Benetton Treviso team announcement

Posted on Apr 20, 2012 in RaboDirect Pro 12, Treviso

Round 21 of RaboDirect PRO12 is the last home game for Benetton Treviso. The game against the Glasgow Warriors will be played on Sunday 22nd April at 15:00 at the Stadio Monigo.

Antonio Pavanello and his teammates want to greet their supporters with a brilliant performance, hoping for their fourth home victory – the eighth victory of the season.

The aim is also that of maintaining eighth position in the league table, trying to avoid Connacht overtaking.

In the three previous matches against the Glasgow team, Treviso have won twice.

Firstly last season at the Stadio Monigo (19-16), secondly this season at the Firhill in Glasgow, where Benetton won 13-15, gaining their first victory abroad.

However, taking into account the points scored overall, there is a narrow gap between the 51 in favour and 46 against.

The situation in the league table is different too – even if the two teams’ goals are more or less the same: the Warriors, indeed, have to win if they want to go on to the play-offs.

Glasgow are fourth with 57 points, 22 more than Treviso, who only have 35; the Scottish team, however, have to pay attention to both Ulster (56 points) and Scarlets (55 points).

In Round 20, Benetton gained their first 2012 victory in Wales against the Newport Gwent Dragons, after an exciting match ended 32-33. Glasgow, instead, lost 35-29 against Munster.

Referee for the match will be Mr. Leighton Hodges from the Welsh Rugby Union and the match will be broadcast live on Radio VenetoUno (FM 97.5) with live commentary by Emanuele Spironello; it will also be broadcast recorded at 19:00 on Rai Sport 2 (channel 58 of the DTT) with commentary by Riccardo Pescante and Andrea Gritti.

This is the starting line-up chosen by coach Franco Smith:

15 Luke McLean

14 Tommaso Iannone

13 Tommaso Benvenuti

12 Alberto Sgarbi

11 Brendan Williams

10 Kristopher Burton

9 Edoardo Gori

8 Robert Barbieri

7 Alessandro Zanni

6 Manoa Vosawai

5 Corniel Van Zyl

4 Antonio Pavanello (captain)

3 Lorenzo Cittadini

2 Franco Sbaraglini

1 Michele Rizzo

On the bench:

16 Enrico Ceccato

17 Matteo Muccignat

18 Ignacio Fernandez-Rouyet

19 Valerio Bernabò

20 Francesco Minto

21 Simon Picone

22 Fabio Semenzato

23 Alberto Di Bernardo

Head Coach: Franco Smith.

MATCH: BENETTON TREVISO vs GLASGOW WARRIORS
VENUE: STADIO MONIGO (TREVISO)
DATE: 22nd April 2012
K.O.: 15:05 (3:05 pm)

 

There will also be many side events on Sunday:

MINIRUGBY: The teams invited for the tunnel and the half-time match are Benetton Treviso and Valsugana Rugby Junior’s Under 6, Benetton Treviso and Montebelluna Rugby’s Under 10 and 12.

STOP OF TRAFFIC: Treviso city administration allow supporters coming to the stadium to reach the venue by car. You simply have to download the authorization form from the website of the Comune di Treviso and take it along with you on Sunday if you are coming by car.

RUGBY AND OLYMPICS: The Italian wheelchair rugby team will be present on Sunday. After the International Tournament played in Cologne, wich signs also their debut at European level, the Italian team is hoping to be able to participate in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Before the beginning of the match, Benetton Treviso’s captain Antonio Pavanello and Italy’s captain Alvise de Vidi are to swap jerseys.

RUGBY AND SOLIDARITY: An info point of LILT, the Italian League against Cancers, will be present at the stadium. There you can buy tickets for the benefit game to be played on Saturday 19th May at 15:00 at the Stadio Tenni in Treviso between the teams Associazione XI di Marca and the Nazionale Calcio TV.

The revenue will help to buy a mobile clinic on a van, where medical examinations for the early diagnosis of breast, skin and ENT area cancers will be carried out.

Glasgow team for “must-win” Treviso tussle

Posted on Apr 20, 2012 in Glasgow, Scottish Rugby, smb

Play-off chasing Glasgow Warriors have today named their team for Sunday’s must-win RaboDirect PRO12 game away to Benetton Treviso (kick-off 3.05pm local time (2.05pm UK time) live on BBC ALBA).

Centre Graeme Morrison and back-row forward John Barclay are both set to re-join the fray, returning from the respective knee and head knocks they sustained in the win over Cardiff Blues three weeks ago.

Last year’s top try scorer DTH van der Merwe, meanwhile, is in line for his first Warriors action of the season.

The Canada wing/centre hasn’t played since the Rugby World Cup because of a shoulder injury, but has progressed well under the care of the Warriors medical team and will be among the substitutes at the Stadio di Monigo.

The Glasgow starting XV shows five changes from last Saturday’s 35-29 defeat away to Munster. Morrison comes in at inside centre, with hat-trick hero Stuart Hogg moving to the familiar surroundings of full-back.

The other switches in the backline see Tommy Seymour replace Federico Aramburu on the wing, and Duncan Weir resume stand-off duties. The 20-year-old scored all of the Warriors’ points and was named RaboDirect Man of the Match in the last venture to Italy, an 18-6 win over Aironi back in November.

Up front, Ryan Grant, one of the club’s most consistent performers, lines up at loose-head prop. Jon Welsh, who wore the number 1 jersey in Cork, hurt a shoulder in training this week and is thus unavailable for the Treviso clash. Loose-head bench cover will be provided by Gordon Reid.

The other change to the pack comes at No.8, where Barclay gets the nod over Johnnie Beattie, having performed well in the middle of the back row in the pre-RBS 6 Nations period.

Head coach Sean Lineen commented: “It’s absolutely fantastic to have three guys like Graeme, John and DTH coming back into the 23 for what is the biggest game of our season so far.

“They’re hugely influential both on and off the field, and for DTH in particular, this is a reward for a lot of hard work put in alongside the Warriors medical team.

“DTH is a quality player who can bring that little bit of inspiration to a game. It’s great he’s made it back to play his part in what we’re all determined will be a successful finish to the season.

“In terms of the other changes, Tommy Seymour showed up really well off the bench against Munster and is chomping at the bit to start.

“Federico has been in great form, but he’ll benefit from a break, while at stand-off we’re in the really positive position of being able to pick from two strong options in Duncan and Ruaridh [Jackson].

“We always planned to start Ryan Grant in this game because of the level of performance he’s delivered across the campaign, and although it’s disappointing for Welshy to miss out, we’ve got a very capable replacement there in the shape of Gordon Reid.

“Once again, we’re looking for a high-energy, accurate display from all 23 players. We’re putting our season on the line in this match, and the players are certainly in the mood to deliver.”

The Warriors are assured of some vocal support in the Stadio di Monigo, with a 35-strong group from Greenock Wanderers heading to Italy.

The Fort Matilda crew are playing local side Paese RFC (based only 5km away from Treviso) on Saturday evening, before heading to the Glasgow match on the Sunday.

The Warriors have provided the group with an allocation of complimentary tickets as a thank you for their support.

Fans unable to make the trip are invited to a special screening of BBC ALBA’s live coverage at Waxy O’Connor’s, 44 George Street, Glasgow.

Warriors players will be in attendance to take in the action with supporters, with the match being shown in the Guinness and Church areas on the basement level of the city centre bar

GLASGOW WARRIORS TEAM TO PLAY BENETTON TREVISO IN THE RABODIRECT PRO12 AT STADIO DI MONIGO ON SUNDAY 22 APRIL (KICK-OFF 3.05PM LOCAL TIME (2.05PM UK TIME), LIVE ON BBC ALBA)

15 Stuart Hogg

14 Tommy Seymour
13 Alex Dunbar
12 Graeme Morrison
11 Colin Shaw

10 Duncan Weir
9 Chris Cusiter

1 Ryan Grant
2 Pat MacArthur
3 Mike Cusack
4 Richie Gray
5 Al Kellock (CAPTAIN)
6 Rob Harley
7 Chris Fusaro
8 John Barclay

SUBSTITUTES

16 Finlay Gillies
17 Gordon Reid
18 Moray Low
19 Tom Ryder
20 Johnnie Beattie
21 Henry Pyrgos
22 Ruaridh Jackson
23 DTH van der Merwe

Not considered for selection due to injury: Rob Dewey (shoulder), Rory Lamont (leg), David Lemi (hand), Fergus Thomson (shoulder), Ryan Wilson (knee), Jon Welsh (shoulder).

Glasgow braced for Treviso test

Posted on Apr 19, 2012 in Glasgow, Scottish Rugby

Glasgow Warriors travel to Italy on Sunday for a must-win RaboDirect PRO12 game against Benetton Treviso (kick-off 3.05pm local time (2.05pm UK time), live on BBC ALBA).

The clash in the Stadio di Monigo is the Warriors’ penultimate regular season fixture and will see them seek to consolidate their position in the play-off zone of the competition table ahead of a home date with Connacht on Saturday 5 May.

Having secured a bonus point in defeat away to Munster last Saturday, Sean Lineen’s team currently occupy fourth spot in the RaboDirect PRO12, but know that Ulster and Scarlets are right on their tails as the battle for semi-final spots reaches a climax.

Glasgow have lost only two of their last 16 games in the tournament, and emerged victorious from their last venture to Italian soil, an 18-6 victory against Aironi last November.

However, they make the trip fully aware of the threat posed by Treviso, who were the last team to beat them at Firhill in the RaboDirect PRO12. The men from the Veneto claimed a 15-13 win there last September, and recorded a thrilling 33-32 success away to Dragons last week.

The Warriors team for Sunday’s game will be confirmed tomorrow, with Lineen buoyed by the news that centre Graeme Morrison (pictured) and back-rower John Barclay are back in the selection mix having shown good progress in their recoveries from the respective knee and head knocks they sustained against Cardiff Blues on 30 March.

Scrum-half Chris Cusiter, meanwhile, will be subject to further assessment on the blow to the head he suffered in the Munster game.

Coach Lineen commented: “For a while now, the next game has been our biggest of the season, and that’s certainly the case again this weekend.

“We know we have to win this match if we’re going to make the play-offs, and there’s absolute clarity and focus among the players about what we need to achieve and how we’re going to do it.

“Treviso is right up there with the toughest places you can go in the RaboDirect PRO12. They’re a passionate team with supporters to match, and some of the results they’ve recorded this season speak for themselves.

“The wins we’ve managed on the road this season at places like Leinster, Cardiff, Ospreys and Aironi have been brought about by 23 players performing right at the top of their game. That’s the recipe again this weekend, and we’re certainly going to have to be much better collectively than was the case in Munster.

“We didn’t get into that game anywhere near quickly enough, and we paid for it in the tries and penalties we conceded. The second half performance was much more like the real Glasgow Warriors, but we still need to see an improvement in terms of discipline and composure.

“We’ve seen a good number of times this season that the players know what it takes to deliver when the pressure is on, and we’ve every confidence they will back up all that good work with another winning performance come Sunday.

“It’s good to have Graeme and John back available for selection. They’re two massively experienced players who know all about the dynamics of the big occasion, and that sort of insight is invaluable in the context of the relatively young side we’ve got.”

The Warriors are assured of some vocal support in the Stadio di Monigo, with a 35-strong group from Greenock Wanderers heading to Italy.

The Fort Matilda crew are playing local side Paese RFC (based only 5km away from Treviso) on Saturday evening, before heading to the Glasgow match on the Sunday.

The Warriors have provided the group with an allocation of complimentary tickets as a thank you for their support.

Fans unable to make the trip are invited to a special screening of BBC ALBA’s live coverage at Waxy O’Connor’s, 44 George Street, Glasgow.

Warriors players will be in attendance to take in the action with supporters, with the match being shown in the Guinness and Church areas on the basement level of the city centre bar.

Dragons side to face Treviso

Posted on Apr 12, 2012 in Newport Gwent Dragon, Welsh Rugby

Luke Charteris will make his 100th RaboDirect PRO12 appearance when he captains Newport Gwent Dragons in their penultimate home match of the season against Benetton Treviso on Friday (7:30pm).

In the backline, Andy Tuilagi misses out with a dead leg and is replaced by Adam Hughes at outside centre. Joe Bedford also gets a start at scum half ahead of Wayne Evans.

Jevon Groves is rested after his exploits for Cross Keys in their British & Irish Cup semi final win last weekend and is replaced by Lewis Evans at openside flanker.

The other changes come in the front row where Sam Parry makes his first senior start at Rodney Parade and Nathan Williams replaces Phil Price.

17 year old Hallam Amos is named among the replacements and could make his first senior Rodney Parade and RaboDirect PRO12 appearance if he comes off the bench. Hallam is rewarded for some impressive performances whilst away with the Wales Under-18s side who finished 4th in the FIRA European Championships last week. Scott Morgan is also on the bench having overcome a pectoral injury suffered against Exeter in December.

Newport Gwent Dragons Team
15 Will Harries
14 Tonderai Chavhanga
13 Adam Hughes
12 Ashley Smith
11 Aled Brew
10 Lewis Robling
9 Joe Bedford
1 Nathan Williams
2 Sam Parry
3 Nathan Buck
4 Luke Charteris (c)
5 Rob Sidoli
6 Danny Lydiate
7 Lewis Evans
8 Toby Faletau

Replacements
16 Steve Jones
17 Phil Price
18 Dan Way
19 Scott Morgan
20 Tom Brown
21 Wayne Evans
22 Jason Tovey
23 Hallam Amos

Treviso team to play Dragons

Posted on Apr 12, 2012 in Newport Gwent Dragon, RaboDirect Pro 12, Treviso, Welsh Rugby

Benetton Rugby have flown this morning to Bergamo, from where they will reach Bristol to play against Newport Gwent Dragons in Round 20 of RaboDirect PRO12.

The match will be played at Rodney Parade, homeground for the Welsh Dragons, at 19:30 GMT,  20:30 Italian time.

The match will be broadcast live on Radio VenetoUno (FM 97.5) and recorded at 23:30 (Italian time) on RaiSport 2, channel 58 of the DTT.

The game for the eighth place in the league sees the two teams just three points apart.  The Referee for the match will be Mr James Matthews (SRU).

Treviso have won two out of three matches against the Dragons so far. But they have to recover from the previous match in Swansea where they lost 41-10 against the Ospreys.

The Dragons have the same goal, as they lost 19-27 against Connacht in their latest home match.

Franco Smith returns again to Newport, where he first played when he arrived in Europe after having played in South Africa and before ending his playing career in Italy.

The former Springbok has decided to line up with a well known team, with Franco Sbaraglini replacing Enrico Ceccato as hooker.

In the back row, Marco Filippucci is starting, as is Robert Barbieri who comes back as No. 8.

As for the backs, Kris Burton is the fly-half and Luke McLean as fullback.

Brendan Williams will gain his 217th cap, overtaking Enrico Pavanello in the top 10 of the most present players of all-time, and approaching Stefano Rigo and Moreno Trevisiol.

Starting line-up:

15 Luke McLean
14 Ludovico Nitoglia
13 Tommaso Iannone
12 Alberto Sgarbi
11 Brendan Williams
10 Kristopher Burton
9 Edoardo Gori
8 Robert Barbieri
7 Alessandro Zanni
6 Marco Filippucci
5 Corniel Van Zyl
4 Antonio Pavanello (captain)
3 Lorenzo Cittadini
2 Franco Sbaraglini
1 Michele Rizzo

On the bench:

16 Diego Vidal
17 Matteo Muccignat
18 Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet
19 Valerio Bernabò
20 Francesco Minto
21 Simon Picone
22 Fabio Semenzato
23 Alberto Di Bernardo

Head Coach: Franco Smith.