It’s the good year for Italian rugby, agreed. However, the feat just completed in South Africa by Benetton Treviso by Marco Bortolami really has something exceptional: in Durban, against the imposing ones Sharks which fielded 7 world champions, the Venetians won (25-24) a challenge that seemed – especially physically – impossible to sustain. Instead they prevailed in the second half, thanks to greater freshness and incredible determination. To think that this historic success was about to get out of hand due to an accident similar to the one that happened to Garbisi in blue against France: remember the oval rolling to the side, a moment before the conversion kick? The same happened to the green and white opener, Marin. But in the first half, it was 12-3 for the home team. Umaga’s successful conversion, 3 minutes from time and after the exciting try from the same player, celebrated the victory over the opponents and did justice.
The quarter-finals are getting closer and closer
With this success Benetton Treviso rises to 48 points in the league table Union Rugby Championship: 8th place together with the Scottish Edinburgh, 4 points ahead of Connacht. There are 2 games left until the end of the season, the top 8 qualify for the quarter-finals and at this point the finish line is very close. The Venetians will play again in South Africa, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria against the very strong Bulls, second in the ranking. But the last match, in all likelihood decisive, will be played in Monigo: their opponent is Edinburgh.
Destinations of Menoncello, Lucchesi and Umaga
Three tries from the green-and-whites, who had taken the lead with a place by Marin but then conceded 2 South African goals. In the first half, an irresistible Menoncello scored after a perfect combination with Brex. In the second half, a goal by Lucchesi thanks to a penalty and before that by a splendid ‘hold’ caused by Ferrari. The Sharks, however, were back in front. And when we would have even been satisfied with the defensive bonus point, the winning mentality of the men coached by Bortolami came out: Umaga scored and sealed the overtaking, the defense then held up until the final whistle. It’s difficult to point out the best: all of them, but what courage and strength the Cannone brothers have! The debut of the twenty-year-old Aminu was splendid, Smith was impeccable, and the 4 midfielders who took turns were impeccable. It’s a pleasure and a pride to see these guys play.
Sharks-Benetton Treviso 24-25 (12-8)
Markings: 3′ p. Marin, 14′ Fassi goal tr. Masuku, 23′ goal Nche, 35′ goal Menoncello; 44′ goal Lucchesi tr. Marin, 48′ Kok goal tr. Masuku, 56′ goal Kok, 71′ p. Umaga, 77′ goal Umaga tr. Umaga.
Sharks:15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am (C) (35′ Diego Appolis), 12 Koster Murray, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Siya Masuku (57′ Boeta Chamberlain), 9 Grant Williams (40′ Cameron Wright), 8 Vincent Tshituka (48′ Tino Mavesere), 7 Gerbrandt Grobler, 6 James Venter, 5 Corne Rahl, 4 Eben Etzebeth (19′ Lappies Labuschagne), 3 Vincent Koch (19′ Hanro Jacobs), 2 Bongi Mbonambi (40′ Fez Mbatha ), 1 Ox Nche (40′ Ntuthuko Mchunu). All. John Plumtree.
Benetton Rugby: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello (53′ Marco Zanon), 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Onisi Ratave (71′ Tommaso Menoncello), 10 Leonardo Marin (46′ Jacob Umaga), 9 Andy Uren (61′ Dewaldt Duvenage), 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Sebastian Negri, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Eli Snyman (C), 4 Niccolò Cannone (57′ Edoardo Iachizzi), 3 Simone Ferrari (53′ Giosué Zilocchi), 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi (53? Bautista Bernasconi ), 1 Federico Zani (34′ Destiny Aminu, 74′ Simone Ferrari). Available: 20 Riccardo Favretto Coach Marco Bortolami.
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU).
Note: Red card in the 75th minute to Murray (S)
