The Lions will be determined to bounce back from their heartbreaking 22-20 defeat against Zebre Parma last week when they face Benetton at 16:00 (SA Time), who come fresh from a 16-14 victory against Glasgow, to power their way up the standings. With only nine points separating the teams on attack and 15 on defence, this should also give them some confidence.
The disappointment of losing out on a playoff spot last season, combined with their desperation to bounce back from two disappointing results on tour and turn things around in their final match abroad, is also expected to fuel their determination going into this weekend’s encounter.
Bentton made several changes to the XV used in the last match against Glasgow. Starting in the attacking midfield, Rhyno Smith returns to the starting lineup at fullback. Louis Lynagh remains at right wing, while Ignacio Mendy returns to the left wing. The tried and tested centre duo will remain unchanged, with space for the pairing of Tommaso Menoncello and Malakai Fekitoa. Jacob Umaga will once again be the fly-half, while Louis Werchon will be his partner.
Up front, the front row remains unchanged: Mirco Spagnolo is the left prop, Siua Maile is the tighthead, and Simone Ferrari is the right prop. In the second row, Niccolò Cannone comes in alongside Eli Snyman. In the back row, the two flankers are the same: Alessandro Izekor and captain Michele Lamaro, combining with Lorenzo Cannone at eight.
Springbok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg links up with his Lions team mates in Italy ahead of their Round 3 clash of the Vodacom United Rugby against Benetton Rugby in Treviso this Saturday. The lively halfback made the trip from London shortly after clinching the 2025 Rugby Championship title with his fellow Boks. Van den Berg has been included in this week’s starting lineup for what will be his first URC appearance for the season.
Another Springbok, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, also makes a return to the run-on fifteen after coming off the bench in last week’s narrow 22-20 loss to Zebre in Parma.
On the bench, JC Pretorius makes a welcome return after being sidelined due to injury. Amongst the impact players are front-rower Conraad van Vuuren and Jarod Cairns, with Manuel Rass in line for his first appearance of the international season.
Teams:
Benetton Rugby:15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Mirco Spagnolo. Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 John Bryant, 21 Andy Uren, 22 Giuliano Avaca, 23 Filippo Drago.
Lions:15 Quan Horn, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Franco Marais, 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 RF Schoeman, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Jarod Cairns, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Sam Francis, 23 Manuel Rass.