Match Preview: Benetton

• 28 September 2021
• Previews

​​​Get the latest ahead of Saturday afternoon's United Rugby Championship Round 2 clash with Benetton at Stadio Comunale di Monigo (2 October, kick off 1pm UK time) with this week's Match Preview.

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HOW TO WATCH

The match is live on Premier Sports 1 from 12.30pm ahead of a 1pm (UK time) kick-off in Treviso.

You can can also keep up with minute-by-minute updates via the Galbraith Match Centre.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU, 24^th competition game)

Assistant: Manuel Bottino, Filippo Russo (both FIR)

TMO: Jon Mason (WRU)

TEAM NEWS

The Edinburgh Rugby team to face Benetton in the United Rugby Championship will be named at 12 noon on Friday 1 October via the club's website and social channels.

OVERALL PRO14 RECORD

Played 19, Benetton won 8, Edinburgh won 11.

STORY OF THE MATCH

Edinburgh Rugby travel to face Benetton in the capital side's first Scottish/Italian Shield clash of the 2021/22 URC campaign.

Both sides got their season off to the perfect start with home victories, as Benetton continued their rich vein of form by defeating Stormers 22-18 at the Monigo in Round 1 of the competition.

Mike Blair's side will be buoyed by the manner of their victory over Scarlets, with the capital back line playing with freedom and a clear attacking intent, crossing the whitewash on four separate occasions to claim the BP win.

Edinburgh will also take great confidence out of their pre-season victory over Benetton, which saw the capital side rack up a half-century of points, claiming a 50-29 win at DAM Health Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT

The two sides met in the Scottish capital in the Scottish Building Pre-Season Series. Watch extended highlights of the 50-29 win below:

RECENT MEETINGS

TEAM COMPARISON

KEY STATS

Benetton Rugby have won their last seven United Rugby Championship matches, six in the Rainbow Cup last season, their best run in the tournament.

The Italians have won their last five matches in Treviso in all tournaments since Cardiff beat them there in the PRO14 in March.

Benetton have lost only one of their last five home games to Scottish opponents: 19-38 to Glasgow in the PRO14 in January 2020.

Edinburgh Rugby’s four game winless run in the United Rugby Championship ended with their 26-22 home victory over Scarlets last weekend.

Edinburgh have not been victorious away from home since a single point win at Connacht in the PRO14 in March.

Edinburgh won on their most recent trip to Italy, beating Zebre 26-10 in Parma on 23 January.

Treviso have won their last two encounters with Edinburgh, both at Stadio Monigo, in March and November 2019. Edinburgh’s most recent victory at the venue was 24-13 in October 2017.