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Lamaro pinpoints the cause of Benetton's slump in the URC standings
Benetton head into their fixture with Connacht in Treviso on Saturday in the United Rugby Championship looking to end a three-match losing streak which has seen them hurtle down the table.
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The Italian outfit sat in second place in the league just a matter of weeks ago before losses to Leinster, Glasgow Warriors and most recently the Scarlets, leaving them in tenth place, level on points with Saturday’s opponents.
During this period they have been without the bulk of the Italy internationals, who heavily contributed to the Azzurri squad during the Guinness Six Nations. Captain Michele Lamaro is a member of that contingent, who led his country over the last two months to a fifth-place finish in the Championship.
The flanker is expected to return to face Connacht alongside other Italy stars such as Ignacio Brex at the weekend. But while this lack of firepower would have damaged Benetton’s cause, Lamaro feels there were other factors at play that contributed to their slump.
Speaking to his club recently, the 43-cap Italy international explained how Benetton’s mentality changed from the beginning of the season.
While platitudes like ‘taking one game at a time’ or ‘not focussing on the table’ are bandied about in rugby, Lamaro honestly confessed that that has not been the case with his club. Whereas his side had no pressure at the beginning of the season, Lamaro explained how their ranking “took over”, leading to a loss of momentum.
“Honestly I think there has been too much talk about the rankings,” he said (translated by Google).
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“In general we need to focus on our process and our daily life. It’s what gave us so much confidence at the start of the championship, because we didn’t have the pressure of the standings and we continued to do our best day after day.
“As soon as the ranking situation took over, we lost sight a little of having to score points every match and the focus on winning every time we take the field, or in any case trying not to lose. This then led us to lose the momentum we had taken. Now we have to face match after match, aware that it will be a battle to the last blow. Every single situation can make a difference.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Fiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to comments