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Gloucester dispatch Benetton to keep silverware hopes alive
Gloucester reached the EPCR Challenge Cup final for a fourth time in their history after beating Italian hopefuls Benetton 40-23 at Kingsholm.
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George Skivington’s team will face South African contenders The Sharks at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 24.
And despite struggling in the Gallagher Premiership this season, Gloucester are now chasing more silverware after being crowned Premiership Rugby Cup winners in March.
Fly-half Adam Hastings was the architect of Gloucester’s triumph, contributing 17 points through a try, three conversions and two penalties on his penultimate home appearance before rejoining Glasgow this summer.
Full-back Josh Hathaway, hooker Seb Blake, lock Freddie Clarke and wing Ollie Thorley also touched down, while scrum-half Caolan Englefield kicked a penalty 10 minutes from time.
Benetton, Challenge Cup semi-finalists last term, pushed Gloucester hard as hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi (2) and full-back Rhyno Smith scored tries – Tomas Albornoz added two penalties and a conversion – but two tries in four minutes midway through the second period gave the home side breathing space.
Gloucester will now target a third Challenge Cup final win after lifting the trophy in 2006 and 2015.
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Gloucester made a strong start, monopolising possession and territory before opening their account after six minutes when centre Chris Harris’ kick into space behind Benetton’s defence allowed Hathaway a simple finish.
The Italian side soon found their way into the game, though, with an Albornoz penalty rounding off a threatening spell that saw international flankers Sebastian Negri and Michele Lamaro make prominent contributions.
Hastings and Albornoz then exchanged penalties – Gloucester’s Scotland international found the target from 48 metres – and there was little to choose between the teams.
But Gloucester had immediate success when they turned to their driving lineout threat, sending Benetton backwards at a rate of knots from five metres out and Blake touched down.
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Hastings converted from the touchline, yet Gloucester saw number eight Zach Mercer yellow-carded for a trip on Smith, and the visitors almost responded immediately.
Wing Onisi Ratave breached Gloucester’s defence to touch down in the corner, but the try was ruled out following an off-the-ball push by a Benetton player in build-up play.
It was a major let-off for Gloucester, yet they could not reach half-time without conceding as Benetton cut them open from deep.
Negri and number eight Toa Halafihi made headway, and Smith had the pace to finish off, making it 15-11 at half-time.
Benetton looked to make further in-roads with Mercer still off, but they had their hands full at the breakdown where Gloucester captain Lewis Ludlow repeatedly made his presence felt.
Hastings kicked a second penalty in the 48th minute, only for Benetton to charge upfield after a lengthy Albornoz touch-finder and replacement hooker Luccheshi touch down following a well-executed lineout drive.
Gloucester had to respond, and they hit back with a try just three minutes later when strong carrying and sharp off-loading created room for Hastings to claim his team’s third try before adding the conversion.
And the home side were not finished, moving past 30 points when Clarke intercepted Albornoz’s pass and sprinted 50 metres for a try that Hastings converted.
Benetton refused to go quietly as Lucchesi claimed his second try of the game, but Englefield’s late penalty calmed any nerves and Gloucester were home and dry when Thorley touched down.
Comments on RugbyPass
> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
2 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
1 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
5 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
2 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
5 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
5 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
3 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to comments