Italian Club With Designs On Major Result â Six Nations 2010
BENETTON TREVISO’S 9-8 victory over Perpignan in the opening round of matches in the Heineken Cup last October merited top billing on the honours board or perhaps a pantheon dedicated to the Italian club’s outstanding performances in Europe.
It’s a category from which there are a few to choose but victory over the reigning French champions brooks no argument when arriving at a pecking order. Treviso have mugged several high-profile rugby teams visiting the beautifully-appointed Stadio Comunale di Monigo, a list that includes Edinburgh, Pontypridd, Harlequins, Wasps, Bourgoin and Bath.
They have also prospered on their travels but not quite to the same extent. Treviso have played 68 matches in the Heineken Cup, winning 16 – 10 of those at home – and losing 52. They’ve endured some tough times, at one point losing 16 matches in succession, including two whitewashes in as many seasons at the pool stages.
That victory over Perpignan brought to an end 12 defeats in a row on their own turf, which had become as accommodating to visitors as almost any venue in Europe. It was therefore understandable when team manager, the former Italian prop Franco Properzi, claimed the victory as “the greatest in our Heineken Cup historyâ€.
He elaborated: “It was a great day for Treviso in the Heineken Cup and a significant day for Italian rugby. We’ve had some good results in the past, but in this game we beat the French champions – we’ve never done that before.
“It has got to be the greatest win we’ve ever had in the Heineken Cup and it breaks the sequence of eight successive defeats in the tournament that we had suffered in the past two seasons.â€
Prior to the Perpignan success, arguably the most prized scalp was that of Wasps, who were beaten 32-17 at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo in the 2001-2002 season.
The man of the match that day was former Ireland fullback Simon Mason, who kicked eight penalties. In was his first season in Italy having previously helped Ulster win the European Cup in 1999: he contributed 18 points of 21 in the final against Colomiers at Lansdowne Road.
The Liverpool-born player arrived at Benetton from Stade Français, turning down a number of lucrative offers in France to join the Italian club. He would spend three seasons there, a spell that would have been longer had he not had to return home – he had two years left on his contract at the time – to look after his mother, who became ill.
Currently the head of physical education at St Anselm’s College in Birkenhead – he was educated there, as was England international Austin Healy and former Ireland scrumhalf Christian Saverimutto – he has returned to Treviso subsequently over several summers for holidays with his family. He still harbours a strong affection for the club and the city.
“I was newly married when I arrived in Treviso and our daughter Ciara would be born there. I found it particularly welcoming. The playing set-up was surprisingly good. Treviso is a walled city, although it is probably more accurate to describe it as a town. We lived about half a mile outside the walls but it was an easy commute and the lifestyle was brilliant.
He pointed to their performances against Perpignan and Northampton at the Stadio Monigo and suggested, “The team is confident and I think we have shown during this qualifying campaign that Treviso can make our opponents struggle.â€
Italy’s hopes of avoiding another wooden spoon have already been dealt a huge blow by the absence of injured captain and outstanding No 8 Sergio Parisse but coach Nick Mallett said: “The team have come to terms with it, knowing he’s not going to be available.”
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