'It would be great for the country, for the club, for Italian rugby,' claims history-chasing Crowley
Here comes a Guinness PRO14 weekend with an enchanting difference. Derby attention is usually solely focused on some big juicy encounter between rivals teams in either Ireland, Wales or Scotland. But not this Saturday.
Instead, rugby romantics will be keeping a sharp eye on events in Parma to see whether Benetton can defeat Italian rivals Zebre and secure an unprecedented PRO14 quarter-final spot, most likely a fixture away to Munster on May 4.
Having a franchise from Italy gain an edge on some Celtic cousins is something unheard of during their country’s nine-season affiliation with the league. Whipping boys, losers, easy-beats, nobodies… they’re just some of the negative descriptions they have endured over the years during their struggle for acceptance.
Now, though, this search for respect is on the verge of coming to successful fruition – provided neighbours Zebre don’t produce an ambush that allows fourth-place Edinburgh sneak into the qualifiers if they get a result versus Glasgow.
“It would be great for the country, great for the club, great for Italian rugby,” enthused Kieran Crowley to RugbyPass in the hope his Benetton squad won’t disastrously fall at the final hurdle in a rare season where they have won more games than lost. They have victories in 10 of 20 outings and drawn another two matches.
#ZEBvBEN ?vs? sabato 27 Aprile alle ore 18 ultimo turno @PRO14Official allo Stadio Lanfranchi di Parma.
Non perderti il terzo derby #GuinnessPRO14 ?? tra Zebre #Rugby e Benetton.
?? acquista il tuo biglietto ?? https://t.co/ulCsKDx5zE pic.twitter.com/akyYSRSB3K
— Zebre Rugby Club ? (@ZebreRugby) April 22, 2019
“Italian rugby hasn’t always had the best sort of press around the place with performances at club and international level. Whether it was Zebre or us, it doesn’t matter, but for a team from Italy to get through that play-off would be a massive achievement for the whole rugby community here.
“It would be just great for the whole process we’re going through, a lot of validation for what is happening,” he continued, adding that having a new name featuring in the play-offs would be a ringing endorsement for the PRO14’s competitiveness.
“Yeah, it definitely would. It’s the same as anything, if someone who is not expected to get there gets there, it’s good for the product. Hopefully, we can tick that off at the weekend.”
? | LAVORI IN CORSO
?? #ZEBvBEN pic.twitter.com/l8kkNgPdAT
— Benetton Rugby ? (@BenettonRugby) April 19, 2019
A member of the 1987 World Cup-winning New Zealand squad, Crowley took a leap into the unknown when agreeing in 2016 to take on his Italian job. He’d been part of John Mitchell’s All Blacks set-up and had coached Canada at successive World Cups, employment that came with a certain cache.
However, in stepping into the club scene he was very much putting his reputation on the line, taking charge of a team that managed just three wins in 22 matches and finished rock bottom in 2015/16.
“What got me to come here at the start was sporting director Antonio Pavanello said this is where he wants to go. He wasn’t expecting to win the competition but he wanted to see improvements in certain areas like work ethic, professionalism, all that sort of stuff. That was positive,” explained Crowley regarding why he felt compelled to embrace an onerous job there wasn’t a long queue for.
“It’s was a big challenge,” he added about his own adjustment from country to club scene. “It was completely different to Test rugby. It’s been a challenge around the whole continuation of it, but that is where the staff you have got doing their roles gives you confidence. I have learned things along the way and it has been a great experience.
“It can be a bit of a grind going week in, week out. You have got to keep things fresh and you have a larger group of players to manage because the physical impact is massive on them. Travel is also a big issue and the recovery from that. You have got to manage the players completely different to get the best out of them each week.
“When I first came here we certainly lacked a lot in areas because they were very forward-orientated and the skill level needed a bit of work. I have to take my hat off to the coaches, they worked really hard on skills and fitness levels.
? Buon inizio di settimana a tutti voi e grazie per il caloroso supporto che ci avete regalato durante questa stagione allo Stadio Monigo! ?? pic.twitter.com/89TpSqsaeK
— Benetton Rugby ? (@BenettonRugby) April 15, 2019
“It probably went a little bit too far one way the first year with skills and we probably lost a little around actually playing the game, but we have pulled that back now and are getting quite a good medium of playing the game, keeping with the traditions of the club and starting to play the way that suits our team.
“We used to have so many players injured when I first got here. You were thrashing players week in, week out and that had an effect in the last minutes of games. Now we can manage our players a lot better to give them the proper game time and once you have a couple of wins, your mindset changes and you get a lot more confident.”
Not everything is structurally where it needs to be yet. With no rugby played in Italy schools, the professional clubs remain entirely reliant on grassroots clubs to nurture tomorrow’s stars. Making strong connections is a slow process.
“There is still a lot of work to be done. The age-grade international teams are not too bad, the under-18s and under-20s are competitive in Six Nations, but there is a lot of work to be done in the relationships between the clubs and franchises.
“Just that balance of the players. If they’re not playing for a franchise where they can play, when they can play… you have got to deal with the clubs and it’s a challenge for the sporting directors to get those players through.
“We’re very lucky in Treviso that our sporting director is working on his relationships with the clubs in this area so we can access their players. But it’s an ongoing project, let’s say,” continued Crowley, who has one year left on his current deal.
“… can you name a trio that finishes more consistently from 40m.”@BenettonRugby's devastating back line have caught the attention of @thepaulwilliams on The ??&?? Column
Read it now on the #GuinnessPro14 website https://t.co/dGetkr5FwN pic.twitter.com/F9sjPM2nCw
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) April 18, 2019
Perched in third spot in Conference B, one point ahead of Edinburgh, there is a genuine buzz for rugby in the Veneto region. The attendance of 5,000 at their recent home match versus Munster was testament to the fine work of Crowley and co in producing a style of play that’s easy on the eye.
“The group is a little bit more consistent now. There isn’t a great turnover so the players understand the way we coach and it’s just all starting to come together now.
“It has been a team effort but obviously the two wingers have been very instrumental. If you had to pick out a couple, people would talk about Monty Ioane and (Iliesa) Ratuva because they just created a bit, but the work has got to be done up front before they can do something.
“Treviso is a great place. Laid back, not too big. The food and wine is pretty good, too. That makes it positive and we have got a great group of coaches and staff that make it really enjoyable.
“That sell-out crowd was something they haven’t had that at Treviso for a very long time. There was some real excitement, so there is a lot more coverage in the press etc and that is great for the area.
“But Saturday will be different for us. You look at the positions in the league and people will all be expecting us to get over the line. But this is a local derby with all those sorts of things in it which you see in Ireland, Scotland or Wales.
“It’s the same in Italy. It doesn’t matter where the teams are on the ladder, local derbies are always real battles and really close. It’s also World Cup year and you have all those battles for positions. Hopefully on the day we can pull out a performance that will get us the result we want.”
WATCH: The RugbyPass documentary, This is Zebre, which gives a sharp insight into the Benetton v Zebre rivalry
Comments on RugbyPass
The Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
2 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
2 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
15 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
18 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
18 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
18 Go to commentsthe success of the premiership can be summarized by : only 10 teams. It makes a huge difference with the overcrowded top 14 (let us not talk about Leinster and URC…)
1 Go to commentsGood for him. The ABs were fooling around again with converted fullbacks that had a penetration of a marshmallow. Laumape or as Aki has shown for Ireland, go forward is important in the centres. If it had been DMac - Aki- Aumua - Ioane- Telea- Jordan in France the final result would have been different.
4 Go to commentsDan Carter a apporté son professionnalisme, des méthodes de travail, un esprit qui manquaient à l’USAP. Son influence, même une fois blessé a été énorme. Et pour citer une anecdote, certains soirs il venait de lui-même à l’entraînement des jeunes pour dispenser ses conseils. On ne peut pas compter ce qu’il a apporté au club en heures de jeu sur le terrain. Est-ce que le club en a eu pour son argent ? Avec la publicité sur son nom et le titre, je suppose que oui.
1 Go to commentsThe SA sides are suffering from a bum rap here. There isn’t a side anywhere in the world that would do things differently in their shoes. They’ve been set up to fail in the EPCR comps by vested interests, with last minute intercontinental travel requirements that costs an arm and a leg to book in advance just on the possibility they might be required. And the total nonsense that denies any chance of home venues is entirely biased and absolutely unsporting. Either EPCR, the Top14 & the Gallagher Premiership get it sorted on a fair and equitable sporting basis for ALL participants or expect the ridicule to continue. Right now, these comps are a joke!
18 Go to commentsSA sides should do the right thing and leave the champions cup, they are lowering the standard with completely one sided games, not up to the right level. The greatest club tournament in the world is being banjaxed by the weak SA sides.
18 Go to commentsCouldnt agree more. SA sides need to show more committment and really have a go at the Champions Cup. Its quite possibly the most prestigious title in Europe and SA sides need to respect that prestige and serve up their best. EPCR needs to do more to ensure that sides from South Africa and sides travelling to and from SA have a better chance in this competition. The Bulls were put in a really difficult position of having to travel there and back in one week. One could argue that this is what the SA sides signed up for and that La Rochelle didnt complain or send out weakened sides despite having to travel to SA and back and play on successive weekends but surely the situation is also unfair on La Rochelle as well and so EPCR needs to think about successive gameweeks and the travel effect of the competition
18 Go to commentsI hadn’t watched much Canes this season but sat through a replay of that Chiefs game with no distractions. That pack is beastly. I really like the look of Iose. He loves the tough stuff. The first Quins clip may be the best I have even seen for a TH driving his opposite into oblivion. i need to take your word for the contribution of Walker, but Collier there with a straight back pushing up from under was a lovely thing to see. Have you fallen in love with Baxter also, Nick? I think Stuart Barnes may have written his column about him recently, naked. He positively frothed.
15 Go to commentsSmart guy. I wish he was running the RFU or something!
3 Go to commentsWhy Barrett, when Leinster already have at least 4 top centres.?
15 Go to comments