THE FUSE

A season in Italy helped Filo Tiatia on his journey to becoming an All Black and now the Dragons head coach hopes a trip to Treviso can help his in-form side take their next step.

The Rodney Parade club take on United Rugby Championship (URC) rivals Benetton in the European Challenge Cup on Saturday.

They are buoyed by Rodney Parade wins against Lyon, Connacht and Scarlets, but have not won on their travels since beating Newcastle in December 2024.

An upset at Stadio Monigo would not only end their travel sickness, but put Dragons on the brink of qualification for the knockout stages along with a chance of earning a home tie.

"A challenge for us is to prepare really well and play well away from home," said Tiatia, whose side host Newcastle in round four of the group stages.

"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."

European Challenge Cup: Benetton v Dragons

Tiatia, 54, returns to familiar territory in Treviso.

He played in the city for Tarvisium in 1993-4 before making his Super Rugby breakthrough with Hurricanes and going on to win a pair of caps for New Zealand.

"I lived in Treviso and played for Tarvisium, a feeder club to Benetton, when I was a young buck," he said.

"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."

Dragons had not won in 2025 until stunning Lyon with a last-quarter comeback in the Challenge Cup on 14 December.

They followed that by demolishing Connacht 48-28, going close in a 22-19 defeat at Cardiff and then beating Scarlets 28-5 on New Year's Day.

With a six-day turnaround to a home fixture against Newcastle, full-back Angus O'Brien, centre Fine Inisi, scrum-half Che Hope, lock Ben Carter are also given the weekend off.

Leicester-bound Wales international Aaron Wainwright and fellow back-row forward Harrison Keddie are not risked with niggles, meaning that Shane Lewis-Hughes switches to number eight.

"We have been playing some decent footie, but have made a few changes and there are opportunities for players who have been working hard," said Tiatia.

"We are trying to form competition in the group, which is important for the long term."

South African tight-head prop Cebo Dlamini makes his first start since joining from Currie Cup winners Griquas on a short-term deal.

Wales wing Rio Dyer is back after being a late withdrawal against Scarlets because of a hamstring strain while hooker Brodie Coghlan, who has not played since Wales' autumn defeat by South Africa because of a hand injury, is on the bench.

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.

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.

Referee: Benoit Rousselet (Fra)

Assistants: Pierre Bru (Fra), Thomas Chereque (Fra)

TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)