The last of the Benetton head coach before leaving Bortolami and becoming coach «The Bulls? They have the first eight really strong men, and after 3-4 rounds they kick “
/ TREVISO
Tomorrow will be Kieran Crowley’s last competitive appearance in Treviso: the Rainbow Cup final is in fact the final act of his 5 years spent at Ghirada. Consensual separation even if anticipated by a year, decided in full pandemic and with the team that was struggling, devastated by injuries and blue summons. Now things are going much better and, however the match with the Bulls goes, it will be a worthy farewell: having brought his team to play for a Cup, even at the end of the worst Pro 14 ever, and having eyes on the whole Oval Europe is the legacy that Kieran, 60 on August 31, will leave us before starting to be Italy’s new coach in July.
Coach, how is Benetton approaching this highly anticipated final?
«I would say that we are in the right condition. After the Pro 14 unfortunately ended without a win, that good performance against Agen in the Challenge brought about the turning point of the season, it gave us a lot of confidence. And we then proved it on our Rainbow debut against Glasgow. So the confidence gradually increased and gradually the other successes arrived that led us to play the final. Today the team is ready for the Bulls, we are all excited for this first historic final in Italy ».
How did the last days of preparation go?
«This week in training we didn’t want to put too much intensity into it, we preferred we didn’t want to force but, rather, keep in shape. And tomorrow the turnover will be rather limited ».
What kind of match do you imagine tomorrow in Monigo?
«We know the Bulls well, they have the top eight really strong men, a very powerful scrum, they play rugby where they play 3-4 phases then kick. And the wings are very fast. So it will be a game characterized by a lot of physicality, where the forwards will certainly be decisive ».
How do you place these five years spent in Treviso in your career?
«In every country where I have been, in every club I have known I have had a different experience from the previous ones. For sure, having worked with Benetton was important for me, I think I’m leaving a better team and company than when I arrived in 2016 ».
Any regrets at all, coach?
“No. I know well that in sport, as in life, it happens to have ups and downs: sometimes things went well, others less. But leaving Benetton by winning a Cup would be the best… ».
With Italy it will be the second time as a national team coach.
«Yes, I have also been with Canada and it is a difficult and different job from that in a club, where you can have the players available every day and not four weeks. In any case, I am very happy to have had this opportunity ».
What have you enjoyed the most in Treviso in recent years?
“Many things: the tranquility of the city, the culture, its people, good food and drink. I will miss them. And I will also miss the daily relationship with the boys, the daily work with the staff. I take this opportunity to greet the fans, who I will see again at the stadium, and their return is very important. And I also greet all my colleagues, Goosen, Ongaro, Galon and Bortolami, to whom I will leave the baton. Marco in the new league I’m sure he will do well, I don’t think he will continue my work but he will carry on his ideas of rugby, which are quite different from mine. I wish him good luck ». –