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Exeter select 3 Italian internationals for Challenge Cup trip to Treviso
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Italian internationals Stephen Varney, Andrea Zambonin and Ross Vintcent will face a host of their Azzurri teammates after being named in Exeter’s starting XV for Sunday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final against Benetton.
Varney continues his half-back partnership with the recently re-signed Harvey Skinner, while Zambonin is in the engine room with captain Dafydd Jenkins.
Openside Vintcent, who is in direct opposition to Italy captain Michele Lamaro, joins Tom Hooper and Greg Fisilau in a quality back row. The tireless trio made 79 tackles between them in the Round of 16 win over Munster.
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Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Paul Brown-Bampoe bring power and pace to the wings, with Olly Woodburn the last line of defence at full-back. Will Rigg and Henry Slade provide a balance of power and poise in midfield.
Props Scott Sio and Jimmy Roots pack down with Jack Yeandle in the front row, with Jenkins, Zambonin, Hooper, Vintcent and Fisilau lining up behind them.
“Last week, Benetton started their game like an absolute steam train, so we’ve got to be ready. We’ve got to hit the pitch and try to set our intensity,” said Chiefs Director of Rugby Rob Baxter.
“They’ve got some very good players, Tommaso Menoncello for example is up there with the best centres in the world, he’s always a threat.
“As with most Italian top teams, they’re also very strong around the set piece and cause problems at the breakdown. That’s the type of thing we’re going to have to deal with well.”
Baxter added: “The players look very energised; they’re looking forward to it. They want to do well in every competition this season, so that puts us in a good place.
“Our processes have to be about identifying what elements of the game or training will give us the best chance to win. Every game is special at this stage in the season so we’ve got to just enjoy it and aim to win.”
The replacement front-row is formed by hooker Joseph Dweba with props Ethan Burger and Bachuki Tchumbadze. The second and back row can call on reinforcements in the form of Rusi Tuima and Finn Worley Brady.
For the backs, replacements options are provided by Tom Cairns, Will Haydon-Wood and Campbell Ridl.
The game kicks off at 13:30 local time in Treviso, broadcast live on Premier Sports.
Benetton: 15. Rhyno Smith, 14. Onisi Ratave, 13. Tommaso Menoncello, 12. Malakai Fekitoa, 11. Ignacio Mendy, 10. Jacob Umaga, 9. Andy Uren, 1. Thomas Gallo, 2. Bautista Bernasconi, 3. Giosue Zilocchi, 4. Niccolo Cannone, 5. Federico Ruzza, 6. Manuel Zuliani, 7. Michele Lamaro (c), 8. Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: 16. Siua Maile, 17. Destiny Aminu, 18. Tiziano Pasquali, 19. Riccardo Favretto, 20. So’otala Fa’aso’o, 21. Sebastian Negri, 22. Alessandro Garbisi, 23. Leonardo Marin.
Exeter Chiefs: 15. Olly Woodburn, 14. Paul Brown-Bampoe, 13. Henry Slade, 12. Will Rigg, 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10. Harvey Skinner, 9. Steve Varney, 1. Scott Sio, 2. Jack Yeandle, 3. Jimmy Roots, 4. Dafydd Jenkins (c), 5. Andrea Zambonin, 6. Tom Hooper, 7. Ross Vintcent, 8. Greg Fisilau.
Replacements: 16. Joseph Dweba, 17. Ethan Burger, 18. Bachuki Tchumbadze, 19. Rus Tuima, 20. Finn Worley-Brady, 21. Tom Cairns, 22. Will Haydon-Wood, 23. Campbell Ridl.
