Zebre-Benetton (24-31) – Scattered Considerations

Menoncello’s return marks the difference in a very high level challenge for Italian rugby.

For many years, the Italian rugby calendar has featured a double challenge between Zebre and Benetton between Christmas and New Year. A tradition where the community gathers at Lanfranchi, in Monigo or in front of the TVs installed in club houses throughout Italy. If desired, it can represent an escape from family dictates and the rush for the last gift. Unfortunately not a lot of rugby played well: moments from the two teams, quality of the squads, nervous attitudes. Zebre-Benetton in the past has also been a poster child for the worst of elite Italian rugby, therefore for the national team which for good stretches is spread between the two teams. Today the air is decidedly different: Benetton is in great form, in the URC they are among the teams at the top of the table; After a year of reintegration, the Zebre are working to consolidate, reinforcing the good of last season. In short, the right ingredients for a more enjoyable game. Let’s also add the eyes of Gonzalo Quesada: the Argentine, new coach of the men’s national team, is looking at the two franchises to understand who he can focus on in the near future. There are many players on his notebook for Italy who will come to the next Six Nations, including emerging players, returnees and chances of eligibility. How did it go? Only for the finals did Treviso win, beating Lanfranchi 24-31. But it’s not just the scoreboard: there’s also lots of little news about the two teams and some individuals, with a focus on the national team.

The Zebras They have two weapons at their disposal: the maul and the desire to fuel the game with the attacking midfielders from all positions and in all game situations. There is a big problem: they didn’t know how to use them when the moment of the match required it. In the second half, around the 50th minute, he had three throws from touch close to the opponent’s goal. No points collected, at this level errors are paid by chance. Having played those situations with a numerical inferiority (yellow for Garcia for a contact on Ruzza’s head) had an impact but it cannot be an alibi. The strong team in difficulty knows how to anchor itself to its strengths and regain control of the game. Luckily Roselli knows this and is working precisely on this gap that his players lack.

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Treviso confirmed that he has the strength to be where he is today, that is, at the top of the United Rugby Championship. He didn’t play a great game, especially in the second half where he slowed down the pace and committed a few too many fouls, but he scored when he had to. They went 10-0 behind after a few minutes and didn’t lose heart, in the second half when they were in the red zone they took home the points. With two decisive details. The first: when the Zebre were there to mark the Benetton defense they got excited by twice forcing the defense a few meters from the goal. In both cases with the hands of Michele Lamaro. The second one: the return of Tommaso Menoncello. Last August 8th, Italian rugby made a cry of pain for his shoulder injury: one of the brightest talents of our rugby who misses the train to the Rugby World Cup at the last minute. A train that he deserved for the performances he offered in the last year and a half. His return as a starter today coincided with a goal, it couldn’t have been better than that.

A look at the roses. Italian rugby, at least club rugby, has shown its best things when alongside a core group of Italian players there were foreigners of great technical depth. We have experienced years of controversy in this sense: impalpable if not useless purchases, too many players taken from outside, search at all costs for eligible players who were not worth that much. The music is different here too: this applies above all to Treviso who once again showed off the class of Rhyno Smith. The action on Benetton’s third try is worthy of Monigo’s legend, Dingo Williams, but there are many positive notes. The Uren-Umaga pair led the match well, Gallo as a substitute danced in the free spaces of the opposing defence. Add to all this Fekitoa, who is there and is also needed when he plays without ringing like today. The Zebre have nothing to complain about: Prisciantelli, now captain, was called to an important match as an opener and did not fail and Volpi was one of the best.

Finally the song of the Italians: the depth of the national team is one of the central themes, it has been said many times that in the first 15 there was the right quality to compete but a team of Tier 1 he must have a lot of them because injuries are a constant in rugby. Today several players confirmed that they have the right depth to win the blue shirt: Izekor, Manfredi, Zambonin, Ferrari, Spagnolo. And then Lorenzo Pani who opened the ball by finalizing a great action by the Zebre. In the second half we saw Marin again who is now behind in the Treviso hierarchy but has everything to become a protagonist again. Bianchi, scorer of a goal, and Alessandro Garbisi entered with the right attitude. Lots of young names for tomorrow’s Six Nations

2023-12-23 17:21:05
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