Rugby
URC: Benetton vs Ulster Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: February 15, 2025 Kickoff Time: 19:15 (SAST) Venue: Stadio Monigo Benetton were kept scoreless in their last match against the Ospreys. They have the opportunity to put the memories of this shocking performance to bed when they play Ulster in a United Rugby Championship match at Stadio Monigo on Saturday, 15 February 2025. Surely the Italian team will score points in this match? Check out these betting sites with welcome bonuses to enhance your betting experience. Read SportsBoom’s match preview which tells you the leading rugby betting sites to wager with.
Eric O'Sullivan is tackled by Alessandro Izekor and Michele Lamaro//Getty Images
Benetton currently sit in 11th position on the URC table with 23 points from ten matches played which includes four victories, one draw, and five defeats. Meanwhile, Ulster sit in 9th place with 23 points from ten matches played which includes four wins and six losses. Only points difference separates these teams on the table.
Ulster has a points difference of -12. Benetton has a points difference of -73. This does not make good reading for either team. It means that they have both conceded more points than they have scored on aggregate in their ten matches played. This also explains why both these teams have lost more matches than they have won. Benetton and Ulster have won a combined total of eight matches from 20 games played. This stat tells us that both teams will be happy about playing each other, this means that one of these teams will win this match.
Ulster have won three out of their last four matches against Benetton. They beat the Italian team 38-34 on the 26th of April 2024. However, it must be pointed out that all three wins came at the home ground of Ulster. Benetton beat the Irish team 31-29 the last time the teams met at Stadio Monigo. This match took place on the 7th of January 2023.
PRE-GAME ODDS AND WIN PROBABILITY
ULSTER FAVOURITES
Home: 133/100 (2.33) - 42,9%
Draw: 24/1 (25) - 4%
Away: 18/25 (1.72) - 58,1%
*Odds courtesy of Betway - subject to change.
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Last Four Fixtures (URC)
26/04/24: Ulster 38-34 Benetton
07/01/23: Benetton 31-29 Ulster
08/10/21: Ulster 28-8 Benetton
02/10/20: Ulster 35-24 Benetton
BENETTON: CURRENT FORM - LWLWW
Benetton have won three out of their last five matches. They lost 43-0 to the Ospreys in a horror show on the 24th of January 2025. Watching this game again, it looks like Benetton should not have played the game - it was such an easy walkover for the Ospreys. Before this match, they scored an impressive 32-25 victory over La Rochelle. The Italians also lost 35-29 to Bristol in a European Rugby Champions Cup match. Hopefully this time Benetton plays some rugby and arrives at the game not only in a physical presence, but also in the rugby sense of the word.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Agustin Creevy: The Argentine hooker is a rugby icon. He is good at stealing opposition ball at the breakdown. Agustin Creevy is also a good scrummager and a capable tryscorer.
- Tomas Albornoz: A fly-half is one of the most important positions in the entire rugby team. This position has seen iconic players like Handre Pollard and Dan Carter take the limelight. If Tomas Albornoz has a good game, this will go a long way to securing the victory for Benetton. He will need the forwards to secure first phase ball so that he can dictate play with kicks into space and put Ulster under pressure.
- Marco Zanon: The inside centre has the experienced Malakai Fekitoa on the outside. Marco Zanon will be looking to punch holes in the Ulster defence. If he clicks with Fekitoa, they can form a good combination. He has made 36 carries throughout the season.
ULSTER: CURRENT FORM - LWLWL
Ulster have only won two out of their last five matches. They went down in heartbreaking fashion with a 15-14 defeat to Zebre on the 26th of January. Before this game, they smashed Exeter Chiefs 52-24 in a European Rugby Champions Cup match. They were also beaten 38-10 by Leicester Tigers.
KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Scott Wilson: Props do so much work on and off the ball and they just don’t get the credit they deserve. The modern day prop can even run down the wing and they have a complete skill set of power and pace. Scott Wilson will be looking to scrum, run and smash his way over the try line in this game.
- John Cooney: The scrum-half position has the most touches of the ball out of every player in a rugby team. This is why it’s so vital that the scrum-half has a good game. The Irish scrum-half has scored two tries throughout the URC this season. He will be looking for more in this game against Benetton.
- Ben Carson: The outside centre has impressed this season. He has scored three tries. Ben Carson has also gained 214 metres with ball in hand and made 28 successful carries.
PREDICTED LINE-UPS
Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Siua Maile, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Giulio Marini, 3 Enzo Avaca, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Thomas Gallo.
Ulster: 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Mike Lowry, 13 Ben Carson, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 John Cooney, 8 Dave McCann, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Lorcan Mcloughlin, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Eric O’Sullivan.
SUGGESTED BETS
Highest Scoring Half - 2nd Half: Three out of the last four matches between these teams have produced over 54.5 points. The last match between these teams produced a combined total of 72 points. We’re expecting an action-packed second half in this match. (19/20 with Betway) (19/20 with 1Win)
Winning Margin: Benetton by 1-7: The most recent match between these teams was a close game with a winning margin of four points. SportsBoom predicts another closely contested game. (3/1 with Betway) (3/1 with 1Win)
VALUE BETS
Malakai Fekitoa - Anytime Tryscorer: World Cup-winning centre Malakai Fekitoa is hard to stop with ball in hand. He is a typical Tongan player, big and fast. He runs straight at the line with good angles. Malakai Fekitoa has scored one try throughout the season. He has also made ten offloads and 60 carries.
Rhyno Smith - Anytime Tryscorer: The South African fullback has scored three tries for Benetton this season. His stats are impressive. Rhyno Smith has made 11 clean breaks. He has also beaten 26 defenders.
PREDICTION: BENETTON TO WIN
Italian rugby has been on the rise in recent years. The national team lost 36 matches in a row at one stage. However, ever since that magical day that winger Edoardo Padovani announced his arrival on the scene with a try against Wales that ended the Azzurri's losing sequence, it seems that this has caught on to Benetton. This match will be closely contested. However, SportsBoom predicts that the home team will fly the flag for Italy with a victory.
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