Treviso stun champions Perpignan at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo
Italian champions Benetton Treviso produced one of the most sensational upsets in the history of the Heineken Cup as they beat French champions Perpignan 9-8 in the wet on Saturday.
The Italian side have only picked up one win in four seasons of European rugby, so the upset, against the favourites in group 1, came as a bit of a surprise for the players themselves.
South African flyhalf Marius Goosen kicked all three penalties, with Jerome Porical kicking the visitors’ first points in the 54th minute.
Late in the game Porical had a chance of snatching the win after he scored a try with only a few minutes left. His conversion kick went wide though, and it was joy for Italian rugby as they picked up their biggest scalp in the competition to date.
Manager of the winning side, Franco Properzi, was over the moon.
"We've had some good results in the past, but in this game we beat the French champions - we've never done that before. It was a great day for Treviso in the Heineken Cup and a significant day for Italian rugby," said Properzi.
"It was a very hard game and it was made all the more difficult in the beginning because of the wet weather. That helped our scrum and pick and drive, but once the sun came out it allowed Perpignan to throw the ball about.
"It has got to be the greatest win we’ve ever had in the Heineken Cup and it breaks the sequence of eight successive defeats in the tournament that we had suffered in the past two seasons."
"It was a great feeling when the final whistle went and the crowd went mad. They supported us superbly throughout the game and gave us great help."
They travel to Thomond Park next to take on Munster.
The footage isn’t great, as it was low scoring and the weather was terrible, but some have requested to see a glimpse of this great moment for Italian rugby, so we obliged.
Time: 0:42
The Italian side have only picked up one win in four seasons of European rugby, so the upset, against the favourites in group 1, came as a bit of a surprise for the players themselves.
South African flyhalf Marius Goosen kicked all three penalties, with Jerome Porical kicking the visitors’ first points in the 54th minute.
Late in the game Porical had a chance of snatching the win after he scored a try with only a few minutes left. His conversion kick went wide though, and it was joy for Italian rugby as they picked up their biggest scalp in the competition to date.
Manager of the winning side, Franco Properzi, was over the moon.
"We've had some good results in the past, but in this game we beat the French champions - we've never done that before. It was a great day for Treviso in the Heineken Cup and a significant day for Italian rugby," said Properzi.
"It was a very hard game and it was made all the more difficult in the beginning because of the wet weather. That helped our scrum and pick and drive, but once the sun came out it allowed Perpignan to throw the ball about.
"It has got to be the greatest win we’ve ever had in the Heineken Cup and it breaks the sequence of eight successive defeats in the tournament that we had suffered in the past two seasons."
"It was a great feeling when the final whistle went and the crowd went mad. They supported us superbly throughout the game and gave us great help."
They travel to Thomond Park next to take on Munster.
The footage isn’t great, as it was low scoring and the weather was terrible, but some have requested to see a glimpse of this great moment for Italian rugby, so we obliged.
Time: 0:42
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22 Comments:
first!! waited so long for this moment...
By Anonymous, at October 16, 2009 1:01 am
To be first? lol
Go italy:D! grats from wales lol. I hate your football team because of the sport:) but nicee
By matt, at October 16, 2009 1:46 am
We see yet another upset this season.
By Crosser, at October 16, 2009 2:01 am
Well done Treviso :)
By John F, at October 16, 2009 2:15 am
should be proud. Well done!
By Alexander, at October 16, 2009 2:15 am
The quality gap is closing every year!
By Maximus, at October 16, 2009 2:21 am
cant wait for the 10/11 Magners League.
By Anonymous, at October 16, 2009 4:13 am
Haha, I love it! I'm all about Munster, but I hope Treviso beat them and somehow pull out first in their group. What a story that'd be!
I just like seeing the underdog win it...gives me hope that some day, the U.S. sides will get to that point, too (...that day is probably far, far away considering our Select XV just lost by some 50 points to the Arg. Jaguars). Come on Italy!
By danish, at October 16, 2009 5:54 am
Treviso will win the Magners league within 2 seasons, guarantee it. Forza Italia!
By Anonymous, at October 16, 2009 7:12 am
ok maybe 5 seasons :)
By Anonymous, at October 16, 2009 7:13 am
Awesome win, lets see them beat Munster!
By Anonymous, at October 16, 2009 10:09 am
a buddhist walks into a pizza shop and says 'make me one with everything'
im here all week
By Anonymous, at October 16, 2009 11:13 am
Favouites in Pool 1? In all the odds I've seen Perpignan are listed behind both Northampton and Munster.
By 2 is not enough, at October 16, 2009 11:25 am
northampton ftw! and n1 treviso.
By Anonymous, at October 16, 2009 11:37 am
Great for Italy, it's a shame a nation of that size doesn't embrace the sport more. But rugby will never win over the football majority in those parts.
By Anonymous, at October 16, 2009 11:40 am
thanks treviso,rome wasn't built in a day,and so italian rugby,but we are growing!
By Anonymous, at October 16, 2009 11:41 am
maximus is rigt, it had to start happening at some stage and "upsets" like this will be seen more frequently in the future :)
By opfazonk, at October 16, 2009 12:09 pm
its a shame for the young perpignan kicker as his kick looks like its good but then just fades away.. :(
but it's still a BELLISIMA win for treviso and italian rugby in general!!
it'll prob spice up the next magners league if treviso can beat welsh/scottish/irish teams
Forza Italia!!
By luxi, at October 16, 2009 1:47 pm
Great win for an Italian side, pity a Saffa scored all the points though.
By Mike, at October 16, 2009 5:49 pm
Great to see big upsets like this. Lets see if they can do the same to munster and prove it wasn't a one off.
By WelshOsprey, at October 16, 2009 8:41 pm
Whether rugby grows in Italy or not this was a great win for all those who love the game. Nothing better than seeing a minnow take down a whale. Viva la rugby Trevisio!
By Canadian Content, at October 17, 2009 9:19 pm
2 is not enough, you took the words right out of my mouth. How can Perpignan be favourites for the group when Munster are 4/1 fav for the Cup itself.
Great win, but Italian rugby was stronger in the early and mid 90s than now. Why do you think they got into the 6 (5) Nations. Especially with Dominguez controlling things. Lets not forget Michael Lynagh played for Treviso for a couple of seasons aswell.
Hope they keep it up, stronger Italian rugby means stronger European rugger.
By Huh!! the 3rd, at October 19, 2009 1:26 pm
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