Benetton Rugby will take on Edinburgh at the Stadio Monigo on Saturday in a crucial Guinness PRO14 Conference B match-up. After their European break, the teams will head to Treviso looking for victory in the game which kicks off at 3pm local time. What’s at stake? The two teams are level on points with 14 from six games, having won three and lost three to date. It’s the Scots who are ahead on points difference, as they sit fourth, with Benetton in fifth. While it is still very early in the season, as it stands this would be a crucial battle for the European play-off spot in Conference B. Team news (Benetton Rugby): Benetton have made three changes to the team that lost in heartbreaking fashion to Toulon last week with starts for Tito Tebaldi, Marco Fuser and Francesco Minto coming into the starting line-up. Arguably the biggest storyline, however, is the return of Alessandro Zanni to the bench for the Italians after more than a year out with injury. Team news (Edinburgh): Richard Cockerill has made eight changes to the team which won away to Krasny Yar in Russia last weekend. Among those coming back in are Phil Burleigh, who was called up by Scotland this week, while Dougie Fife gets a nod on the wing. Fraser McKenzie also comes back in the second row, and will captain the side after being named full-time skipper by Cockerill. Talking points: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne missed out on Scotland’s autumn internationals squad, with teammate Nathan Fowles preferred to him. Against Benetton it will be Hidalgo-Clyne who gets the starting role, with Fowles on the bench and the scrum-half will no doubt be keen to prove a point. Key Battle: Abraham Steyn v Hamish Watson It may have ultimately been in a losing cause but Abraham Steyn was outstanding for Benetton against Toulon, making 14 carries for 62 metres, while also chipping in with 12 tackles. His battle with Hamish Watson could be an intriguing one, with the Edinburgh openside looking to cement his place in Gregor Townsend’s Scotland thoughts. Key Stat: Benetton handed Edinburgh their first defeat of the season in Round 3, claiming a 20-17 win at Myreside to end Richard Cockerill’s unbeaten start to life in the Scottish capital. Did you know? Benetton have lost just once in their last four Guinness PRO14 encounters, going down 37-21 to Glasgow Warriors. Benetton: J Hayward, A Esposito, I Brex, A Sgarbi, L Sperandio, I McKinley, T Tebaldi, F Zani, L Bigi, S Ferrari, M Fuser, D Budd, F Minto, A Steyn, R Barbieri Replacements: T Baravalle, C Traore, T Pasquali, F Ruzza, A Zanni, S Negri, G Bronzini, T Benvenuti Edinburgh: B Kinghorn, D Fife, J Johnstone, P Burleigh, J Harries, J Tovey, S Hidalgo-Clyne, D Marfo, S McInally, WP Nel, F McKenzie, B Toolis, L Crosbie, H Watson, C du Preez Replacements: N Cochrane, M Rizzo, M McCallum, G Gilchrist, L Carmichael, N Fowles, G Bryce, C Dean TV: Eurosport Italia 2 (KO: 3pm local) Match officials – Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU), AR1: Gwyn Morris (WRU), AR2: Claudio Blessano (FIR), TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU) Guinness PRO14 Final 2018 Ticket Information: Fans can save up to 20% on selected tickets, and prices start at just €30 for adults and €5 for children, and be booked via www.ticketmaster.ie
