Smith boots Benetton to Italian derby win

MATCH REPORT: South African fullback Rhyno Smith landed an 81st-minute penalty as Benetton snatched a dramatic late (11-10) win over Zebre in an Italian United Rugby Championship derby.

Right when you need a hero 🦸‍♂️

🎯 Rhyno Smith does NOT miss and gives @BenettonRugby the win with a last minute penalty!#BKTURC #URC | #BENvZEB pic.twitter.com/8ClSrEQ1dW

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— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) December 21, 2024

Leonardo Marin, who came on in the 24th minute for the injured Jacob Umaga at flyhalf, scored minutes after his arrival on the field.

Giacomo Da Re landed a penalty to make it 3-5 at the end of a very scrappy first half.

Marin stretched the lead back to five points with a penalty in the 58th minute.

Going into the final 10 minutes lock Andrea Zambonin scored a try for the visitors, with Da Re giving Zebre the lead with the conversion.

They looked good for the upset, but Smith stepped up to snatch a late winner with the penalty.

The scorer

For Benetton
Try: Marin
Pens: Marin, Smith

For Zebre
Try: Zambonin
Con: Da Re
Pen: Da Re

Yellow card: Scott Gregory (Zebre, 10)

Teams

Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Onisi Ratave, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza (captain), 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Mirco Spagnolo.
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, Nahuel Tetaz, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Alessandro Izekor, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Leonardo Marin.

Zebre: 15 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Enrico Lucchin, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giacomo Da Re, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Giovanni Licata, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Ion Neculai, 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, 1 Danilo Fischetti (captain).
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Muhamed Hasa, 19 Leonard Krumov, 20 Iacopo Bianchi, 21 Thomas Dominguez, 22 Filippo Drago, 23 Rusiate Nasove.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
Assistant referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy), Alex Frasson (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Penne (Italy)