Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Benetton are hungry dogs – Italy cap Varney
BENETTON, just like the Italian national team, are tired of being written off by the wider rugby world and will be looking to prove a point in this afternoon’s European Challenge Cup semi-final, according to Gloucester Rugby’s Azzuri scrum-half Stephen Varney.
Varney, 22, is fresh from his best Six Nations campaign as part of the Italy team, playing alongside a host of Benetton’s stars like player of the tournament Tommaso Menconcello, captain Michele Lamaro and former Hartpury man Sebastian Negri. Add to the mix the likes of Fijian winger
Onisi Ratave – who is the top tryscorer in this season’s Challenge Cup, former Wasps favourites Malakai Fekitoa, Paolo Odogwu and Jacob Umaga, and the Italians have a formidable squad.
Varney told RugbyPass: “Benetton are hungry dogs with a chip on their shoulder because of what the media say about them. They have a good physical pack and some exciting backs to play off. They’re dangerous – but a threat that we can hopefully nullify this weekend.
“I keep in touch with Seb Negri, he is a good friend of mine and I sent him a quick message – nothing about the game – but I don’t think I am mates with any of them this week. Seb is massive and hopefully our forwards will deal with him.
“The set piece will be massive and Benetton kick the most in the URC. This is knockout rugby and it’s about who makes the first mistake.
“We haven’t had the best run in the league, but in the knockout games we have nailed them and I don’t know what it is – we click when we know that if we lose then we won’t be playing in the competition again. Hopefully, we have the same mindset and put in a performance to get the win and reach the final.”
Varney is on the bench as Caolan Englefield starts at nine, with Adam Hastings named at ten.
Seb Atkinson and Chris Harris pair up in the midfield, while Ollie Thorley, Jonny May and full-back Josh Hathaway are the back three.
In the front row, Seb Blake starts at hooker, with Mayco Vivas and Kirill Gotovtsev as his props.
Freddie Clarke and Freddie Thomas pack down in the second row, with Ruan Ackermann, Lewis Ludlow, who leads the side, and Zach Mercer in the back row.
Jamal Ford-Robinson, Albert Tuisue and Charlie Atkinson are among the replacements.
Gloucester Rugby: J Hathaway; J May, C Harris, S Atkinson, O Thorley; A Hastings, C Englefield; M Vivas, S Blake, K Gotovtsev, F Clarke, F Thomas, R Ackermann, L Ludlow (capt), Z Mercer. Replacements: S Socino, J Ford-Robinson, C Knight, A Tuisue, J Clement, S Varney, C Atkinson, A Hearle.