Planet Rugby

Preview: Treviso v Ulster

22nd November 2012 12:57

Franco Smith Treviso

Eyeing a scalp: Treviso coach Franco Smith

Italy internationals Luca Morisi and Andrea Pratichetti are available for Treviso after being released from the national squad for Friday's clash with Ulster at Stadio Monigo.

'Permit players' Andy Vilk and flanker Filippo Giusti start at inside centre and on the bench respectively.

Meanwhile, Ireland duo Andrew Trimble and Paul Marshall have been included in the Ulster line-up while number eight Roger Wilson has been named as captain for the RaboDirect PRO12 encounter, with 20-year-old Peter Nelson earning just his second start at full-back.

In total there are six personnel changes and one positional switch. Up front sees an all new front-row of Tom Court, Rob Herring and Declan Fitzpatrick deployed in place of Callum Black, Nigel Brady and John Afoa respectively.

The second-row pairing of Robbie Diack and Neil McComb will continue after impressing in the narrow win over Zebre on Sunday past. The back-row is also unchanged with Nick Williams and Mike McComish named on either side of the scrum and Wilson at the base.

Marshall's inclusion alongside Niall O'Connor at half back means Michael Heaney must be content with a place on the bench. Outside of them, Paddy Wallace and Jared Payne, playing in midfield for the third consecutive match, will be tasked with providing much of the creativity.

With Trimble named on the right wing, Michael Allen has switched to the left touchline at the expense of Chris Cochrane. That leaves Academy player Nelson, who has made three previous appearances, lining out at full-back in place of Ricky Andrew.

Last week's starting front-row are all on the bench this time out, with James Simpson and Ali Birch also providing forward cover. Heaney, Cochrane and Ireland U20 inside back Stuart Olding are the other substitutes.

Form: Benetton Treviso have slipped to four straight defeats in all competitions since their 27-22 victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield on 5 October. Treviso have lost their last seven encounters with Irish provinces. Ulster very nearly lost their 100% record this season when they narrowly overcame Zebre 27-25 in a rearranged RaboDirect PRO12 encounter at Parma on Sunday. The Ulstermen have won their last five away games and have never lost in nine previous visits to Italy in all competitions. The two sides have met on eight previous occasions with Ulster's only defeat being 23-12 at Ravenhill in October

Rugby Union betting odds

The teams:

Treviso: 15 Brendan Williams, 14 Giulio Toniolatti, 13 Christian Loamanu, 12 Andrew Vilk, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Alberto Di Bernardo, 9 Fabio Semenzato, 8 Marco Filippucci, 7 Paul Derbyshire, 6 Valerio Bernaḅ, 5 Corniel Van Zyl (c), 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Jacobus Roux, 2 Franco Sbaraglini, 1 Matteo Muccignat.
Replacements: 16 Enrico Ceccato, 17 Giovanni Maistri, 18 Ignacio Fernandez-Rouyet, 19 Filippo Giusti, 20 Andrea Pratichetti, 21 Angelo Esposito, 22 James Ambrosini, 23 Luca Morisi.

Ulster: 15 Peter Nelson, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Jared Payne, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Michael Allen, 10 Niall O'Connor, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 Roger Wilson (capt), 7 Mike McComish, 6 Nick Williams, 5 Nigel McComb, 4 Robbie Diack, 3 Declan Fitzpatrick, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Callum Black, 18 John Afoa, 19 James Simpson, 20 Ali Birch, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Stuart Olding, 23 Chris Cochrane.

Date: Friday, November 23
Venue: Stadio Monigo
Kick-off: 19.05 local (18.05 GMT)
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU)

Comments

Stag91 says...

Didn't we learn last week Williams doesn't have the pace to defend off 6 at a scrum? And another below-standard Scottish referee, I sense a turgid affair!

Posted 00:31 23rd November 2012

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