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Overview
Season so far
Tournament record
Benetton host Agen in the Round of 16 of the Challenge Cup
Benetton Rugby will look to continue their impressive home form in the European Rugby Challenge Cup as they take on Agen in the Round of 16.
Benetton have lost only two of their 11 home games in the Challenge Cup, while Agen have failed to score a try in each of their last two away games they have played in the competition.
Benetton and Agen have met twice before – in the 2018/19 Challenge Cup pool stage as both sides picked up home wins. Both teams finished on five points in the preliminary stage table this season to progress to the last 16.
The match at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo gets underway at 15:00 (UK and Irish time) on April 3 and is available to watch on BT Sport in the United Kingdom as well as Sky Italia and beIN SPORTS.
Pool positions
Benneton Rugby: 7th in European Rugby Challenge Cup Prelim Stage (5 points)
Agen: 6th in European Rugby Challenge Cup Prelim Stage (5 points)
Head-to-head record
Benetton Rugby wins: 1
Draws: 0
Agen wins: 1
#ThrowbackThursday to last season's #ChallengeCupRugby QFs 🤩
Which side are favourites to make the quarters this year? 👀 pic.twitter.com/BhceliHxEk
— Challenge Cup (@ERChallengeCup) April 1, 2021
Leading 2020/21 points-scorers:
Benetton Rugby: Tommaso Allan (14)
Agen: Tevita Railevu (5)
Match facts
- Benetton and Agen have played each other twice before in the Challenge Cup (excluding their cancelled fixture earlier this season) with both sides picking up home wins in the 2018/19 pool stage.
- Benetton have lost only two of their 11 completed home games in the Challenge Cup (W9), a 41-10 defeat to La Rochelle in October 2016 and a 41-0 loss to Gloucester in January 2017.
- Agen have lost their last nine completed fixtures in the Challenge Cup, their longest losing run in European competition.
- Agen have failed to score a try in each of their last two away games they have played in the Challenge Cup, after scoring 2+ tries in each of their previous six.
- Agen have lost two of their last three completed fixtures against Italian opposition, having won 16 of their initial 17 such matches.
- Benetton have won each of their last three completed Challenge Cup fixtures against TOP 14 opponents, a run which started with a win against Agen.
- Agen will making their 100th appearance in the Challenge Cup in this fixture, the fourth side to reach this milestone (Connacht, Brive, Newcastle).
Benetton Rugby's late try hero Monty Ioane
Benetton Rugby advanced to the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Challenge Cup with a 29-16 win over TOP 14 side Agen at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo.
Dewaldt Duvenage, Monty Ioane, Ignacio Brex and Edoardo Padovani all crossed the whitewash for the hosts in the victory – the latter two tries scored after the dismissal of Agen’s Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.
The French outfit had made an electric start to the contest with a try after just two minutes, Dylan Hayes converting from close range. However, that was their only venture over the try line in the entire contest.
Three penalties from Paolo Garbisi completed the scoring for the Italians, while Hugo Verdu contributed with 11 points for the visitors.
Full time in Treviso and it's @BenettonRugby who advance to the Quarter Final 💪@agen_rugby gave it everything, but the class of the home side was to much for them, and it will be Benetton who go on to play @MHR_officiel next weekend 👏#ChallengeCupRugby #BENvAGE pic.twitter.com/Xy5hDT5Nql
— Challenge Cup (@ERChallengeCup) April 3, 2021
Agen were soon into their stride in the contest, taking the lead after just two minutes. Dylan Hayes rumbled over from close range as the French outfit dominated up front early.
After exchanged penalties from Benetton’s Garbisi and Agen’s Verdu the hosts reduced arrears with their opening try.
Scrum-half Duvenage carried an offload from Ioane all the way from midfield to the try line in a stunning attack. Garbisi added two further penalties before the break to give the Italians a 14-10 lead.
Ioane was in the thick of the action just after the break, his marauding run and finish in the corner opened the scoring in the second period.
Agen were then reduced to 14-men when Jamie-Jerry Taulagi was sent off for a high and dangerous tackle on Marco Zanon. Minutes later centre Ignacio Brex finished off a fast flowing passing move.
The final try of the afternoon saw replacement Padavoni scamper home as the extra-man advantage took its toll on the visitors as they chased the game.
The result ensures a quarter-final date with Montpellier at the GGL Stadium on April 9.
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