Castres Standing Between Benetton And New High

Benetton are again Italy’s flagbearers in the Investec Champions Cup as they keep ticking off major breakthroughs for Italian sides in the world’s leading club competition.

Last season they reached the Challenge Cup semi-finals for the first time, along with a maiden appearance in the United Rugby Championship (URC) playoffs.

Benetton are through the Champions Cup pools for the first time thanks to wins over Bath and La Rochelle, and on Saturday they will cross the Alps to face Castres Olympique.

IN FORM AND WINNING

They go into the match having beaten Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues in their two fixtures since the Guinness Men’s Six Nations ended, while Castres have drawn with La Rochelle and beaten Toulon.

“It is a huge match for us, but we have to treat it like any other,” Benetton winger Ignacio Mendy told reporters. “Clearly these two victories were very important for us. The last two games give us the right energy for the next challenge.”

The victories keep Marco Bortolami’s side in the URC play-off places, but Castes are no pushovers. They are a team that regularly punch above their weight considering the might of Toulouse is only a 90-minute drive away.

Castres sit fifth in the Top 14, and fans have happy memories of two title wins over the last 11 years.

FAMILIAR FACES

Harlequins’ fans will recognise prop Will Collier, while Uruguayan scrum-half Santiago Arata is one-man highlights reel, especially when he spies a gap around the breakdown.

For Benetton centres Juan Brex and Tommaso Menoncello have picked up where they left off from the Six Nations, while Tomas Albornoz continues Argentina’s love of small, left-footed number 10s.

“Like all French teams Castres are very powerful on a physical level, it will be a physical and mental battle, Mendy added.

“Whether we are playing at home at the Monigo, or away we will prepare for the match similarly. We are going to Castres to win.”