Match Preview: Ulster Rugby vs. Benetton Rugby Treviso

[ADM]

[tag=image]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... _rugby.svg[/tag][tag=content]Who needs the Rugby World Cup when you’ve got the Guinness PRO12?

Okay, okay, maybe the Rugby World Cup does have a considerably higher appeal than our little league, but it’s still great to be heading back to the Kingspan Stadium again (albeit at the earlier time of 6:05pm) for the return of domestic action after three weeks of wandering in the barren land of the domestic desert.

Noteworthy stories to talk about? Fez’s book came out (if you haven’t already, grab a copy), the Springboks were humbled by Japan (which has gotten us all excited over the possibility of St Ruan of Pienaar returning a little earlier than first thought) and Russ spouted some more tripe about England and Wales (nothing new there).

There’s never a normal week on here, is there?

And so, on that note, we head to tomorrow night and the arrival of Benetton Treviso to Belfast, and following our lethargic display away to the Scarlets last time out, five points are a must.

We’re not on a great run in the Pro12, having won just one game in our last five runouts – our 28-6 triumph over the Ospreys in round one of this season. That said, with our home record we should have no fear whatsoever: we haven’t been beaten at the Kingspan Stadium since last October when Toulon took four points from us, while we are unbeaten at home in the league since May 2014 when we were defeated by Leinster.

In stark contrast, Treviso’s recent record is nothing short of a disaster. They’ve been beaten in their last NINE outings stretching all the way back to February when they chalked up a home win over the Cardiff Blues. It gets even worse when you consider they haven’t won outside of Italy since May 2013 when they won at the Parc y Scarlets.

Still, we can’t forget that match back in 2011 when we managed to let them leave Belfast with a remarkable 23-12 win. And we can’t leave out the 29-29 draw from March 2013 when openside flanker Dean Budd scored a hat-trick against us. We, of all teams, need no reminder that the Italians can indeed be a dangerous foe if not taken seriously.

However, under the circumstances, we should be expecting the maximum points haul regardless of what team we put out. Ireland are going well in the Rugby World Cup and once they bring home the Webb Ellis Trophy we need to give them something else to smile about when they get back – a position at the top of the table to defend.

Well, a man can dream can’t he?

The teams
Four changes for Ulster, one of which sees Andrew Trimble return to the starting line-up after injury on the wing. His return to the team means he will become Ulster’s most-capped player of all time surpassing Paddy Wallace’s previous record. The other three changes are in the forwards with Dan Tuohy, Robbie Diack and Sean Reidy all coming into the team at the expense of Franco van der Merwe, Nick Williams and Willie Faloon respectively.

Only one change for Umberto Casellato’s men from the team that lost to Edinburgh last time out with loosehead prop Matteo Zanusso replacing Alberto de Marchi. Brother Andrea de Marchi is promoted to the replacements.

Ulster Rugby vs. Benetton Rugby Treviso
Friday 2nd October, 18:05
Kingspan Stadium
Guinness PRO12 – Round 3

Live on BBC2 Northern Ireland

ULSTER RUGBY
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Andrew Trimble, 13. Luke Marshall, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Craig Gilroy, 10. Peter Nelson, 9. Paul Marshall; 1. Andrew Warwick, 2. Rob Herring (capt.), 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Peter Browne, 5. Dan Tuohy, 6. Robbie Diack, 7. Sean Reidy, 8. Roger Wilson.

Replacements: 16. Paul Jackson, 17. Andrew Warwick, 18. Bronson Ross, 19. Lewis Stevenson, 20. Clive Ross, 21. David Shanahan, 22. Sam Arnold, 23. Rory Scholes.

BENETTON RUGBY TREVISO
15. Jayden Hayward, 14. Ludovico Nitoglia, 13. Tommaso Iannone, 12. Andrea Pratichetti, 11. Simone Ragusi, 10. Sam Christie, 9. Chris Smylie; 1. Matteo Zanusso, 2. Roberto Santamaria, 3. Rupert Harden, 4. Duncan Naudé, 5. Tom Palmer, 6. Marco Barbini, 7. Dean Budd, 8. Robert Barbieri.

Replacements: 16. Luca Bigi, 17. Alberto de Marchi, 18. Simone Ferrari, 19. Jeff Montauriol, 20. Andrea de Marchi, 21. Abraham Steyn, 22. Alberto Lucchese, 23. James Ambrosini.

Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU, 6th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Brian MacNeice (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Wigglesworth (IRFU)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (IRFU)[/tag]

[fermain]

Missed the Pro12... Long live the King!

C'monnn Ulsterrrrrr