The Irish province have not been beaten by Italian opponents since losing to Zebre in September 2017 and their only previous defeat to Benetton came back in 2011.

Benetton have never won the opening three matches of the season but neither have they won a game outside Italy since March 2020.

Their last clash with an Irish province ended in a 20-12 home win against Connacht but the Rainbow Cup winners have never won successive matches against Irish opponents.

Ulster have no new injury concerns ahead of their second clash with Italian opposition in two weeks.

Stuart McCloskey (hamstring) and Jordi Murphy sustained recent injuries in training and are currently unfit for selection.

Jacob Stockdale (ankle) and Rob Lyttle (back) also sustained recent training ground injuries and will have their fitness for selection monitored through the coming week.

Cormac Izuchukwu and Luke Marshall remain out with knee injuries while winger Robert Baloucoune recovers from a groin injury.

Captain Iain Henderson is sidelined with a thumb injury while former Leinster prop Jack McGrath is working his way to full fitness after a hip injury.

Kieran Treadwell is still sidelined with the shoulder injury he picked up during pre-season and is currently working his way back into contention.

Team News

Ulster

(15-9) Will Addison, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, Nathan Doak;

(1-8) Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Sam Carter (Capt.), Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, David McCann.

Replacements: Brad Roberts, Callum Reid, Ross Kane, Mick Kearney, Sean Reidy, David Shanahan, Mike Lowry, Ben Moxham.

Benetton

(15-9) 15 Rhyno Smith *, 14 Ratuva Tavuyara (47), 13 Marco Zanon (42), 12 Tommaso Benvenuti (119), 11 Luca Sperandio (64), 10 Leonardo Marin (2), 9 Callum Braley (15).

(8-1) 8 Braam Steyn (88), 7 Michele Lamaro (c) (24), 6 Giovanni Pettinelli (48), 5 Federico Ruzza (73), 4 Irné Herbst (64), 3 Ivan Nemer (18), 2 Corniel Els (12), 1 Federico Zani (54).

Replacements: 16 Tomas Baravalle (54), 17 Cherif Traoré (72), 18 Tiziano Pasquali (85), 19 Marco Lazzaroni (113), 20 Sebastian Negri (50), 21 Lorenzo Cannone (2), 22 Luca Petrozzi (20), 23 Luca Morisi (85).

Odds

Ulster 1/8

Draw 25/1

Benetton 5/1

Where To Watch

The game will kick-off at 7:35 pm BST and will be available to watch live on Premier Sports, SuperSport and URC TV.

The post Ulster v Benetton – Preview, Team News, Odds, Where To Watch appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Herring has been named alongside Andrew Warwick and Tom O’Toole in the front row for the match against the Rainbow Cup champions.

Sam Carter comes into the side to partner Alan O’Connor, and Carter will also skipper the side.

Matty Rea is named at blindside flanker, with Nick Timoney at openside, and David McCann completing the base of the pack at Number Eight.

The backline that started last Saturday against Zebre at the Stade Sergio Lanfranchi has been retained.

Will Addison is selected at full-back with Ethan McIlroy and Craig Gilroy alongside him on the wings.

Stewart Moore and James Hume will form the centre partnership, and Nathan Doak and Billy Burns are named at scrum-half and out-half.

The forward replacements will be Brad Roberts, Callum Reid, Ross Kane, Mick Kearney and Sean Reidy, and the backline options are David Shanahan, Mike Lowry and Ben Moxham.

Ulster Team v Benetton

(15-9) Will Addison, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, Nathan Doak;

(1-8) Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor, Sam Carter (Capt.), Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, David McCann.

Replacements: Brad Roberts, Callum Reid, Ross Kane, Mick Kearney, Sean Reidy, David Shanahan, Mike Lowry, Ben Moxham.

Players not considered due to injury or unavailability:

Jack McGrath, Marty Moore, Eric O’Sullivan, Iain Henderson, Kieran Treadwell, Cormac Izuchukwu, Dave O’Connor, Jordi Murphy, John Cooney, Stuart McCloskey, Luke Marshall, Rob Baloucoune, Jacob Stockdale, Rob Lyttle.

The post Herring set to make 200th appearance for Ulster against Benetton appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

RTE Sport report that their is also restrictions on public gatherings and sporting events. These are the Italian regions of Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Veneto. The women’s Six Nations meeting between Scotland and Italy was postponed as were four Seria A League games. Pro 14 rugby said they will remain in contact with Italian rugby authorities. They said on their website, “To ensure the safety of our players and spectators PRO14 Rugby fully supports the preventative measures taken in Italy and will adhere to the directives from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and local authorities,”.They stated that the current restrictions will remain in place till March 1st.

The Ireland v Italy game is also under threat. Six Nations released a statement saying that everything’s been monitored closely and they are in constant contact with FIR and all other rugby unions. Simon Harris Minister for Health also expressed his concern about the virus and what it could to do some events. Speaking to RTE News he said “The rugby game is something that needs considerable consideration”. “There will be some big decisions that have to be made in the coming days including mass gatherings.

As of now the IRFU have stated that the games will go ahead as planned. However, the union said it will follow government advice on the matter. It wouldn’t be the first time a Six Nations game was called off though. In 2001 Ireland’s Six Nations meeting with England was postponed due to the outbreak of foot and mouth. The game was eventually played the following October.

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