Heineken Cup
Treviso hoping for giant-killing show against Leicester
Scrum.com
October 13, 2008
Benetton Treviso captain Ben de Jager, November 10 2007.
Treviso skipper Ben de Jager will be hoping for a scalp against Leicester this weekend © Getty Images
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Benetton Treviso and Leicester Tigers meet for the first time in the Heineken Cup when they clash in Round 2 at Stadio Comunale di Monigo on Saturday with Italian three-quarter and Treviso captain Ben de Jager declaring "we are taking on one of the best teams in Europe - but it is still only 15 against 15."

Leicester have appeared in three Heineken Cup finals, winning back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002, and go into their Italian job on the back of a tense 12-6 win over the Ospreys that failed to produce a try but did produce plenty of passion and commitment.

By contrast a 27-16 Round 1 defeat for Benetton Treviso at Perpignan last Friday means they are out to end a nine-match home lost run at the expense of the double champions. "It was, just as we expected, an extremely hard and high intensity match at Perpignan and, while we are satisfied overall with out performance, we also know that this week we have to work on cutting out the mistakes we made before we meet Leicester," said de Jager.

"What was pleasing was that we played some positive attacking rugby and put them under pressure while our defence was very good. But, in addition to eliminating those mistakes, I guess the other area we must look at is in improving our attack."

Leicester are currently experiencing their worst away run in their 12th season in the tournament - failing to win on the road at all in last season's competition after losing in the 2007 final - but new coach Heyneke Meyer will be looking for an immediate end to that sequence.

"Leicester are a top quality team and their record shows that they are consistently one of best sides in Europe," said de Jager. We know Treviso have plenty of international players in their squad but we also have skilful players who we believe can compete at this level and we certainly will not be going into the match with any sort of inferiority complex - as far as we are concerned it is anyone's game.

"Our aim will be to do our best in playing and sticking to our own game plan while keeping our shape. However, we do accept that their greatest strengths are in their pack in general and their front five in particular. That is where we will have to take them on and not let them get on top in the scrums. "They have a big, strong pack full of experience so we will have to try and stop them up front and then keep them in check behind.

"I appreciate that it is easier said than done and that we have to do the business on the field but we want our players to enjoy the experience of playing such a great club and it is from these sort of games that you learn so much.

"We are trying to play a fluent style of rugby, throwing the ball around a bit, but all the time staying within our structure and playing the way we train. The bottom line is we are attempting to get the simple things right and, if we can do the basics well then our game can expand."

HEINEKEN CUP 2008/09 (All kick-offs LOCAL times)

ROUND 2

FRIDAY 17 OCTOBER, 2008

Pool 5 Glasgow Warriors v Toulouse 20.00 Alan Lewis (I) Sky Sports / Canal+ Sport / Sky Italia

SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER, 2008

Pool 2 Castres Olympique v Edinburgh 18.30 Andrew Small (E) Canal+ Sport / Sky Sports**

Pool 2 Leinster v London Wasps 17.30 Nigel Owens (W) Sky Sports / RTE* / Sky Italia

Pool 3 Benetton Treviso v Leicester Tigers 14.35 Romain Poite (F) Sky Italia / Sky Sports**

Pool 3 Ospreys v Perpignan 15.30 Wayne Barnes (E) Sky Sports / France 2

Pool 4 Stade Français Paris v Scarlets 14.35 Peter Allan (S) Canal+ / Sky Sports

Pool 4 Harlequins v Ulster Rugby 15.00 Tim Hayes (W)

Pool 6 Biarritz Olympique v Rugby Calvisano 18.00 Andy McPherson (S)

SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER, 2008

Pool 1 Montauban v ASM Clermont Auvergne 16.00 Chris White (E) France 2

Pool 1 Sale Sharks v Munster 13.00 Christophe Berdos (F) Sky Sports / Sport+*** / RTE*

Pool 5 Bath Rugby v Newport Gwent Dragons 13.00 Carlo Damasco (It) S4C* / Sky Sports**

Pool 6 Cardiff Blues v Gloucester Rugby 15.00 Alain Rolland (I) Sky Sports / Sky Italia

* Delayed highlights ** Red button *** Delayed

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