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Something has to give as Bayonne and Benetton Treviso attempt to kickstart their Pool 1 campaign at Stade Jean-Dauger. - 08/12/2016 10:38
Something has to give as Bayonne and Benetton Treviso attempt to kickstart their Pool 1 campaign at Stade Jean-Dauger.
Bath sides have failed to earn a point from two rounds of European Rugby Challenge Cup action so far this season. Friday night’s hosts will be hoping they can avoid a repeat of their home match in round one, when they were beaten 47-27 by 2015 champions Gloucester Rugby. It did not get any better for the TOP14 strugglers a week later when they conceded another five tries in defeat to domestic rivals La Rochelle.
But their Italian opponents have not had it easy on their return to the Challenge Cup. Treviso may have conceded nine tries to Bayonne’s 11, but they prop up the pool after scoring just 18 points in their two matches. And they find themselves facing mounting injury worries ahead of their round three clash.
Italy internationals Tomasso Benvenuti and Ornel Gega both took heavy blows in the defeat to Tonga a fortnight ago, and have not recovered in time to strengthen Treviso’s European push. Influential back Jayden Hayward is yet to return from a groin problem, while Francesco Minto, Federico Zani and Alessandro Zanni will also miss this weekend’s encounter. Michael Tagicakibau, who scored a stunning try against Gloucester, will also be absent.
But there is some positive news for the PRO12 side, as Robert Barbieri, Dean Budd, Philip Filippetto, Tommaso Iannone, Jean-Francois Montauriol and Luca Morisi could all return.
Lucas Peret has scored 19 of Bayonne’s 51 points this season and he is set to continue at outside-half alongside Bastien Duhalde. Hooker Simon Labouyrie scored a brace in round one, but he misses out on selection.
After a nine year wait
After a nine year wait, Benetton Treviso finally picked up a European win on the road as they notched only their second victory of the season in Bayonne.
You had to go back to the fourth round of the European Cup in the 2007/08 season for the last time Treviso picked up an away win against the Dragons at Rodney Parade, 24-22. Since then they had lost 22 games in the European Cup and one in the Challenge Cup away from home.
The Italians’ led from the fourth minute when international outside half Tomasso Allan kicked the first of his three penalties on a night when he ended with 13 points. Bayonne levelled after 11 minutes with a penalty from Lucas Meret, but after that it was all Benetton.
They scored three tries without reply and build up a 25 point lead. David Odiete scored in the first half and then Luca Bigi, three minutes after the re-start, and then Alberto Sgarbi, six minutes later, all crossed the home line.
Allan converted Odiete’s score to make it 16-3 at the break and also improved the try from Sgarbi. Bayonne hit back with second half tries from Dion Evrard Oulai and Benjamin Thiery, the latter when Sgarbi was in the sin-bin.
But it wasn’t enough to shake Benetton’s resolve or nerve and it turned into a night of celebration for the visitors as they notched their first win in Pool 1 after suffering a 41-10 defeat at home against La Rochelle and a 37-8 loss at Gloucester.
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