After running Leinster close in the first half, but losing control in the second to go down by a big score, Benetton were dealt a setback in their hopes of making the top four of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
But they are determined to ensure that it doesn’t happen again, especially with the stakes being as high as they are ahead of their clash with Franco Smith’s Glasgow Warriors team this weekend.
Former Bulls lock Eli Snyman, who is currently the co-captain of the Treviso team, knows that their home tie against the Scottish side is crucial in their hopes of making the top four as the teams start to head into the business end of the season.
Benetton’s loss to Leinster saw them drop to fourth, with the Vodacom Bulls moving above them. Glasgow are currently second.
Snyman sees the loss in perspective, but believes Benetton are a lot better than the result suggests.
“Leinster is probably the best team in the URC. I think that in the second half we lost control of the game a bit, we were subjected to their pressure and we had to fight for the game at our feet. We concentrated on the wrong areas of the pitch, not putting pressure on them, which is where we did best in the first half,” he explained.
“We followed the game plan more and carried out the exit phase from our zone better: the footwork was more effective and we managed to put pressure on them. However, we conceded two tries where we could have defended better and they hurt us. We must therefore work and improve in those aspects where we can control the game."
Ahead of Glasgow, Benetton are looking forward to an improved performance that will keep their home playoff hopes alive.
“Glasgow is a very strong team who likes to manage possession, but I think we now need to focus on ourselves, on what we can do better. Follow our game plan better and stay competitive all 80 minutes. This week we are focusing on this and we want to execute our phases of the game better."
Benetton have already surprised a lot of teams this season, hence their high log position, and Snyman’s rise within the club has mirrored that. The former Bulls lock has found a home that has accepted him and he has repaid in kind with performances to match.
“I am happy to be back at Benetton Rugby. We had an excellent start to the season and we are happy, but now we want to maintain this compactness in every match. All the matches will be increasingly difficult because all the teams are growing, so we must maintain a high level of play as we have done from the beginning of the season until now: it is our main focus."
Saturday’s game remains a litmus test for Snyman and his crew. The best teams in the URC start to front up at this point of the season and he knows it.
A second half blowout against Leinster has happened to a lot of sides, but should it be repeated it could be a massive blow to the team carrying Italy’s hopes in the URC.
Snyman and co will want to make sure that doesn’t happen.