Unbeaten Benetton take aim at next URC scalp
Italian surprise package Benetton Treviso proved that their early season form was no fluke, downing last season’s finalists, the DHL Stormers in an enthralling fourth round of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship to remain the only unbeaten team in this year’s Championship.
Benetton completed a weekend of rugby beauty for Italian rugby, as Zebre Parma snapped a 28-game losing streak with a monumental win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks in a result that sent shockwaves across the competition.
Benetton though, may be looking ahead as possible playoff contenders after their third victory in four matches, with the outlier being a draw with Champions Munster after victories over Cardiff, the Emirates Lions and now the Stormers.
And their confidence is growing, as Italian test lock Federico Ruzza said after the weekend.
“A tough match, we had a very dangerous opponent in front of us, a complete team. We did well, then certainly in some moments we were not perfect and we could have been more precise in some situations,” Ruzza said, adding that the team is filled with confidence at the moment.
“I think there is more confidence in one’s means. I think the fact that we know well what we want to do on the pitch and have learned to deal well with difficult situations also counts. A solid team can be seen when it manages to control these moments. We were good at dealing with the “unforeseen events” during the match.”
Benetton will now travel to Glasgow, who are joint top and a point ahead of them, with Franco Smith’s influence apparent since he left Italy to join up with the Scottish franchise. Ruzzo believes the team’s preparation will have to be perfect to get a win in Glasgow.
“Glasgow had a great season last year. He reached the Challenge Cup final and is in a very positive moment. All their internationals have returned and playing there is never easy. It will be a match in which great attention will be needed. They are a very competent team, who know how to win games and how to approach them. Therefore we will have to be careful and the level of preparation must be perfect.”
Glasgow added another away win to their tally as they downed Ospreys 31-23 in what turned out to be a very good weekend for Scottish rugby.
Edinburgh stopped Connacht thanks to a late drop goal by Ben Healy as they won an entertaining contest that was easily the game of the weekend.
What was good for Scotland though wasn’t good for Welsh rugby as all four their teams lost to opposition, with Ospreys going down to Glasgow, South African franchises the Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions beating Cardiff and Scarlets respectively and Dragons being beaten 33-10 by Leinster on Sunday.
In both the Ospreys and Scarlets games they were leading with five minutes to go before the opposition scored the winning points.
There were mixed results for South African sides as well with the coastal teams losing but the Lions and Bulls coming out on top.
In Cardiff, the Bulls 18-12 victory got them to the top of the URC log, with their scrum sending out a particularly strong message.
Wilco Louw was given man of the match for a superb tighthead performance and their defence held firm to give them their second consecutive win of their four match tour.
The Lions needed a miracle moment to win with a Richard Kriel charge-down of Steff Evans’ clearance opening the door for Henco van Wyk to score the winning try but the other two SA sides weren’t as lucky.
The Stormers loss to Benetton came as they continue to struggle abroad and have not had a northern hemisphere victory in more than a year now, while the Sharks were so poor that John Plumtree had to issue a public apology on social media after the game.
“When I came in I knew there would be no overnight fix, but what I can promise our fans is that we will do everything we can to get things right and do this jersey proud again,” he said.
“I called for patience in the pre-season and it’s a difficult period right now because no one likes losing. I know that our loyal fans will stick by us and we will make you proud once again.
“A lot of our basic skill sets let us down. Losing the aerial battle alone was key because it allowed them to dominate territory. The yellow and red card did not help the situation.
“On a positive note, we had a couple of nice moments on the attack but didn’t capitalise on the available opportunities. I was proud of the effort around our goal line defence and many young players stood up physically.
“This has been a disappointing tour and we have picked up some key injuries in the same positions, which have been tricky to navigate especially with eight of our Springboks unavailable.
“We could have picked up a win or two, but that didn’t happen. We are looking forward to getting back home now and will reset and continue to work hard to get some momentum going and improve our results at home.”
Ulster beat Munster in the other game of the weekend with the defending champions struggling against their northern neighbours in a tense and exciting derby.
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji 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 comments