Decisive goals for Boni and Tuivaiti. Good performance from Garbisi, Lamaro out in the first half with a sore knee
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Benetton Zebre
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After a 168-day break, Benetton and Zebre return to the field in advance of the 14th round of the Pro14, in a Monigo behind closed doors. The evening, before the aspects of the pitch take over, begins with the solitary entry of Alessandro Zanni, applauded by the few present, at the last exit with the Lions jersey. A touching moment followed by a minute of silence in memory of all the people who died as a result of the covid, and to thank all those who worked in the period of health emergency.
The match
“We will have two games waiting for us, initially they will be very fast, with several mistakes and probably several fouls. The referees themselves and the two teams will have to deal with new interpretations of the rules. So I probably expect matches with some ups and downs, we will have to adapt to everything in a better way than the opponents and we hope to bring home the result “, said on the eve of the match, Kieran Crowley, coach of Benetton, predicting exactly what it is. staged in Monigo.
A game in which, after a brilliant start on both sides, fatigue and mistakes have appeared in an overwhelming way – as expected and understandable after a 6-month stop -, already around 15 ‘of the first half, accompanying without solution of continuity the two teams for all 80 ‘. Photograph of the match? The first half of the match, marked by the Zebras at 22 ‘, on an action paradoxically born from an oversized throw in the lineout by Captain Bigi.
The chronicle
After the kick-off, an excellent defense of Benetton Rugby that forces the Zebras to an exit with the kick in touch from their 22 after a few phases without having gone beyond the line of advantage ball in hand. On the development of the lineout, Benetton organized an excellent multiphase, led by a Didi Duvenage immediately brilliant in the direction, with Meyer who spends a professional foul in the red zone and concedes a simple placement for the local 3-0 at 3 ‘.
The Zebras are struggling at the start in touch, with a couple of oversized pitches, but as soon as they fix the synchronism of the lineout, they start to carburetor with the drive – lethal weapon of the evening -, putting the green-and-whites in great difficulty on three occasions and making money a couple of penalties, which allow the Parma team to go up the field and move into the attack area. At 22 ‘, then, after a positive period, played mainly in the attacking zone, the first goal of the evening arrives. A busted throw in the lineout around Bigi’s 22: however, Carlo Canna throws himself on the ball, with an instinctive kick for himself. Duvenage anticipates him in the in-goal, but fails to control the oval, which splashes into the hands of Boni, very ready to sign the heavy marking. Canna transforms for the 7-3 at 23 ‘.
Shortly after, unfortunately, Michele Lamaro, super effective at the start tackle, was forced to leave the field, sore in his right knee.
In the final half, the Zebras, who touched the second goal with Bellini – slinging like a hawk on a high kick from Canna, after some rather confused phases, but stopped in extremis by Sarto – take the advantage on the break: kick against Nemer (Leoni extremely foul in the first half) in an orderly scrum in the red zone, with Canna hitting the posts and sending the game to the long break on 10-3 outside. Interval to which we go with the Lions in 14, for the high tackle on Bellini.
In the second half, Benetton starts strong again: after a few seconds a forced hold of Sperandio on Mori allows the Lions to go up the field and orchestrate a corrosive multiphase, stopped by Piardi, who whistles a penalty against Mbandà that does not roll away in time. Garbisi hits the posts for 6-10 at 44 ‘. On the brink, the Lions have the great chance to go forward: Garbisi’s superb cross-kick inside the 22 defensive Lions for Steyn on the wing, with the blue flanker sailing up to the opponent’s half, activating Hayward’s race with timing perfect. The extreme widens on Leonardo Sarto who seems to be able to mark the flag, but fails to materialize with the ball lost forward.
At 50 ‘, Alessandro Zanni leaves the field, receiving the tribute and the applause of those present in Monigo. However, the game also leaves the scene, with fatigue and errors, which, just like in the first half, increase exponentially. The event that decides the challenge, with the Zebras slowly regaining control of the match, arrives at 65 ‘. After an unsuccessful placement, Antonio Rizzi goes for the touche. The cart that is generated on 22 is effective and brings the ducals back to the red zone. After a series of pick’n’goes, the decisive charge is Tuivaiti, who marks the second goal – transformed by Rizzi – who effectively closes the match with 6-17.
With the time expired, after the yellow to Sisi, the goal of Riera, converted by Keatley, sets the final 13-17. Errors, fatigue and Zebras, therefore, for a game, however, which, as mentioned in today’s preview, has a value that goes far beyond the mere final result, which smiles with merit on the Zebras. 80 ′ which move little in terms of ranking, but which will allow the two staff to draw up the first budgets on the preparation, evaluating – first of all – the athletic condition of their teams. Appointment next Sunday, at Lanfranchi di Parma, for an encore in which we will almost certainly see tastier oval courses.
Benetton Rugby v Zebre Rugby scoresheet, Pro14 ’19 / ’20
Benetton Rugby: 15 Jayden Hayward; 14 Luca Sperandio, 13 Joaquin Riera, 12 Luca Morisi, 11 Leonardo Sarto; 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage; 8 Bram Steyn, 7 Michele Lamaro, 6 Alberto Sgarbi (c); 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Alessandro Zanni; 3 Filippo Alongi, 2 Tomas Baravalle, 1 Ivan Nemer
Available: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Cherif Traore, 18 Simone Ferrari, 19 Marco Lazzaroni, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Charly Trussardi, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Marco Zanon
Benetton Rugby scorers
puts: Riera (82 ′)
transformations: Keatley (83 ′)
free kicks: Garbisi (3 ′, 44 ′)
Zebre Rugby Club: 15 Michelangelo Biondelli; 14 Jamie Elliott, 13 Giulio Bisegni (c), 12 Tommaso Boni, 11 Mattia Bellini; 10 Carlo Canna, 9 Marcello Violi; 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Johann Meyer, 6 Maxime Mbandà; 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 David Sisi; 3 Eduardo Bello, 2 Luca Bigi, 1 Daniele Rimpelli
Available: 16 Massimo Ceciliani, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Giosuè Zilocchi, 19 Cristian Stoian, 20 Jimmy Tuivaiti, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Antonio Rizzi, 23 Federico Mori
Zebre Rugby Club scorers
goal: Boni (22 ′), Tuivaiti (65 ′)
transformations: Canna (22 ‘), Rizzi (65’)
free kicks: Canna (38 ′)
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