Winless Lions outmuscled by Benetton after Morne van den Berg suffers injury

Despite an encouraging start - and an early penalty from flyhalf Chris Smith to take a 3â-0 lead - the visitors were soon on the back foot as Benetton's clinical finishing and physical dominance took control of the contest.

Smith's opening penalty came after strong work at the breakdown, but it wasn't long before the Italian outfit responded. Former Cheetahs fullback Rhyno Smith struck first for the hosts before further tries from a rampaging Simone Ferrari and dynamic winger Louis Lynagh pushed Benetton into a commanding 24â-10 lead at the break.

The Lions' lone highlight of the first half came from prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, who powered over from close range after sustained pressure to narrow the gap briefly to seven points. However, defensive lapses and handling errors repeatedly let Benetton off the hook.

To compound matters, scrumhalf Morne van den Berg - one of the Lions' key playmakers - was forced off injured early in the match, robbing the side of valuable attacking rhythm.

The Johannesburg side showed flashes of improvement after the interval, dominating possession at times and winning several scrum penalties through their bench front row. But poor execution and a lack of composure in the red zone meant their pressure yielded little reward.

Benetton, meanwhile, remained ruthless. Lynagh completed his hat-trick midway through the second half and then added a fourth in stoppage time. Jacob Umaga was flawless from the tee in the second period, stretching the gap beyond reach.

A late try from replacement prop Conraad van Vuuren offered some consolation, but it was too little, too late for a Lions outfit that never truly threatened to turn the tide.

Fullback Quan Horn's yellow card for a deliberate knock-on in the closing stages summed up a forgettable day for the Gauteng outfit, who were second-best in almost every department.

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