Rugby, Benetton ko col Leinster: 17-61

Leinster does not forgive, going 17-61 at Benetton in the thirteenth round of the United Rugby Championship. Even nine goals scored by the guests, of which eight transformed. The match is decided already in the first part of the game, closed by the Irish at 28-3. The lions try the reaction, but every slightest mistake is punished by the guests with further markings that round the score. Many absences on both sides, with a large part of the athletes still involved in the retreats of their respective national teams for the 6 Nations. MVP of the match Ross Byrne, author of a goal and seven successful transformations out of the eight attempts.

First half

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Five minutes were enough for Leinster to open the game, making the most of persistent pressure in Benetton’s half. From a feint of maul in touche the oval reaches Deegan deployed offshore which marks the first goal of the day, transformed by Byrne. The reaction of the lions comes immediately with a percussion of Drago who gains twenty meters ball in hand; the guests commit two consecutive fouls giving Smith the chance to place the 3-7. But it is a flash in the pan, because on 23 ‘and 28’ the guests score two more goals that channel the game in their favor, both from a touch situation. It is Cronin who closes the maul from 5 for the second goal of Leinster, while a few minutes later the men of Leo Cullen replicate the action of the first try, on this occasion scored by Larmour. A few minutes before half-time, despite Benetton’s attempts, Drago’s first and only wrong tackle opens a prairie again for Larmour; from the multiphase derived from the Irish winger’s percussion the ball reaches Byrne, who sets the score of the first half at 3-28 by transforming his own marking.

Second half

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The hosts try to reopen the match immediately, but a great tackle by Tommy O’Brien on Smith saves an almost completed try, extinguishing the initial ambitions of the green-and-whites. At the first real reversal of the field, the guests still find the ‘endzone’, also on this occasion as a maul led by the hooker Cronin. Despite the difficulties, Treviso does not stand by and temporarily softens the passive with a trick from Piantella. The guests forget about the guard at the side of the meeting point, with the young second line slipping into space and flying under the goalposts. However, after less than three minutes, Leinster still found the seven points, the result of yet another touchdown at 5: this time it is the substitute Tracy to mark. With the passing of the minutes the game decreases in intensity, but the guests continue to punish every slightest mistake by the green-and-white defense: Jimmy O’Brien and Tracy rage with two other tries. It was Cannone in the 76th minute who made the passive less heavy with a good personal action, before O’Brien’s half-time goal ends the contest 17-61.

Calendar and standings

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If the thirteenth round of URC against Leinster did not give Benetton satisfactions, the return to the field on 25 March will be just as complicated. The lions will face Munster in Musgrave Park at 20.35 to try to get back in the running for the playoffs. The ranking sees Treviso in eleventh place with 23 points, the result of four wins, one draw and seven defeats.