The seasonal “tail” at risk: it will not be played in South Africa Today at 7 pm Benetton tries to limit the damage in Limerick
/ TREVISO
Less than a month away from the start of the Rainbow Cup, the tournament this year queued up at the Pro 14 to extend the season (in reality the Celtic league has been shortened having eliminated the playoffs), especially considering the four South Africans, Bulls of Pretoria, Lions of Johannesburg, Sharks of Durban and Stormers of Cape Town, which replace Cheethas and Kings: so far stopped “due to Covid”, these four franchises will be registered in the Celtic championship next year, from September. But doubts are already beginning to arise about the smooth running of the Cup due to the pandemic. The hypothesis, far from far-fetched, even in the light of the many postponements (Benetton knows something about it in the first place) is that the tournament – if it starts – risks being particularly compressed, that the Europeans will not go to South Africa, while from the other hemisphere it will be allowed to come to Europe, with targeted quarantines and bubbles to avoid the spread of Covid variants. Everything will depend on the situation in Europe and especially in South Africa in a month.
In fact, the tournament should take place from April 17 (but it is also assumed that this date will postpone) to June 19, with two groups of 8 teams, and includes a total of 57 games. Probably too many at this point. The first will certainly be national derbies. In addition to South Africans, Zebre and Benetton for Italy, Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht for Ireland, Scarlets, Dragons, Ospreys and Cardiff for Wales, Edinburgh and Glasgow for Scotland participate. The two group winners will compete for the trophy in the final. All this is also in favor of the South African national team, the Springboks, who will thus see some international rugby, necessary before the series of tests scheduled against the British & Irish Lions next summer. It is hoped that Covid will save the Rainbow Cup also for the economic aspect, given that it will provide a means to make a significant part of the more than 7 million euros that the South African Federation has in vain invested to make its teams play in Pro 14.
Meanwhile, today at 19 Italian Benetton takes the field at Thomond Park to face Munster, with Leinster protagonist of the Pro 14 final, Saturday 27. In theory it would be the last day, in practice there are other races for Benetton two, in Glasgow and Edinburgh, both recoveries, if played. Coach Crowley raises the average age of the pack with five changes compared to the last performance against Cardiff: in the third line Pettinelli and Sgarbi for Favretto and Ruggeri, the first line with Alongi, Baravalle and Quaglio in place of Nemer, Els and Gallo . Irishmen even more filled with reserves, 8. This is how veteran Alberto Sgarbi sees it, who will collect presence no. 247 in green-and-white: «It will certainly be a physical match, but they also have an important tactical game, both in terms of employment on the pitch and the contest in the area. Anyway, I repeat, I think it will be an intense race, with a lot of pace. At the end of the season we will have to stay on our bases, working with humility ». –