Benetton eye upset at Toulon
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Benetton Rugby will go in search of further history when they visit RC Toulon in the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals on Sunday.
The Treviso-based outfit are the first Italian team to reach the last four of an EPCR competition and will be looking to pull off a shock by overturning TOP 14 heavyweights Toulon at the Stade Félix Mayol.
The hosts have significant EPCR pedigree, having lifted the Heineken Champions Cup on three occasions, and they are also regulars in the EPCR Challenge Cup final, reaching the showpiece game for a fourth time last season.
Toulon have yet to lift the trophy, with each of their four finals ending in defeat, but after thrashing Lyon – the team who denied them the title in 2022 – in the quarter-finals, they will be confident of going one better this season.
Prior to this campaign, Benetton had only ever progressed as far as the quarter-finals in the EPCR Challenge Cup, but they recorded a stunning victory over Cardiff Rugby earlier this month to make this season one to remember.
The game kicks off at 12:30 (UK & Irish time) and is available to watch on France TV, BT Sport, beIN SPORTS, SuperSport, FloRugby and epcrugby.tv.
Key quotes
RC Toulon back Jérémy Sinzelle: “We will have to take this Italian team very seriously. They play very good rugby and are very well structured with a nice back line. It’s a team who are growing.”
Benetton Rugby scrum-half Dewaldt Duvenage: “I feel some nervous energy, which is always a positive thing. We are ready to face the challenge and we are happy and excited for the occasion. We want to make our fans proud of us.”
Key facts
RC Toulon
- Jiuta Wainiqolo scored two tries in the quarter-finals, taking his total to a tournament-leading six this season with Cardiff Rugby’s Josh Adams and Glasgow Warriors’ Jonny Matthews.
- Cornell du Preez made more tackles than any other player in the last round (26).
- Sergio Parisse has made 25 defensive ruck entries in the competition so far, slowing down the ball on 19 occasions.
- Toulon have won more scrum penalties on their own feed than any other team (18).
Benetton Rugby
- Sebastian Negri has made more carries than any other player (60). His gain-line success rate is 43%.
- Manuel Zuliani has won more turnovers than any other player remaining in the competition (8), including five jackals.
- Benetton have scored more tries in the last half hour of matches than any other team (11).
