Tigers v Benetton Treviso Match Preview
By ChrisC
December 3 2012
Bella Ciao! Executive Assistants made my life easier when I ran businesses and were worth their weight in gold and under no circumstances were they to be confused with secretaries or mere Personal Assistants, to do so invited a very chill wind to blow down your particular corridor of power.
An Executive Assistant I worked with, and by far the best and most efficient, had the added benefit of being exceptionally attractive and an unwary male, seeing fit to make an unwelcome advance or try to kindle a friendship, would find themselves having their skin verbally stripped from their back. She was known for her put downs while all the time maintaining a most beautiful smile and a sweet voice. It was fascinating to watch, rather like a Cobra and a Mongoose.
An Italian supplier sent one of their young managers to visit us, the better to understand our requirements. He rather thought himself the ultimate “Italian Stallion” and back home his conquests were seemingly the stuff of legend, so he arrived in deepest, darkest Wolverhampton with great expectations. When he set eyes on my assistant his breath caught as he asked if she was spoken for by me. I confirmed that she was most certainly not and although I cautioned him against making advances he somewhat airily waved his hand at me, shrugged and, throwing his jacket loosely over his shoulders, drew himself up to his full 5’7” prior to making his approach with a cheery “Bella Ciao”.
She smiled sweetly as she listened to his opening sally and politely rebuffed him. He may have got away with it had he not forcefully, too forcefully, pressed his case. Exasperated, her blue eyes hardened, which was a real sign of impending doom, so in the knowledge of what was coming and not having a strong stomach, I withdrew to the safety of my office. When I saw him a little later his face had crumpled, his shoulders sagged and for one terrible moment it looked as if he was going to cry.
Sadly for him he’d taken her rebuff badly and became rude and aggressive. She told me and I promised to deal with it, she said “no need, it’s all fixed thanks”. She had a good relationship with her Italian counterpart and she’d already made a call to her. The manager’s trip was unexpectedly cut short due to “urgent business” back home and by the time I visited the Italian factory a month later the “Italian Stallion’s” career was just so much horsemeat somewhere in the heel of Italy.
Not wise to cross swords with the “sisterhood”!
He’d not done his homework, wouldn’t listen to advice, didn’t understand what he was getting himself into and paid the price.
I don’t think Tiger’s visitors this weekend will have failed to do their homework and will be wary of what awaits them at Welford Road.
Treviso are currently eighth in the RoboCop league with nineteen points and just two points behind Edinburgh, against whom they registered their only win on the road when they won 22-27 back at the beginning of October. I don’t think there’s much doubt that the Italian teams have benefited from playing more often outside of Italy although away victories remain scarce whereas at Welford Road Tigers manage to get the wins.
It will be interesting to see who of the returning England contingent Richard Cockerill decides to include in Tigers’ starting line up.
My guess is that we’ll see them mostly on the bench to provide insurance should things seem to be going awry and that the forwards will look little different than against Bath, other than if Steve Mafi is fit. This would, in my estimation, make sense. It would provide the England players with a bit of a rest ready to be deployed in Italy the following weekend when a five point away win is vital for Tigers’ European ambitions.
Treviso will, I think, start Alberto de Marche on the loose head side. de Marche came on from the bench against both Tonga and the All Blacks in the Autumn Internationals and I expect to see him opposite his international colleague Martin Castrogiovanni in an all Italian battle.
Most likely joining de Marche at hooker will be the fearsome Leonardo Ghilardini who, in spite of being just twenty-seven, has been putting himself about on the international stage since his country’s tour to the southern hemisphere in June 2006. Completing the visitors’ front row I reckon Lorenzo Cittadini will be preferred to both South African Roux and Rouyet with the latter most likely to be on the bench.
This would be an experienced all Italian international combination and, if my guess that George Chuter will start alongside Marcos Ayerza, who’s enjoying his return from semi-retirement, is correct it’ll be a tough vein bursting encounter but one which I think Tigers, at Welford Road, will edge.
With Geoff Parling reportedly having been repeatedly played by England while injured it could well be that he’ll be excluded from Sunday’s match day squad, in which case I expect to see Louis Deacon once again on duty accompanied by Graham Kitchener although I’d quite like to see Ed Slater get a start. If Steve Mafi is still suffering from a somewhat mysterious injury then I’d favour Slater at blind side and with Brett Deacon facing a potential ban for lamping the witless Banahan, who seemed to have cast himself as a bit of an “enforcer” for Bath last Saturday, Cockerill may have little choice, unless he reverts to Jordan Crane at #8 and Waldrom wears the #6 shirt.
Although Valerio Bernabo seems to have dropped off the international radar I expect to see him start on Sunday.
Architectural graduate Antonio Pavanello is a second string player for his national side but often first out of the box for his club and able to play in the back row when required, so I expect to see this tough, veteran operator giving Tigers plenty to think about in the line out and loose play when he’ll be putting himself about at the breakdown. He’s a feisty individual and one of three Treviso players to collect yellow cards when Ospreys were the hosts in the opening round of this year’s competition.
The breakdown as ever will be key and it’s an area where the Italian side are well provided for as Simone Favaro, who’s a regular in the Italy squad and the son of the Italian international lock Roberto Favoro, so it’s in the genes, will likely be with Alessandro Zanni who I think also likely to start. Zanni able to play across the back row. The Treviso wing forwards look likely to give the Tigers’ a real work out.
My guess is that these Italian internationals will be joined by Fijian Vosawai Ratu Manoa Seru who made his first appearance for his adopted country against Australia in the Autumn Internationals.
He’s another really tough customer, runs the ball up like a bulldozer and he’ll certainly be targeting Tigers’ fly-half.
Behind the pack against Bath Micky Young finally got his chance, due to the absence of Sam Harrison whos mum sent in a sick note. The ex Falcon and England Saxon grabbed his chance with both hands and didn’t give an inch to the experienced Claasens and I can’t, other than if Ben Youngs starts, see any logical reason why he shouldn’t keep the shirt for this Sunday’s encounter.
I, amongst others, have been calling for George Ford to get a chance and I have to confess to being a bit disappointed by his performances. His kicking from the tee has become erratic, his kicking from hand likewise. Of course he does some good things with ball in hand and with his boot but just not enough of them for my liking. With Toby Flood still presumably recovering from being broken by England young Ford should consider himself fortunate to still have the starting berth in the #10 shirt this weekend.
South African born Tobie Botes starts at scrum half for Treviso but I expect to see Italy’s World Cup #9; Fabio Semenzato taking centre stage on Sunday with perhaps Botes on the bench, even though he’s usurped the Italian in the current Italy squad. Both are very quick around the park and can equally be seen out wide so if the Treviso pack get any sort of go forward at the breakdown Young and Ford would have their hands full, especially as Italy’s first choice Alberto Sgarbi is likely to be at inside centre and asking plenty of questions in the 10/12 channel, aided and abetted by his breakaway forward colleagues.
Former regular Treviso fly-half, Australian born Kris Burton, took a knock when his team played hosts to Glasgow back at the end of October and hasn’t been seen since, so Argentinian Alberto Di Bernardo, who joined from Bourgoin at the beginning of last season, having previously spent time with Leeds both in the Premiership and Championship where he was also a regular starter who’s quick and clever, looks likely to continue. At 31 Di Bernardo is a very experienced player and so Ford will need to play better than hitherto.
It looks as if Tony Allen could be out of action as a consequence of the aforementioned Banahan knocking him out cold last Saturday, so I expect to see Dan Bowden get another chance to impress. I thought he looked more physical when he replaced Allen against Bath but Tony Allen’s defensive prowess will be missed for all that. I hope his knock doesn’t keep him out for too long especially as he was in good form until his display against Bath was brought to an abrupt and untimely end.
Star of England’s win over the All Blacks; Manu Tuilagi, will be available I assume but whether he’ll be used is another matter entirely. Cockerill does, when possible, have a habit of easing internationals back into the Tigers camp following the excitement of international duty and with Matt Smith playing well and Goneva presumably having had a nice long nap there are options, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tuilagi on the bench and held in reserve if possible, while being freshened up for the trip to Italy the following week.
Christian Loamanu, a Tongan who played for Japan in the 2007 World Cup (I know, I know!) plays in all sorts of back positions including outside centre and joined Treviso this season from the all singing and dancing Toulon where he regularly played on the wing but my guess is that it’ll be young twenty-one year old Tommaso Benvenuti in the #13 shirt. Back from starting in three internationals for Italy, bringing his total to twenty-three, at 95kgs and with a height of 1m 85 he’s big and fast and would test Matt Smith’s defence. However Smith is in fine form and I think that if he gets some front foot ball from Bowden he could just get in behind the youngster.
Out wide for the visitors it seems pretty certain that Ludovici Nitoglia will be somewhere to be found but as with his likely partner; Italy winger Tommaso Iannone, it depends if they get enough ball to run with. If they do then they’re a dangerous combination but with Niall Morris surely set to continue on one wing and Geordan Murphy presumably back as the last line of defence, I’d like to see Matt Tait back on the other wing, where I just think he’s more dangerous, especially as later on, if other matches against Italian sides are anything to go by, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for the ex England player to weave his spells in broken play.
For Treviso at full back it’ll probably be Australian Luke McLean who’s been playing his rugby in Italy since joining Calvisano for the 2007/08 season. He’s incredibly dangerous coming into the line but is a creator of tries rather than a scorer, not having troubled the score board since the 2009/10 season when he got a couple of tries in the Super 10 competition.
Treviso, packed with Italian internationals, with a real good scrum, will be a tough nut I reckon. I think Tigers will get the win as Treviso really don’t have much success away from home but it’ll depend on whether Cockerill takes the risk to try and keep his powder dry for the following week and if he does whether it works.
If it doesn’t and Tigers don’t get the obligatory five points from this fixture and the one that follows it in Italy next week I fear it will be addio a Europa per un altro anno rather than Bella Ciao.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:12:12:12:57:08 by Tiggs.
Cockerill's got several real dilemmas this week.
Do the 5 returning heroes come straight back in or not?
Does Murphy come back in?
Does Tait shift to wing or centre or does he stay at 15 or drop to the bench?
Does Goneva come back in?
What happens in the back row with Mafi reportedly on crutches, Deacon banned, Crane not playing to his best and Slater thought of as more of a lock?
Answers on a postcard.
I wonder slightly if Slater missed out last week - given current resources - because of his utility value? But given Brett's unavailability - I'd like to see him at 6 this week rather than the alternative of the Crane/Waldrom combination (which has admittedly worked very well in the past) - depending, of course, on Steeeeve's fitness
While there is likely no alternative I was disappointed with Bowden last week. I'm not sure that he was more physical than AA but he looked off the pace, over-running in support of the ball carrier a couple of times and not offering much by way of distribution. No doubt he will prove me completely wrong this week.
I don't see Tait as a winger and I like last week's back three very much but one can't really leave out Geordan when he's fit so I'd make that a straight swap and retain Tompstone & Morris with Tait as the bench replacement for the back 5. I'm actually much more concerned about the lack of a real alternative at 10. If George gets a knock Dan will have to move in (which concerns me) and that will leave us exposed at 12.
When is Logo going to be back?
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Yes you're right that Tait can cover from 13 - 15 (don't recall him playing which is a shame) but don't quite see your reservation of him on the wing. Personally I see Morris as more of a full back but I suspect Cockers doesn't.
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Must go for the win though.
Not sure myself Mr. S and john. I tend to agree with Chris. Give the internationals a week off, sitting them on the bench this week for emergencies, and protect them too as it'll be much harder to win away next week, never mind get the desirable bonus point.
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Barf's first try last week concerned me in that Tait at full back can still be the swing door Oz targeted so well versus Gosforth, though he can be good going forward it is true
I wonder about Niall's positioning at full back, and though he has to learn I don't think a European game, not even this one which too many seem presumptious about, albeit with riders, is the place, so it's Geordie at the back for me, with Niall on the wing and Matt in the wings .. he can come on and have fun if the graft has paid dividends while the old fella puts his feet up
Golden bollocks is no less over hyped than the Celebrianis of this World and that is a serious disappointment given his roots .. I hope he finds his way soon. How long is Jugs out for?
How is AA coming along?
It's just question after question so I'll just wait on Cocker to choose
'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget
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He's in a slump, imho, and I hope that's all it is
Perchance my expectations are too high
'Lions led by donkeys' .. Lest we forget