Cardiff Rugby v Benetton preview

Released at the end of last season, Welsh international centre Willis Halaholo is now back starting for Cardiff having signed a short-term contract.

Looking ahead to the season opener, newly promoted head coach Matt Sherratt said: “Benetton are a very organised team, with a really good attack, especially off set-piece.

“They have got lots of variety, lots of trick plays and have signed really well. They have a pretty good squad.”

As for Benetton boss Marco Bortolami, he is looking to set the record straight after a costly 30-13 defeat on their last visit to the Arms Park in February. “We were disappointed with that game because we didn’t play well at all,” said the former Italy second row.

“We have been talking about that match and we want to be better.

“It was one of those games we had a big regret about at the end of the season. So we have got to make sure we don’t have that regret this time. If we can be our best version, we can leave with the result at the end of the day.”

Bortolami has picked out starting flanker Alessandro Izekor as a player he has high hopes for.

• Cardiff Rugby’s last six fixtures in BKT URC have been evenly split with three wins and three defeats. 
• Cardiff have won only one of their last five Championship matches at the Arms Park, beating today’s opponents, Benetton, there in February. 
• Cardiff have lost just one of their last eleven Championship matches against Italian opponents. 
• The Welshmen have won on the opening weekend for the last four years. 
• Benetton Rugby ended the 2022/23 BKT United Rugby Championship campaign with three straight defeats, all against South African opponents in the last three rounds. 
• The Italians won twice away in the URC last season, beating Zebre in December and Ospreys in March. 
• Benetton’s only defeat in their last five fixtures against Welsh regions was on their most recent visit to the Arms Park last February. 
• Benetton have won two of their last three encounters with Cardiff including their 27-23 triumph in Treviso in last season's Challenge Cup quarter final. 
• Benetton have visited the Arms Park on nine previous occasions in all tournaments and lost them all.