Improved second half sees Munster into the qualifiers

Munster 30, Benetton 21

THEY have nailed their place in the top eight of the URC tonight, but it was not easy. Munster struggled in the opening half and they trailed 10 to 14 at the break. They scored first, Jack Crowley touching down after their first visit to the opposition 22 and the out-half also kicked the conversion. Benetton were always threatening and they levelled the game when Rhyno Smith got over and out-half Alessandro Garbisi popped over the conversion. There was very little between the sides as Munster had to replace Niall Scannell with Lee Barron, and on 21 minutes Jack Crowley kicked a penalty that put Munster 10-7 ahead. Benetton looked very dangerous when in possession of the ball and they added a second try by Rhyno Smith, that gave them a first half lead of 10-14 at the break, Jacob Umaga adding the conversions.

Munster started the second half with better intent and they went into the lead on 45 minutes, the pack doing all the hard work and Barron grounded the ball on the whitewash to the delight of the capacity home supporters. Crowley convertedand the scoreboard recorded a 17-14 lead for the home side. Better was to come with the fleet-footed Thaakir Abrahams touching down to increase the lead and a late Josh Wycherley try and Casey’s penalty and conversion put the result to bed. Benetton continued to fight, and a penalty effort from Umaga threatened to get the lead down to one score, but it drifted left and wide to the delight of the Musgrave crowd, as Munster saw out their nine-point lead to advance to the quarter-finals.

Munster will not know their opponents until tomorrow when the other games reach their final whistles.

Munster scorers: Tries: Jack Crowley, Lee Barron, Thaakir Abrahams, Josh Wycherley. Cons: Jack Crowley (1), Craig Casey (1). Pens: Jack Crowley (1), Craig Casey (1). Benetton scorers: Tries: Rhyno Smith (2), Bautista Bernasconi Cons: Jacob Umaga (3).

Munster: Thaakir Abrahams, Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Jack Crowley, Craig Casey, Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (CAPT), Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes
Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Seán O’Brien, Alex Kendellen
Benetton: Rhyno Smith, Ignacio Mendy, Tommaso Menoncello, Ignacio Brex, Paolo Odogwu, Jacob Umaga, Alessandro Garbisi; Thomas Gallo, Siua Maile, Simone Ferrari, Scott Scrafton, Federico Ruzza (CAPT), Riccardo Favretto, Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone
Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Mirco Spagnolo, Tiziano Pasquali, Niccolò Cannone, Sebastian Negri, Nicolò Casilio, Tomas Albornoz, Malakai Fekitoa
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 90th league game)
AR 1: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) AR 2: Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: David Sutherland (SRU)
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU, 90th league game)
AR 1: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) AR 2: Sam Holt (IRFU)
TMO: David Sutherland (SRU)

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