Umaga holds nerve to cut down Cardiff
Cardiff……………22pts
Tries: Belcher 18, Carre 27, Bevan 32
Conversions: De Beer 19, 27
Penalties: De Beer 59
Benetton………….23pts
Tries: Lucchesi 37, Albornoz 66
Conversions: Umaga 38, 67
Penalties: Umaga 11, 47, 80
Jacob Umaga overcome a swirling wind to snatch victory for Benetton as they overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat Cardiff away at the Arms Park in the opening round of the United Rugby Championship.
The England Under-20 international, who is the nephew of New Zealand All Blacks great Tana Umaga, stepped up to kick the winning penalty with a minute remaining.
“That last kick was difficult because of the wind and I was delighted to put it over,” said Umaga. “We were behind at half-time but were still positive and still in the their failure to kick on and A second soon followed game. Our bench made an impact and, once we kept the ball, we were back in it.”
There wasn't any complaints from Cardiff or their supporters in a crowd of 5,326 about how it came about with debut-making home prop Ciaran Parker being red carded for dangerous play by Irish referee Frank Murphy.
Parker, who had replaced Kieron Assiratti at prop, laid out Benetton forward Simone Ferrari with a shoulder to the head while attempting a tackle and there could only be one outcome.
Cardiff captain Liam Belcher said: “He got his timing wrong. There wasn't any intent, Ciaran isn't that type of person. It was a game of two halves. We managed it really well in the first half but gave them field position in the second and their 10 (Umaga) kicked well.”
Cardiff had led 1910 at the end of a first half after scoring three tries in 14 minutes. Belcher was on the end of a driving lineout for new outside-half Tinus De Beer to convert.
Prop Rhys Carre, who had been deemed over-weight for Test rugby by Wales coach Warren Gatland and his predecessor Wayne victory with two late pen-didn't help.”
Pivac, drove over for the second with De Beer adding the extras.
Cardiff 's third try saw inside passes from right-wing Owen Lane and De Beer sending scrum-half Ellis Bevan over. But De Beer's conversion was timed out by the clock – kickers are allowed a minute for attempts at goal.
Benetton got their opening when hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi dived over from a lineout catch and drive, Umaga converting from out wide and striking with a penalty early in the second half.
De Beer resplied with a penalty at the hour mark for a 22-13 lead but Benetton substitute Tomas Albornoz raced clear for a terrific try. Umaga converted and then took his match tally to 13 points with the decisive penalty.
TEAMS
CARDIFF: Winnett 5; Lane 6 (Millard 44, 5), Lee-Lo 6, Halaholo 6, Cabango 5; De Beer 7, Bevan 6; Carré 6 (Reynolds 66, 5), Belcher 7 (c), Daniel 5, Assiratti 6 (Parker 55, 4), Lewis-Hughes 6, Williams 5 (Thornton 67, 5), Mann 5 (Thornton 44-51, De la Rua 74, 4), Jenkins 6, Davies 5
BENETTON: Smith 5 (Albornoz 42, 7), Mendy 6, Riera 5 (Zanon 55, 5), Drago 5, Padovani 6; Umaga 8, Uren 7 (Duvenage 72, 6); Spagnolo 5 (Zani 55, 6), Lucchesi 5 (Bernasconi 46, 6), Zilocchi 5 (Ferrari 42, 7), Koegelenberg 5 (Iachizzi 48, 6), Snyman 7, Izekot 6, Zuliani 6, Time-Stowers 6 (Halafihi 60, 6)
REFEREE: Frank Murphy (Ire)
ATTENDANCE: 5,326
Star man: Jacob Umaga – Benetton
