Good play from Dragons as they again feed Rio Dyer out wide and he breaks the first tackle.

They make their way into the Benetton 22 but then prop Rodrigo Martinez knocks on and it all comes to nothing.

After a slow start, Filo Tiatia's men have come into this.

Benetton are controlling possession comfortably in these opening stages.

After a burst from prop Simone Ferrari, who has 69 caps for Italy, they attempt to go wide but Fijian winger Onisi Ratave is called back for a forward pass.

The Dragons will have been relieved to hear the whistle...

A first bit of Dragons pressure as Rio Dyer breaks down the left wing before chipping ahead.

A game of kick-tennis follows before Benetton skipper Andrew Uren ends the frenzy by clearing to touch on halfway.

Going against the grain these days, Benetton opt for the posts instead of kicking to the corner.

Sure enough, Jacob Umaga pops it over from 20 metres and we have our first points of the evening.

Good start from the hosts. After several phases, centre Paulo Odogwu breaks into the Dragons 22 and from the breakdown that follows, Benetton are awarded a penalty.

A simple chance for Jacob Umaga to open the scoring...

On a cold but clear night in Treviso, home outside half Jacob Umaga gets us underway.

After a bit of basketball, the Dragons manage to gather possession and Rhodri Williams clears to touch.

Dragons coach Filo Tiatia, who played in Italy for a season before heading to Super Rugby with the Hurricanes in 1994, has this week talked up the forward power of the visitors.

"A challenge for us is to prepare really well and play well away from home," Tiatia said.

"Benetton are a physical side and we have to be on it around winning the collisions and being smart when we see opportunities.

"They haven't conceded a maul try this season, so are well coached in that department, and will be very desperate this weekend after their loss to Edinburgh last weekend."

On his time in the country as a player, he recalled: "I lived in Treviso and played for Tarvisium, a feeder club to Benetton, when I was a young buck.

"I am looking forward to going back and if I have time then I will go to a little village called Casale sul Sile. I have fond memories of living there as a young 21-year-old, it's a beautiful place and it was a steep learning curve for a boy from Wellington.

"I learnt lots because I was out of my comfort zone. I had never been anywhere else other than Samoa as a kid and Australia; it was the longest trip I'd had in a plane and it was a good experience."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Dragons fans who were craving for Filo Tiatia to go full strength tonight may be disappointed.

With the six-day turnaround to a home fixture against Newcastle in mind, he's opted for a raft of changes to the XV that humbled Scarlets nine days ago.

Full-back Angus O'Brien, centre Fine Inisi, scrum-half Che Hope, and lock Ben Carter have all been left in south Wales to rest up. Leicester-bound Wales international Aaron Wainwright and fellow back-row forward Harrison Keddie are not risked due to niggling injuries, with Shane Lewis-Hughes switching to number eight.

However, there is a welcome return for winger Rio Dyer, who missed the Scarlets win with a hamstring problem, while hooker Brodie Coughlan returns to the bench having been out since injuring his hand for Wales against South Africa.

In the front row, South African tight-head prop Cebo Dlamini makes his first start since joining from Currie Cup winners Griquas in December.

Dragons: Anderson; E Rosser, Richards, Westwood, Dyer; de Beer, R Williams (capt); Martinez, Burrows, Dlamini, Douglas, Screech, Woodman, Beddall, Lewis-Hughes.

Replacements: Coghlan, Morris, Hunt, Langton-Cryer, Young, M Lloyd, J Lloyd, Owen.

Image source, Getty Images

So, fair to say Benetton head coach Calum Macrae, a former Scotland sevens player who was previously in charge of Edinburgh, is not taking this one lightly.

He's named a strong line-up tonight, the starting team just short of 350 international caps between them, almost 200 more on the bench, and some iconic surnames to boot.

England fans might well remember outside half Jacob Umaga, who was capped once under Eddie Jones before switching his allegiance to Samoa. The nephew of New Zealand legend Tana is one of 12 players in the starting XV with international experience and Italy winger Louis Lynagh, son of the great Australian No.10 Michael, also plays.

Skipper Andrew Uren, ironically one who has not played for his country, is also well known on British shores. The English scrum-half made more than 150 appearances for Bristol Bears from 2013 to 2023.

Benetton: Gallagher; Lynagh, Odogwu, Fekitoa, Ratave; Umaga, Uren (capt); Spagnolo, Gasperini, Ferrari, N Cannone, Ruzza, Izekor, Zuliani, L Cannone.

Replacements: Bernasconi, Chaparro, Zilocchi, Scrafton, Snyman, Lamaro, Garbisi, Marin.

Welcome to Stadio Comunale di Monigo as the Dragons return to European action against Benetton. And following a festive period that Dragons fans would not have wanted to end, Filo Tiatia's squad have arrived in Treviso with fresh reason for optimism.

It was the Challenge Cup that sparked the upturn for the New Zealander and his players - the dramatic comeback against Lyon on 14 December ensuring a first win of 2025. Then came the hammering of Connacht, a narrow defeat in Cardiff, and a resounding bonus point win over Scarlets on New Year's Day.

Now the big question is, can they win on the road? A feat not achieved since beating Newcastle almost 13 months ago.

Pulling off an upset tonight would leave the Welsh side on the brink of the knockout stages. Benetton however, top of Pool 2 after victories in both their opening fixtures, are looking to rubber stamp their own passage into the round of 16.

The scene is set. So let's look at the teams.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

There will be plenty of reaction to Cardiff's bonus-point win over Racing 92 on the BBC Sport website, but now our attention turns to Benetton v Dragons!

• 50% - possession - 50%
• 8 (100%) - scrums - 11 (100%)
• 14 (93%) - lineout - 9 (89%)
• 137 - passes - 110
• 107 - ball carries - 93
• 101 - tackles made - 139
• 27 - tackles missed- 25
• 79% - tackle completion - 85%

Image source, BBC Sport

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It's likely that Cardiff's place in the knockout stages will be confirmed tomorrow, when Cheetahs need to cause an upset against Ulster AND score four tries.

Cardiff, who are in a strong position to qualify for the United Rugby Championship play-offs, will travel to Exeter looking to earn a last-16 tie at the Arms Park.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Job done by Cardiff with a mightily impressive performance in the second half.

Tries by Tom Bowen, Rory Thornton, Keiron Assiratti and Ben Thomas earn the five points.

Thomas rightly named as the official man of the match after an influential display by the Wales centre.

Cardiff on the brink of the last 16 - and could be rubber-stamped tomorrow if Ulster avoid an upset against Cheetahs in the Netherlands.

Should have been a fifth after quick ball off the top of the lineout is given to replacement scrum-half Ellis Bevan five metres out.

He is caught in two minds and knocks on when he could have made the line with a bit more conviction.

A superb rip by Cardiff lock Josh McNally and scrum-half Ellis Bevan chips over the top.

Iwan Stephens has the pace but doesn't get the kind bounce needed and he is unable to finish despite an acrobatic effort.

Cardiff remain in the right part of the pitch as the clock ticks down.

James Hook
Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

Racing haven’t been at the races this second half, Cardiff been in control.

Sheedy’s kicking game has been good today, attacking kicking as well.