Benneton to face the Osprey's

After two away matches, Benetton Rugby returns to its den. The Lions return to the friendly pitch of the Monigo Stadium in Treviso and tomorrow evening, Saturday 2 December at 8.35 pm , they host the Welsh Ospreys for Round 7 of the URC 2023/2024.

This is the last match of the first block of championship matches, before focusing on the Challenge Cup. After six rounds, the green and whites have accumulated 18 points, thanks to four victories, one draw and only one defeat. The Lions, energized by the blitz in Edinburgh last Friday, are in the mix of fourth in the table, tied with Ulster, Edinburgh, Connacht and Munster. The Ospreys arrive at the Treviso facility. The Welsh are ninth in the table, just outside the playoff zone with 15 points. The path of the Swansea men is equal, so far protagonists of three victories and three missteps. In the last round the Ospreys won the Welsh derby 31-9 at home against the Scarlets.

PREVIOUS :

In the 20 previous matches between the two teams, the Welsh have won on 16 occasions. Four victories for the Lions.

THE ARBITRATION DIRECTORATE :

Tomorrow the Irishman Chris Busby will referee and will be assisted by the two Italian assistants Filippo Russo and Giona Righetti. At TMO the Irish Joy Neville.

THE TRAINING OF LIONS :

Tomorrow will be the fourth round of the championship within friendly walls and coach Marco Bortolami has decided to propose a XV with few changes compared to the match in Edinburgh. Having said that Eli Snyman will be missing due to suspension, the fullback is still Rhyno Smith . On the sides of the widened triangle Paolo Odogwu is confirmed as right winger , while Edoardo Padovani returns on the left . Central zip unchanged with the couple erected by Marco Zanon and Malakai Fekitoa . Also in midfield there is confidence in scrumhalf Andy Uren and Jacob Umaga as an opener.

In the green and white pack on the front line the props do not change: Thomas Gallo on the left, Giosué Zilocchi on the right; space for Bautista Bernasconi as hooker in the 1st minute . Edoardo Iachizzi is still on the second line , this time with Federico Ruzza . The two flankers do not change: together with Alessandro Izekor there is captain Michele Lamaro . The pack closes with number 8 Toa Halafihi . Of note is the return of Manuel Zuliani to the bench who could collect his 50th cap in green and white.

Benetton Rugby :

15 Rhyno Smith (38)
14 Paul Odogwu (3)
13 Malakai Fekitoa (4)
12 Marco Zanon (71)
11 Edoardo Padovani (41)
10 Jacob Umaga (22)
9 Andy Uren (5)
8 Toa Halafihi (61)
7 Michele Lamaro (C) (57)
6 Alexander Izekor (19)
5 Federico Ruzza (106)
4 Edoardo Iachizzi (4)
3 Giosué Zilocchi (5)
2 Bautista Bernasconi (9)
1 Thomas Gallo (44)

Available: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi (36), 17 Mirco Spagnolo (5), 18 Tiziano Pasquali (122), 19 Riccardo Favretto (29), 20 Manuel Zuliani (49), 21 Lorenzo Cannone (30), 22 Dewaldt Duvenage (93 ), 23 Giacomo Da Re (12).

()= presences in green and white.

Head Coach : Marco Bortolami.

Unavailable : Tomas Albornoz, Simone Ferrari, Alessandro Garbisi, Siua Maile, Tommaso Menoncello, Sebastian Negri, Onisi Ratave, Joaquin Riera, Scott Scrafton, Eli Snyman, Nahuel Tetaz. 

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Assistants: Filippo Russo (ITA), Giona Righetti (ITA)

TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)