Preview: Treviso v Ospreys
Treviso have named their side for Saturday's Magners League clash against the defending champion Ospreys at Stadio Monigo.
Treviso have named their side for Saturday's Magners League clash against the defending champion Ospreys at Stadio Monigo.
The team is largely similar to that which achieved the historic 19-18 win last week against Munster.
The only changes are in the front row, with prop Michele Rizzo replaced by Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet and Pedro Di Santo taking over from Lorenzo Cittadini.
Flanker Manoa Vosawai also returns to the 22.
Meanwhile, the Ospreys are boosted by the return to action of Ireland international Tommy Bowe for their trip to the in-form Italians. Scotland back Nikki Walker is also available for action despite playing in the Six Nations last weekend.
Young flanker Justin Tipuric will, not for the first time, lead the side from seven and is joined in the back-row by Jerry Collins and Tom Smith.
The Ospreys will be hunting that victory that could take them into the top four of the league.
Form: The two teams have met on three previous occasions with Ospreys victorious each time, whilst Ospreys won 36-16 on their only previous visit to Stadio Monigo – in the European Cup on 13 December 2008. Benetton Treviso secured a sixth Magners League victory at home to Munster on Sunday – only Leinster and Munster have won more home games this season. Ospreys have won their last four matches in all competitions, but their only win on the road in the Magners League since October was 16-15 at Connacht on 19 November. The Welshmen have won all eight previous matches they have played against Italian opponents.
The teams:
Treviso: 15 Brendan Williams, 14 Ludovico Nitoglia, 13 Ezio Galon, 12 Andrea Pratichetti, 11 Michele Sepe, 10 Willem De Waal, 9 Tobias Botes, 8 Marco Filippucci, 7 Gonzalo Padrò, 6 Benjamin Vermaak, 5 Corniel Van Zyl, 4 Antonio Pavanello (c), 3 Pedro Di Santo, 2 Franco Sbaraglini, 1 Ignacio Fernandez Rouyet.
Replacements: 16 Enrico Ceccato, 17 Matteo Muccignat, 18 Lorenzo Cittadini, 19 Enrico Pavanello, 20 Manoa Vosawai, 21Benjamin De Jager, 22 Tommaso Benvenuti, 23 Andrea Marcato.
Ospreys: 15 Richard Fussell, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Jerry Collins, 7 Justin Tipuric (capt), 6 Tom Smith, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Mefin Davies, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Craig Cross, 19 Andy Lloyd, 20 James King, 21 Jamie Nutbrown, 22 Dai Flanagan, 23 Tom Isaacs.
Date: Saturday, February 19
Kick-off: 17:30
Venue: Stadio Monigo
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)