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Northampton Saints scrum-half Lee Dickson is expecting a battle of attrition as they march on Treviso for their European Rugby Champions Cup encounter on Saturday.
The Saints are chasing a pair of back-to-back victories against the Italians starting at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo, with the Italians yet to register a point in Pool Five.
But Dickson cannot see it being an easy ride for last season’s Challenge Cup victors, who bounced back from their opening round loss to Racing Metro with a bonus point win against Ospreys.
He said: “You can't afford to lose more than one game if you want to finish as pool winners. They are a big physical team, similar to London Welsh because they like to fire the ball out wide. And they are very proud, especially at home. Italian teams are always like that.
“It will be a very tough game, so we have to front up to the challenge. We have to play well to get anywhere near them because they are desperate.
“It's all about patience and playing your own way and outworking them – hopefully you get your rewards in the final 20 minutes of each half.”
Struggling Treviso are yet to win in any competition and sit rock bottom of the Guinness PRO12 and Champions Cup pool five.
But they were desperately unlucky not to come away with victory against the three-time European Champions Leinster, when fly-half Jayden Hayward missed a late penalty which would have snatched victory.
Treviso face a tough task against a Saints side who have lost just once in their last five outings and could welcome back top try-scorer George North, their England contingent of Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes and Tom Wood and George Pisi could play his first game since October having recovered from a hamstring problem.
Match Facts
- The clubs have met just twice in Europe during the 2009/10 season with Northampton Saints coming out on top on both occasions.
- Benetton Treviso picked up a losing bonus point in their home fixture against Saints in 2009/10, the only bonus point they picked up in their six pool games that year (they beat Perpignan in Round 1).
- George North has made a joint tournament-high five clean breaks this season, with four of those breaks coming against Ospreys in the last round.
- Of players to make at least 15 carries in the Champions Cup this season, Ludovico Nitoglia has the highest average gain, averaging 9.6m over the gain line with each carry.
Les Saints n'ont pas eu à puiser dans leurs réserves pour dominer Trévise (38-15). Cette victoire bonifiée en Italie est la promesse d'une fin de phase de poule passionnante pour le champion d'Angleterre. - 06/12/2014 15:41
Northampton Saints secured maximum points with a 38-15, six-try demolition of Treviso in Italy to stay in contention for a European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final spot.
Scores from Samu Manoa, Alex Waller, Ben Foden, Luther Burrell, George Pisi and a penalty try ensured it was job well done for Jim Mallinder’s side against the struggling Italians. Saints No 8 Manoa opened the scoring after nine minutes when he finished off a patient build-up by forcing his way over from close range.
It was a fifth try of the season for the USA international, who is expected to join French champions Toulon in the summer and outside-half Stephen Myler added the conversion to give Saints a solid early lead. A change of referee due to an injury to Peter Fitzgibbon delayed the game for several minutes as he was replaced by Leo Colgan.
Former Worcester and Wasps outside-half Joe Carlisle then got Treviso on the scoreboard with a penalty.
Treviso lost lock Francesco Minto to the sin bin when he tackled Sam Dickinson in an offside position and Saints immediately grabbed a second try.
Myler kicked the penalty to touch and the Saints’ eight were too strong for the Treviso pack and prop Alex Waller was powered his way over. The visitors secured the bonus point within nine minutes of the start of the second half with two quick scores from Foden and Burrell.
Burrell was the provider in the first try with a superb pass to set Foden free and he produced a smart finish, with Myler kicking the difficult conversion. Almost immediately from the re-start Saints went over for their first try after excellent work by Tom Stephenson and Jamie Elliot allowed Burrell to finish.
Treviso did get back into the contest when fly-half Carlisle sent a long pass to wing Ludovico Nitoglia to go over in the corner. Saints’ fifth was a penalty try when Treviso popped up at the scrum and the home side went down to 14 men for the second time when replacement Romulo Acosta was shown a yellow card.
Treviso did however manage a second try when the impressive Carlisle intercepted Stephenson’s pass and raced home from 60 metres. But there will still time for Saints to get their sixth when replacement Pisi touched down with two minutes to go.
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