'It's nice to know we're not a walk in the park anymore... we're now ready to win at Munster'
Never in a millions years would Monty Ioane have imagined he’d become a rugby hero in Italy last weekend. All he knew growing up in Melbourne was that the sport was played there in a some small capacity, but he’s now fully vested in the exploits of Treviso who have shaken up the PRO14 by qualifying for a quarter-final next Saturday at Munster.
Following a dissatisfactory two-year spell at Stade Francais, Ioane had sworn himself off ever playing in Europe again. However, a phone call out the blue from Kieran Crowley changed all that and the minnow club’s history-making exploits since then have only added to his burgeoning reputation as a finisher to be feared.
Benetton had an ugly status for consistently losing. In 2015/16 alone, they lost 19 of 22 matches, collected a meagre 20 points and finished rock bottom of the PRO12, a whopping 53 points behind table-topping Leinster.
Now, with that gap reduced just 19, they are a side to be taken very seriously. Beating struggling Zebre might not look much on paper, but Treviso’s achievement last Saturday was the culmination of years of hard work.
It was rather fitting, though, that their play-off clinching bonus try was scored in the corner in Parma by Ioane, a signing who has lit up Benetton’s participation in the league with his 13 tries.
(Continue reading below…)
We sent Jim Hamilton to chat with Treviso coach Marius Goosen in what has been an amazing season for the Italian team in this season's PRO14 Rugby
Posted by RugbyPass on Monday, 29 April 2019
The 24-year-old Australian has played 29 PRO14 games since his low-key arrival in Italy in December 2017 from New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty and his strike rate is incredible – 18 wins, two draws and just nine defeats.
No wonder he not only revelled in last weekend’s qualification celebrations, he’s now heading for Limerick convinced the Italians are capable of upsetting the Champions Cup semi-finalists.
“We will look at this game as an opportunity,” he told RugbyPass. We are the underdogs, which is a good thing for us. It’s always good being the underdog, but we’re definitely going there to win. We not just, ‘Okay, we made the play-offs and it’s going to end there’. We have set the mindset to attack and score tries. We’re ready to win.”
The Quarter Finals of the #GUINNESSPRO14 Championship are set! ?
First up, ? @Munsterrugby will face ? @BenettonRugby in Thomond Park on May 4th at 15:00 pic.twitter.com/DOQUj2bjYj
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) April 27, 2019
This fighting talk typifies the positivity flowing through a rejuvenated club where all that seems to be missing is some form of a celebratory song to hail their now regular victories. “There isn’t one that I’m aware of. We can’t say we have really sung anything in the changing room.”
This lack of an anthem, though, didn’t dampen jubilation in Parma. “It was amazing going into the changing rooms knowing that we had achieved our goal. It had been a long process, but we finally did it.
“I haven’t been at Benetton for a long time but just you could see the emotion in a lot of the players’ faces. It was definitely something to be proud of. Even on the way back home as well, the boys just couldn’t help I won’t say celebrate by drinking, they were just happy that it wasn’t the end to our season.
?Il film della fantastica giornata vissuta allo Stadio Lanfranchi di Parma!
??Una preziosa vittoria che è valsa uno storico accesso ai playoff di Guinness @PRO14Official pic.twitter.com/EnVBjAmYm2— Benetton Rugby ? (@BenettonRugby) April 29, 2019
“Just to be able to play for something, that was why there was a huge crowd with everyone knowing the rivalry between the two teams – them not wanting us to go through and us wanting to go through. For Italian rugby it was just amazing.
“The goal was always step by step, working week in week out trying to achieve results. We didn’t get wins in every game but as long as we were seeing progression in the team during the week and in the games, we knew we were heading in the right direction after the past two seasons.
“Before arriving I had obviously heard what the team was like and from other teams, the kind of respect they were not giving Benetton, so it’s nice to know that this year we are contenders and we’re not a walk in the park anymore.
“For us to achieve an awesome result like this has definitely changed the eyes of Italians and the mentality as well. It’s still a work in progress and it’s not easy, but it’s rewarding, especially for the guys who have been here for a long time. I was lucky to arrive at the right time, I guess.”
It was Crowley, the 1987 World Cup winner, who convinced him a second stint in Europe wouldn’t be all that bad. Having moved to Brisbane at the age of 16 to live with his uncle, Australian international Digby Ioane, the pair wound up together in Paris at Stade Francais.
He made just a single Top 14 appearance in August 2014 before trying his luck in New Zealand at provincial level with Tasman and Bay of Plenty. Then came the life-changing call.
“It was pretty much out of the blue. It had come up a couple of times from my agent, but I never had the plan to come back to Europe. I’d been in France for two seasons and felt like I didn’t grow there, but wherever you go it’s always going to be tough and it was a tough time for me in Paris. I was 18 at the time and just trying to adapt to a whole new lifestyle.
“I went over at a really young age. I don’t know if I was ready but I ended up going anyway and it was all a learning experience. Maybe it’s the wrong word if I say that I didn’t grow as a player. Maybe I did because being there was one of my hardest times. In that way it helped me grow up.
“Benetton just randomly happened and I could never look back on the decision (with regret) because it’s probably one of the best decisions I have made. It was definitely Kieran. He gave me a call and I spoke to him for a good hour before making the decision and I could see what he wanted to make the team work.
È ORA DI RUGGIRE! ? pic.twitter.com/yrioTBMpiz
— Benetton Rugby ? (@BenettonRugby) April 27, 2019
“A mate of mine, Whetu Douglas, was telling me that they had improved quite a lot and then the end result was me being here. It was definitely one of the best decisions because Treviso has helped me grow as a player.
“I would never have thought I would have ended up here in Italy for rugby. Living in Australia I didn’t think it had a very big following. Being able to play in the PRO14 is an amazing thing, but the lifestyle and the change in the way they play rugby here is what also attracted me.
“Kieran is obviously a Kiwi so being able to play the New Zealand style of game, it wasn’t new to me. Italians were adapting to his style of play with a bit of flair of their own, but it’s nothing new to me which is what excites me the most and it has brought the best out of me.
“The good thing about Treviso is that you are able to drive on a weekend. You can go up to Milan or different cities which is quite good for my family (two young Australian-born girls) because they love the whole European lifestyle. It’s amazing for them and it’s all new.”
Uncle Digby is now be making his living in Japan, but the line of communication is still strong and, who knows, the family could be celebrating an Italian Test cap if Ioane, who qualifies under residency in December 2020, continue to impress.
“To be honest there is no decision made or anything like that. I’ve just been trying to focus on playing my best footy for Treviso. I don’t really look at it like that,” he said.
????HISTORY-MAKERS ????
Monty Ioane scored the crucial try for @BenettonRugby, who become the first Italian team to reach the #GUINNESSPRO14 Final Series#GUINNESSPRO14 #ZEBvBEN pic.twitter.com/iJng2y3mnO
— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) April 27, 2019
“He [Digby] gives me messages here and there. He’s quite proud I wouldn’t say of how far I have come but of how I have been going lately. He still gives tips here and there. He still thinks he is faster than me, so he says.
“I’m happy with what I’m doing, but I put it down to all the work by the team. I do the easy stuff after they do the hard work and they are making my job a lot easier. But to score a try just to seal it off against Zebre, it was definitely a memorable moment in an amazing season where we have had many moments like that.”
Now for a sequel in Limerick.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments