enough as Benetton [with the help of a 64th minute Umaga penalty] sealed a famous away win and five points on the road in their playoff push.

Emirates Lions:15 Quan Horn, 14 Tapiwa Mafura, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Marius Louw (51th Kelly Mpeku), 11 Edwill Van der Merwe, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Morne Van den Berg (66th Nico Steyn); 8 Francke Horn (C) (16th Siba Qoma), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg (56th Ruan Delport), 4 Ruben Schoeman (56th Renzo Du Plessis), 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (45th RF Schoeman), 2 Pj Botha (45th Jaco Visagie), 1 Juan Schoeman (45th SJ Kotze).

Head Coach: Ivan Van Rooyen.

Benetton Rugby:15 Leonardo Marin (59th Simone Ferrari, 71th Leonardo Marin), 14 Ignacio Mendy (51th Bautista Bernasconi, 59th Ignacio Mendy, 71 Rhyno Smith), 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi (63th Andy Uren); 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani (71th Michele Lamaro), 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Federico Ruzza (C) (63th Eli Snyman), 4 Niccolò Cannone (45? Scott Scrafton), 3 Simone Ferrari (45th Giosué Zilocchi), 2 Bautista Bernasconi (45th Siua Maile), 1 Thomas Gallo (45th Ivan Nemer).

Head Coach: Marco Bortolami.