Edinburgh can’t take advantage
Capital side slump to 14-man Benetton
EDINBURGH slipped to a dismal defeat against Benetton — despite playing almost the entire match against 14 men.
The Italians had winger Matteo Minozzi red-carded after just 10 minutes but roused themselves quite superbly as they roared to a stunning bonus-point victory at the Stadio Monigo.
It was a pitiful performance from Edinburgh. Mike Blair’s side were chasing a fourth successive win in the United Rugby Championship but never looked like getting it.
Indeed, there was a ten-minute period in the second half when Edinburgh were actually playing against 13 men due to the Italians having another player sent to the sin bin.
But Blair’s side were miles off the pace and made far too many errors. Having thrashed Benetton 53-8 at the DAM Health Stadium only six weeks ago, this was night and day from that performance.
The Italians were fired up and got their revenge. They fully deserved their victory in the end and Blair admitted his side had fallen well short.
‘Yeah, it’s definitely disappointing,’ said the Edinburgh head coach. ‘We knew this was going to be a really tough game with the team that they picked.’
Edinburgh made a solid enough start and took the lead after just 90 seconds courtesy of a penalty from fly-half Charlie Savala.
It then looked like they had the game in the palm of their hand when Benetton winger Minozzi was sent off after just 10 minutes.
It was a wretched homecoming for Minozzi, the Italy international who was making his debut for Benetton after leaving Wasps.
In attempting to catch a high ball, Minozzi had leapt into the air and his foot was awkwardly outstretched.
Although it was unintentional, he ended up kicking Edinburgh winger Wes Goosen in the face and was rightly shown a red card for dangerous play by referee Craig Evans.
But, instead of capitalising on their numerical advantage, Edinburgh totally lost their way thereafter as Benetton piled on the pressure.
The red card galvanised the home side. They scored the opening try on 19 minutes and it was fitting reward for their bravery and sense of adventure.
Having won a penalty in front of the posts, they opted against taking the three points in favour of taking Edinburgh on in the scrum.
It paid off handsomely as, from a set-piece move, a lovely pass from flyhalf Tomas Albornoz allowed winger Marcus Watson to score in the corner.
Edinburgh’s attack was non-existent. Benetton were dominating both possession and territory and could easily have been further ahead. Edinburgh’s Goosen was sin-binned on 34 minutes for an offside offence as the visitors continued to toil.
Benetton scored a second try just before half-time through back-rower Sebastian Negri and went in at the break leading 10-3. It had been a dreadful first half from Edinburgh’s point of view, but they finally got their act together within four minutes of the restart.
Henry Immelman raced in to score after a nice delayed pass from Savala had created the opportunity, with Savala slotting the conversion to level the scores at 10-10.
But the Italians roared back and scored a try through No8 Lorenzo Cannone on 50 minutes, with Albornoz adding the extras.
Benetton lock Federico Ruzza was then sin-binned on 53 minutes as the Italians were reduced to just 13 men.
Edinburgh finally built some pressure through the phases and Immelman went over to score his second try on 62 minutes — thanks to a brilliant carry and offload from Nick Haining in the build-up.
Savala nailed a brilliant conversion from out wide on the touchline to level the scores at 17-17 heading into the closing stages.
But, just when the visitors might have thought the game was there for the taking, Benetton came storming back once again.
Full-back Rhyno Smith touched down to score after scrum-half Dewaldt Duvenage had the chipped the ball over the top of the Edinburgh defence quite superbly.
Jacob Umaga slotted the conversion to put the Italians seven points clear once again at 24-17 with 10 minutes remaining.
Smyth was then sin-binned with just two minutes remaining for a high tackle on Edinburgh replacement scrum-half Ben Vellacott, but the home side held on to win.
SCORERS; Benetton — Tries: Watson, Negri da Ollegio, Cannone, Smith. Cons: Albornoz, Umaga. Edinburgh —
Tries: Immelman (2). Cons: Savala (2). Pens: Savala.