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Three tries before the break, 19-7 at half-time, a dominant scrum and Monigo already counting the bonus point. Then the lights went out: nothing scored after the interval, a Dragons comeback and a 19-19 draw that felt like a defeat at the final whistle. Wayne Pivac’s URC era at Benetton starts with two points on the board and plenty to work on.
And, to be honest, we’d seen this film before.
Déjà vu: the Scarlets draw
Opening round, Welsh opponents, Treviso favourites, a game that looked under control: on 21 September 2024 it ended 20-20 against the Scarlets. This time the script was almost identical, with one twist: at the death it was a Welshman, Rio Dyer, who kicked the ball out rather than chase a winner.
The context was different, though. Two years ago Benetton were coming off a play-off campaign and fans were talking about another step up. This season started with lower expectations: a previous campaign that fell out of the play-off race early, a brand-new coaching staff that needs time, and a pre-World Cup year in which many internationals are being eased back in. Negri and Ruzza played; Lamaro and Cannone did not.
The match: 19-7 at the break, then the comeback
The first half belonged to Benetton. François Mey scored on 12 minutes, Bautista Bernasconi added a second on 25 and, after a Tinus de Beer try, Ignacio Mendy made it 19-7 on the stroke of half-time. One more try would have secured a bonus-point win.
Instead the Dragons struck straight after the restart through Fine Inisi, had a Che Hope try ruled out by the TMO for a knock-on in the build-up, and levelled on 79 minutes through Elliot Dee. De Beer’s conversion from the touchline hit the post: 19-19.
What worked and what didn’t?
The scrum, the lineout and the maul all worked, confirming what we saw in pre-season. What didn’t: an attack that is still very basic and, without offloads or a kicking game, has to win the physical collisions (it rarely did), and a flat, passive defence that let the Dragons make far too many metres.
Then there’s leadership. Once Ferrari went off, and Zuliani followed with a back knock, with no Rhyno Smith at the back, Ruzza was almost the only member of the old core left on the pitch. The ship lost its helmsman and took on water in the second half.
If this had been a friendly, I’d be heading off right now, nice and relaxed, for a beer.
But it wasn’t a friendly. There were points at stake, and the three that slipped away will count come the end of the season.
Player ratings: Ruzza a 7, Medrano a find
- Front row: the whole scrum went well, first and second units. Ferrari needs no introduction; Matias Medrano looks a real find at this level.
- Second row: Ruzza was Benetton’s best, with a solid shift from Mattia Midena too.
- Back row: Zuliani isn’t fully fit yet; Antony Miranda was perhaps the most effective once he came on. Plenty of work-rate from Giulio Marini.
- Half-backs: a textbook, unspectacular night for Uren; Umaga improved his goal-kicking and showed intent to take on the line.
- Centres: Odogwu and Mey never looked like a partnership. Odogwu tried to make ground physically; Mey scored with a smart line, then faded.
- Back three: Ratave still short of sharpness, Mendy scored but without his usual spark, Gallagher steady but by the book.
The Dragons and the value of experience
Credit to Filo Tiatia’s Dragons, who rode out the storm and leaned on their most experienced men to come back: Tinus de Beer above all, a thorn in Benetton’s side especially before the break, plus Rhodri Williams and Rio Dyer. That’s exactly what Treviso lacked: their experienced players exist, but they are Italy regulars and are still being rested. The same old short blanket.
Next up: Connacht
Pivac has been clear that this is a three-year project, and on Friday he did his homework from the foundations up: scrum and lineout. A few more attacking ideas for the league opener wouldn’t have hurt. The positives are the minutes banked by Midena, Miranda, Mey and debutant Gritti.
Connacht come to Monigo on Friday 2 October, a more structured and more awkward side. The line between enthusiasm and a crowd that starts to sit back is thin, which is why Benetton need a response straight away.
Read also
- Benetton v Dragons: URC opener and the centre conundrum
- Benetton’s summer under Pivac: who left and who arrived
- Benetton’s win over Black Lion in Georgia
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