Following Bristol Bears’ 35-29 victory over Benetton, here are our five takeaways from the Investec Champions Cup clash.
Top line
A 10-try blockbuster fixture at Ashton Gate came to a dramatic close with Pat Lam’s charges holding out for the win and stayed in the running for a play-off spot in doing so.
It was a glorious display of Sunday rugby in the West Country with James Williams, Max Lahiff, Harry Thacker and Kieran Marmion (2) all crossing the whitewash for the victors as Harry Byrne’s laser-like accuracy proved ever so crucial in the outcome as he knocked over all five of his conversion attempts.
As for the Italians, they were left ruing Tomas Albornoz’s three missed attempts which proved to be the deciding six points between the two sides after tries from the brilliant Rhyno Smith, Manuel Zuliani, Matt Gallagher, Bautista Bernasconi and Tommaso Menoncello.
It was a match that thrilled from minute one to 80 as the two teams traded blow-for-blow with a late disallowed Smith try denying Benetton their first-ever play-off game in the Investec Champions Cup – for now.
Centre of attention
It seems rather odd to hail the defensive efforts of a player after their team leaked five tries but we will do it anyway as Juan Ignacio Brex put on an absolute clinic of centre play.
The Italian international shot out of the defensive line with masterful accuracy as he stopped and stalled so many threatening Bristol attacks for the entire 80 minutes.
The Bears did have joy in finding holes in the defensive line where the scrum-capped centre was not present, but they had to work hard to avoid him and turned their attention to winning the battle upfront instead.
It was not just what he was capable of in defence but on attack too as just about everything Benetton did well came through the 32-year-old, who claimed a try assist and brilliantly played his part in what could have been the match-winning try.
After Paolo Garbisi put in a brilliant performance in Toulon colours against Harlequins, Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada will be licking his lips at the backline he can unleash during the Six Nations with Menoncello also having another blinder.
The Brex-Menoncello partnership was a key cog in Italy’s success last year and it was no different for Benetton on Sunday as they caused the Bears’ centres all kinds of problems on both sides of the ball. The 22-year-old shifted to the wing and shone there too grabbing his score off a wonderful line and looks in good nick as Benetton brush themselves off after a crushing defeat to tackle La Rochelle next weekend with a shot at history.
Bristol breathe a sigh of relief
To say that Bristol Bears were fortunate to escape with a victory would be an understatement.
Lam’s charges looked on track for an emphatic victory as they led Benetton 35-17 heading into the final quarter of the match after Marmion – who was superb again – grabbed his side’s fifth try.
One more score, of any kind, would have all but have put the game to bed but the Italians weren’t going to be swept aside that easily and quickly went about reducing the deficit and were given a sniff with Bernasconi diving over with 17 minutes left to play.
A growing trend from this weekend’s action has been the Premiership clubs’ soft underbelly as they have given up great advantages in their respective fixtures with the defensive structures hardly excellent and the Bears did not buck the trend. Menocello’s 67th-minute effort made it a six-point game but ultimately it was the centre’s actions that denied his team the come-from-behind victory.
After setting the platform from a rolling maul following a lineout, Brex received a fantastic flat pass from Alessandro Garbisi and the midfielder threw a stunning ball out to winger Gallagher with Menoncello running an aggressive dummy line.
However, that dummy line was far too aggressive as he thundered into the inside shoulder of Kalaveti Ravouvou with the Fijian flopping onto the floor and crucially out of the defensive line as Gallagher sent Smith over for the score that didn’t require the toughest of conversions.
Lucky for the Bears, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Ravouvou and Fitz Harding made their feelings of what occurred clear to Luc Ramos, who was eventually convinced that it was an obstructing run after so many re-watches and discussions with his assistants. In the end, he still didn’t seem that overly confident with his call but the Bears will take it.
No try for Benetton ❌
The visitors have a late try disallowed after a TMO check and Bristol Bears win it! 🐻#InvestecChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/DNF4rPa56T
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) January 12, 2025
Irish halfbacks
There was much to like about the way Bristol went about their attack even though they were terrorised by Brex’s brilliance.
But one cannot understate the impact of the Irish nine and 10 who saved the Bears from a slaying with Marmion not only scoring a brace but assisting another with a lovely pass and sharp thinking so close to the line.
As mentioned already, Byrne’s boot was the difference between the two sides today and he will certainly be pleased by that as he continues to get his Test career back on track with the loan move after falling down the pecking order at Leinster.
On debut, he missed a crucial kick to earn a losing bonus-point in the defeat to Saracens and with his first start he has redeemed himself with a strong all-court performance and six crucial points.
International watch
Fitz Harding is never really spoken about in the England selection frame but perhaps that should change, and quickly, based on his form this season. Not only did he rack up a match-high of 21 tackles but his dealings with referee Ramos was game-changing. Sam Underhill’s injury and potential unavailability means that there could be a spot up for grabs and Harding is putting his hand up.
Many of the Benetton players are almost guaranteed to be included in the Italy squad and rightly so but today some will have given Quesada some food for thought on his starting XV. Lorenzo Cannone was in fine shape again and pressing to earn his spot at the back of the Azzurri scrum after Ross Vintcent shone in the role last year.
Italy are not short on options at scrum-half but Alessandro Garbisi came on and provided the spark to get Benetton steaming in the final knockings of the match.
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/bristol-v-benetton-five-takeaways-as-irish-halfbacks-save-bears-from-slaying-in-blockbuster-10-try-thriller
