Benetton Treviso vs Connacht Rugby Prediction & Betting Tips - Challenge Cup

Prediction published on 13/04/2024, 04:30  by Devesh Jaganath | Modified on 13/04/2024 at 05:21 in Challenge Cup Predictions

URC rivals Benetton and Connacht will collide in the final quarter-final of the EPCR Challenge Cup in Treviso on Sunday afternoon. Despite Giacomo Nicotera's red card in the 43rd minute and Malakai Fekitoa's yellow card in the 67th minute, Benetton managed to secure a convincing 27-10 victory over the Lions last weekend. Discipline will undoubtedly be a focal point for them this week. Notably, Benetton has never lost a knockout fixture in the European competition at home and aims to replicate their remarkable 35-8 win over the Bulls in the 2021 Rainbow Cup. With a plethora of Italian internationals in peak form, buoyed by their recent success in the Six Nations, Benetton is brimming with confidence. The club's home advantage adds to their strength, as the atmosphere at Benetton is renowned as one of the best in Europe. Additionally, Benetton boasts superior patience and territorial awareness, coupled with the precision of Jacob Umaga, who has only missed one of his 18 shots at goal in the competition.

Connacht may not always display consistent form, but they've proven to be a formidable force in knockout situations. Their recent victory over Pau in France showcased one of their strongest performances despite the setbacks of injuries to Shayne Bolton, Jack Carty, and Jarrad Butler. Andrew Smith, JJ Hanrahan, and Paul Boyle have been called upon to fill their positions, with Darragh Murray stepping in for his brother Niall, who is named on the bench. The bench also features Peter Dooley, Cathal Forde, and the promising 22-year-old scrumhalf Matthew Devine, son of former Connacht winger Michael. Wilkins finds encouragement in Connacht's narrow loss to the Italians in their recent URC match, where they fell short by just four points. The continued strong support from Connacht fans, who have travelled in large numbers once again, adds to the team's morale and determination.