Rugby, Benetton yields to Toulon and is eliminated from the Challenge Cup: it ends 36-17

The Lions succeed in an incredible comeback with the goals of Menoncello and Ioane, then on 17-17 the French accelerate and qualify for the quarterfinals

TOULON (FRANCE). An exceptional comeback, after a nightmare time in lock and touche. But there, drunk with momentum and enthusiasm, for the two goals that add Toulon, Benetton loses the penalty, just when the fans who crowd the Mayol begin to tremble, due to the inertia all in favor of Treviso. First a break from Menoncello, with one less man; then an intercept ride by Ioane, 60 meters long, which also escapes the pursuit of the Olympic champion Wainigolo. From 17-3 to 17-17 in the blink of an eye, unbelievable. From fairytale, to scream, because Toulon no longer knows how to make sense of it, the arrembante defense of Treviso suffers.

But there, what you don’t expect happens. From the postponement a man left alone and kept avoidable, then another free veil in attack. Two life jackets thrown at an incredulous Toulon, who remembers the pack that crushed the biancoceleste one in the first half, and gives the French the squares of the resurrection, at the worst moment. Carbonel does not let himself be begged, he places a 4/4 that crushes the last hopes of Treviso, and Toulon scores an unjust goal, which magnifies the merits and the scoreboard. The last part of Toulon is exaggerated, a 19-0 as liar as it is merciless with more than one point per minute. Crazy, Treviso greets the Challenge when it had picked it up again, at its best. The impact of the match on the bench was exceptional as it was already seven days ago, to change the face and soul of the team, submerged in the first half by closed kicks, and not only.

The revitalized Lions make us forget, by erasing them badly, the first 40 of the ordeal, with the first line crashed each time by the first five of Toulon, up to the yellow (albeit late) in Chaparro, put under by the opposite Gigashvili. And if you find yourself losing 4 touches in a row, after having stolen 2 at the start (ah, what an illusion), everything else – the individual flashes, the courageous challenge, the sacrifice in defense, the desire to invent, even two good ones. counterattacks – they can be of little use. Paradoxically, Treviso held out in the open, despite giving in on two flashes of Carbonel and Ollivon.

But there were also spaces for various curses, for example on Brek who was left without support 5 meters from the goal, harnessed by the opponent, on a held that ruined a splendid diagonal counterattack, and that of a maul 5 meters very dirty from the hosts (what a sight to see Parisse fight at 38 and a half). Only a perfect XV can keep the French on those displacements. When they find themselves in 14, on 38 ‘, Benetton also risks -17, but Carbonel misses the only kick of the evening. But what can you do without conquest? Very good Halafihi and Lamaro, Menoncello and Brex, in the dripping of kicks.

At half-time, Bortolami finds the magic potion on the bench. First a counterattack by Ioane then a goal by Albornoz, canceled by Smith’s foolish offensive veil, who then wastes two counterattacks (it was as effective as it was brilliant …). It’s up to Nemer to snatch the held that turns the field and the scoreboard, first Menoncello scores then Ioane’s exhilarating bucking. 17-17, Sin, Leoni, but who hasn’t dreamed, at that juncture? Go out with your head held high, congratulated by Parisse too.