2020-21 European Rugby Challenge Cup – Benetton vs Agen Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Benetton vs Agen taking place? Saturday 3rd April, 2021 – 15:00 (UK)
Where is Benetton vs Agen taking place? Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Where can I get tickets for Benetton vs Agen? Visit official club websites for ticket information
What television channel is Benetton vs Agen on? BT Sport have the rights to televise European Rugby Challenge Cup matches so it is worth checking their schedule
Where can I stream Benetton vs Agen? If televised, BT Sport subscribers can stream the match live via the BT Sport website & app
THE TEAM NEWS
Benetton: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Angelo Esposito, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage (c), 8 Riccardo Favretto, 7 Michele Lamaro, 6 Seb Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Ira Herbst, 3 Marco Riccioni, 2 Tomas Baravalle, 1 Thomas Augustin Gallo
Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Nicola Quaglio, 18 Ivan Nemer, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Luca Roberto Xavier Petrozzi, 22 Tommy Allan, 23 Edoardo Padovani
Agen: 15 Hugo Verdu, 14 Loris Tolot, 13 Jean-Marcellin Buttin, 12 Sam Vaka, 11 JJ Taulagi, 10 Noel Reid, 9 Yoann Cottin, 8 Dylan Hayes, 7 Jessy Jegerlhener, 6 Romain Briatte (c), 5 Victor Moreaux, 4 Andrés Zafra Tarazona, 3 Walter Desmaison, 2 Loris Zarantonello, 1 Malino Vanai
Replacements: 16 Clément Martinez, 17 Giorgi Tetrashvili, 18 Sosefo Falatea, 19 Corentin Vernet, 20 Pierce Phillips, 21 Timilai Rokoduru, 22 Paul Abadie, 23 Jordan Puletua
THE PREDICTION
This should be a welcome relief from the domestic leagues for both sides here as Benetton, with no wins in 15 in the Pro14 soon to likely be 16 from 16, and Agen with 20 defeats from 20 in the Top 14 meet in a competition in which they both have won their only games this season. The revamped format of this Challenge Cup does them no favours, though, but this match should be an enjoyable encounter between the two downtrodden sides looking for a place to vent. With losing streaks running back into last year, there are plenty of ifs and buts about this game and not least that it may yet be called off as so many of Benetton’s matches have this season. If it does go ahead, the hosts are a superior side to the Top 14 whipping club and should be able to win a match that goes over 40 points here.
