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You have to go back 13 years for the last time Benetton Treviso played in the Challenge Cup and in their two seasons in the tournament in the past they have yet to lose to French opposition. - 12/10/2016 23:53
You have to go back 13 years for the last time Benetton Treviso played in the Challenge Cup and in their two seasons in the tournament in the past they have yet to lose to French opposition.
They did the double over Bordeaux-Begles in the 2000/01 season and then beat Castres Olympique twice in their 2002/03 campaign. However, they have only won six games in their last 70 in the Champions Cup.
Having finished bottom of the Guinness PRO12 table last season they are one off that position this term with one win over the Dragons to their credit in six games to date. Even so, Conor O’Shea just announced 12 of their players in his Italian squad for the Autumn Tests.
La Rochelle have failed to win an away game in the past two seasons since returning to European action. But their form in the TOP 14 this winter has been such that they have won four and drawn two of their eight games and currently lie in third place.
The arrival of All Blacks back row man Victor Vito has helped and he has joined fellow All Black Jason Eaton in a formidable looking pack. Eaton is leading the side this season from the second row. Pool 1 also contains Gloucester Rugby and Bayonne.
Match Facts
- This will be the first meeting between the clubs in European competition.
- Treviso will be competing in the Challenge Cup this season for the first time since the 2002/03 season. They’ve won eight of their 10 games in the competition including all five at home.
- La Rochelle have lost their last six away games in the Challenge Cup, however, they’ve won three of their four games away to Italian clubs in the competition.
- La Rochelle averaged the fewest tackles per game last season (73) however they also missed the fewest tackles on average (11.3).
- No side conceded more turnovers on average than La Rochelle in last season’s competition (17 – level with Castres).
The last time La Rochelle reached the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup they played an Italian club at home in Round 6 to seal the deal. - 20/01/2017 09:22
France prop Uini Atonio put La Rochelle on track for an impressive victory over Benetton Treviso.
Atonio scored the only try of a closely fought first half at Stadio di Monigo before crossing again in the second half to set-up a bonus-point win.
Hikairo Forbes and Jason Eaton also crossed either side of a penalty try as the La Rochelle made a perfect start to the European Rugby Challenge Cup.
Treviso were making their first appearance in this tournament for 13 years and had never previously lost in the competition to French opposition.
However they found themselves trailing by ten points after Brock James kicked the opening points with a 10th minute penalty before Atonio rumbled over for his first try.
Ian McKinley pulled back a penalty from distance for Treviso but a nip-and-tuck first half saw both sides miss kicks at goal.
La Rochelle centre Zack Holmes missed from a similar range and McKinley failed to capitalise after Treviso’s scrum won a penalty. James made him pay with his third kick to lead 13-3 at half-time.
Head coach Patrice Collazo made changes during the break and they produced an immediate effect as replacement hooker Forbes broke the impasse with a try inside two minutes of the second half kick-off.
Atonia then followed from close-range for his second just six minutes later and James conversion suddenly had La Rochelle in command of the tie at 27-3.
Treviso steadied themselves and managed a response through Italy wing Luke McLean. But the French visitors finished strongly as skipper Eaton marshalled his pack to win a penalty try, to secure the bonus, before claiming a try of his own five minutes from time.
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