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If there were any fears that Benetton’s season was coming off the rails, they were swiftly ended with a performance that Jacob Umaga described as “one our best of the season.”
Odogwu (5'), Maile (7'), Smith (25'), Menoncello (51'), Umaga (56')
Tries
Jones (63')
Umaga (5', 8', 52', 57')
Conversions
Horne (64')
If there were any fears that Benetton’s season was coming off the rails, they were swiftly ended with a performance that Jacob Umaga described as “one our best of the season.”
Marco Bortolami’s side put reigning United Rugby Championship (URC) champions Glasgow Warriors to the sword with five tries.
Their bonus point proved vital as it pushed them up to seventh in the table, ahead of Munster and Cardiff who also have 46 points.
RESPONDING IN THE RIGHT WAY
Anything less would probably have all but ended their interested in the playoffs, with an away trip to Munster to come in the 18th and final round.
It was a real possibility after they returned from Cape Town having lost 56-5 defeat to the Stormers last time out, and Glasgow buoyed by four players receiving British and Ireland Lions call ups this week.
“It was one our best performances of the season,” Umaga said. “Losing by 50 points is never easy (to accept). We are really pleased to have responded in this manner.”
Instead, tries from Paolo Odogwu, Siua Maile, Rhyno Smith, Tommaso Menoncello, and Umaga, kept the Treviso-based team in the playoff mix, while Cardiff travel to face the Stormers.
FRIDAY NIGHT DECIDERS
For Umaga especially, his try and four conversions, suggests a bright end to a season when he has fallen behind Tomas Albornoz as first-choice flyhalf.
Benetton have control of their season now and the chance to give soon-to-be ex-coach Marco Bortolami a fitting send off after four years when he’s changed the club’s expectations.
It is just the simple task of going to Thomond Park on a Friday night and matching their exploits against Glasgow.
“We knew we had to be really physical to stop their attack,” Umaga said. “We didn’t give them a chance to use their moves, and to concede only one try against one of the best attacks in the league is a great sign.”
| # | Team | PL | W | L | D | PD | BP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Leinster Rugby | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 278 | 12 | 72 |
| 2 |  Vodacom Bulls | 17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 141 | 11 | 63 |
| 3 |  Glasgow Warriors | 17 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 149 | 15 | 59 |
| 4 |  Hollywoodbets Sharks | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 25 | 10 | 58 |
| 5 |  DHL Stormers | 17 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 79 | 14 | 50 |
| 6 |  Scarlets | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 54 | 10 | 48 |
| 7 |  Benetton Treviso | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | -76 | 8 | 46 |
| 8 |  Munster Rugby | 17 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 46 |
| 9 |  Cardiff Rugby | 17 | 8 | 8 | 1 | -58 | 12 | 46 |
| 10 |  Edinburgh Rugby | 17 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 34 | 14 | 44 |
| 11 |  Ospreys | 17 | 7 | 9 | 1 | -16 | 8 | 38 |
| 12 |  Ulster Rugby | 17 | 7 | 10 | 0 | -62 | 10 | 38 |
| 13 |  Emirates Lions | 17 | 7 | 10 | 0 | -39 | 7 | 35 |
| 14 |  Connacht Rugby | 17 | 5 | 12 | 0 | -62 | 15 | 35 |
| 15 |  Zebre Rugby | 17 | 5 | 11 | 1 | -191 | 7 | 29 |
| 16 |  Dragons | 17 | 1 | 16 | 0 | -262 | 5 | 09 |
