NO MERCY

THE Stormers will show Benetton no mercy when the two teams clash in Saturday's 6.30pm United Rugby Championship (URC) match in Treviso, Italy.

Having never beaten Benetton on their home patch in two previous meetings, Stormers assistant coach Rito Hlungwani says the Kapenaars will need to be ruthless as they target a third-straight win on the road.

The current URC log leaders have already taken down Scarlets (34-0) and Zebre (31-7) as the Stormers eye ending of a three-week tour unbeaten for the first time since debuting in the competition.

But of needing to level up against a sterk Benetton side, Hlungwani, wysed: “We are going to need to step it up a level. Every opportunity we get, we want to break the opponent. We are doing well, but we still feel there is room for us to be more ruthless.”

Benetton head into tomorrow’s game after a hewige 43-0 klap from Edinburgh at Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, but Hlungwani says the Stormers aren’t shocked by that result.

According to him, the Italians are targeting Saturday's game and explained: “There are no easy teams in the competition. We are well aware of that and just like Zebre the week before [against Ospreys], Benetton did not travel with all their Italian internationals.

“They are targeting this game against us. They will put out their best team, but we will be ready for that.”

Warning Benetton that they have become a much smarter touring team, Hlungwani added: “We have now picked up some good experience from going on tour over the years.

“We feel we are now ready to compete against any team when we come over here. With no exception to Benetton.

“They are a team that we have been targeting for this weekend.”

Stormers head coach John Dobson will announce his matchday squad to tackle Benetton on Friday. 

URC FIXTURES:

Friday: Glasgow v Bulls (8.45pm)

Saturday: Lions v Ulster (1.45pm), Sharks v Scarlets (4pm), Leinster v Zebre, Dragons v Ospreys (both 6.30pm); Munster v Connacht, Cardiff v Edinburgh (both 8.45pm)