Cardiff Rugby have been forced to dig deep into their squad to piece together a side to face Benetton Rugby in the Round of 16 in the EPCR Challenge Cup at Stadio Monigo (Saturday, 4 April – 5.30pm).
While versatile back row man Alex Mann returns to club duty after his outstanding Six Nations shirt in a Wales jersey, coach Corniel van Zyl has had to press academy back rower Evan Rees into a starting second row due to a major injury crisis in that position.
With regular second rowers like Josh McNally, George Nott, Teddy Williams and Ben Donnell all unavailable, Rees gets a first start for the region alongside Rory Thornton. Irish international loose head comes into the front row to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from a hamstring injury.
The 24-year-old Mann returns to join Dan Thomas and Alun Lawrence in the back row. Elijah Evans gets his first start at centre in tandem with Ben Thomas as they face the Italian international duo of Tommaso Menoncello and Leonardo Marin.
Cardiff lost nine more players to injury in South Africa, when they lost heavily to Bulls and claimed a losing bonus point against Sharks.
“We’ve had to change the team up a bit due to injuries and the need to rotate. This time of year always tests and stretches your squad but that just gives opportunities to others, and we have still been able to select a strong team to go out to Italy,” said van Zyl.
“The boys are looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity to do something in knockout rugby. It’s a great competition, in which the club has a lot of history, and we will be giving it everything we’ve got.
“Our recent matches with Benetton have been very close but we are acutely aware of how dangerous they can be at home. They have quality all over the pitch, so we will need to fight for everything.”
Benetton have made Europe a top priority this season and whoever wins faces a trip to either Exeter Chiefs or Munster in the quarter finals.
“We took a bit of a battering out in South Africa in terms of injuries, but we are here to win games and kick on,” said Cardiff skipper Liam Belcher.
“It’s the part of the season when you do get stretched, especially with international boys coming back with battered bodies. But if you had said in June or July that we would be in this position in the league, and in the Round of 16 in Europe, then I would have bitten your hand off.”
TEAMS
Benetton Rugby: Rhyno Smith; Onisi Ratave, Tommaso Menoncello, Leonardo Marin, Ignacio Mendy; Jacob Umaga, Andy Uren; Thomas Gallo, Bautista Bernasconi, Giosue Zilocchi, Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Manuel Zuliani, Michele Lamaro (captain), Lorenzo Cannone
Reps: Siua Maile, Destiny Aminu, Tiziano Pasquali, Riccardo Favretto, So’otala Fa’aso’o, Alessandro Izekor, Alessandro Garbisi, Paolo OdogwuCardiff Rugby: Ioan Lloyd; Mason Grady, Elijah Evans, Ben Thomas, Jacob Beetham; Callum Sheedy, Ellis Bevan; Ed Byrne, Liam Belcher (captain), Keiron Assiratti, Evan Rees, Rory Thornton, Alex Mann, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence
Reps: Dafydd Hughes, Rhys Barratt, Sam Wainwright, Lucas de la Rua, Evan Lloyd, Ieuan Davies, Rory Jennings, Cam WinnettReferee: Kevin Bralley (France)