Benetton targeting massive upset against Bulls

Italian side Benetton may have been written off in many quarters ahead of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, but according to one of the South Africans in their team they are intent on creating victory.

Benetton already achieved two of their goals this season - one in reaching the playoffs and the other in winning on South African soil when they beat the Hollywoodbets Sharks a month ago to claim their first victory down south.

Now, according to Rhyno Smith, they are looking ahead to the clash to ensure they bring some shock and awe to Loftus and come away with their next goal of winning in Pretoria.

Smith, who is no stranger to Loftus and has family coming to watch him play, believes Benetton can produce a shock and get the victory nobody would see coming. Smith said he was looking forward to taking the field at Loftus.

“In some respects yes, because there will be many family members to see me. I grew up in South Africa, I have seen many matches in South Africa and playing at Loftus Versfeld will be special. As Benetton Rugby we have never won in Pretoria and the first victory in South Africa came about a month ago against the Sharks. It will once again be an opportunity to achieve a historic goal: above all for this reason it must be a special match,” he said ahead of the match.

While Benetton played the Bulls and lost 56-35 a few weeks back, a knockout game brings a very different mentality to a pool game, and Benetton know this. And this is where the Italians feel they can dog the Bulls down into an arm wrestle, and ultimately win the game.

“This match will not be different from the last 7-8 matches which already represented dry challenges for us. The mentality is more focused on the basics: in these games the fundamentals make the difference. The team that seizes all the opportunities and puts the most points on the board will take home the challenge,” he believes.

“The first time we didn't do what we wanted to do. We have to focus on the things we can control: our identity, the kicking game and defensively we have to tackle low. We didn't do these things last game against the Bulls. However, it will be a match like the others this season: we must believe that we have what it takes to win the match. We have 80 minutes to leave everything on the pitch."

Altitude will be a factor with the 3.30pm kickoff, but its a challenge Smith is relishing.

“Altitude is something we cannot change. We have to know that it will be there, but we were able to handle this aspect three weeks ago. So let's go to Pretoria, give everything for 80 minutes and then see who will win."

Benetton will arrive as underdogs, but in Smith’s mind it is an even playing field. And if they get a good start they have the belief that saw them surge into the quarters with a 31-6 win over Edinburgh.

On Saturday they will look to repeat that and cause the upset.