Rhyno Smith boots Benetton to famous victory over Stade Rochelais

MATCH REPORT: Benetton stunned two-time Champions Cup winners Stade Rochelais 32-25 to reach the last 16 for the first time.

Niccolo Cannone opened the scoring for Benetton after Stade Rochelais went down to 14 with Tawera Kerr-Barlow heading to the bin.

The visitors responded through Jack Nowell to go ahead, but a penalty from Rhyno Smith just before the break made it 13-11 to Benetton at half-time.

Despite a double from Kerr-Barlow, Bautista Bernasconi’s try for the hosts along with four penalties (three from Smith and one from Tomas Albornoz) saw them hold on for a memorable win.

Benetton secured Champions Cup knockout qualification with the victory, while Stade Rochelais’ losing bonus point secured them a home knockout.

The scorers:

For Benetton:
Tries: Cannone, Bernasconi
Cons: Albornoz, Smith
Pens: Albornoz 2, Smith 4

For Stade Rochelais :
Tries: Nowell, Kerr-Barlow 2
Cons: Hastoy 2
Pens: Hastoy 2

Yellow cards: Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Stade Rochelais; 2′); Giosue Zilocchi (Benetton, 61′)

Teams:

Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Tommaso Menoncello, 13 Ignacio Brex, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Eli Snyman (captain), 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Nahuel Tetaz, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Federico Ruzza, 20 Sebastian Blacks, 21 Michele Lamaro, 22 Andy Uren, 23 Leonardo Marin.

Stade Rochelais: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Ulupano Seuteni, 12 Jules Favre, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Greg Alldritt (captain), 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Quentin Lespiaucq, 1 Alexandre Kaddouri.
Replacements: Nikolozi Sutidze, Thierry Paiva, Georges-Henri Colombre Reazel, Ultan Dillane, Levani Botia, Matthias Haddad, Hoani Bosmorin, Hugo Reus.

Referee: Matthew Carley
Assistant referees: Hamish Smales, Simon Harding
TMO: Ian Tempest

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