Munster beat Benetton in Cork to secure Champions Cup rugby for next season

Munster 30 Benetton 21 

Munster got the job done by beating Benetton in what was effectively a final-round knockout URC encounter at Virgin Media Park on Friday evening to keep their season alive.

The opening dozen minutes saw a spell of sparring before Tom Farrell landed a dig to Benetton’s ribcages by slicing up the middle with a brilliant break. Diarmuid Kilgallen and Peter O’Mahony continued the move before Jack Crowley crossed under the posts for the opener.

Munster would have been aware of Benetton’s attacking threat and they saw a first-hand example when full-back Rhyno Smith sliced through their defence to level matters off first phase possession in the 17th minute.

Crowley was happy to split the posts with a 20th-minute penalty, but Benetton struck again off first-phase possession in the 28th minute when Jacob Umaga splintered Munster’s middle and was backed up by the rapid Smith who collected at pace to cross for his second, as the visitors led 10-14 at the break.

With their season on the line the half-time team talk had to be a good one, and it appeared to be as Munster immediately mauled Benetton over in the right corner, with Lee Barron scoring his first try for the club.

In the 49th minute, they scored the try of the game. Crowley kicked a sublime crossfield kick to Kilgallen on the left touchline, which the winger gathered brilliantly, before popping to the onrushing Thaakir Abrahams who had the gas to race home and Casey topped it off by kicking a sublime touchline conversion.

Casey added a penalty in the 57th minute to push the lead to eleven, but the momentum shifted right back to Benetton with a maul try in the 69th minute through Bautista Bernasconi.

With that score, the nerves were jangling but Josh Wycherley settled them when he plopped over for the winning score in the 74th minute and the Cork crowd could enjoy the last few minutes.

Scorers for Munster: J Crowley (1 try, 1 pen, 1 con), C Casey (1 pen, 1 con), L Barron, T Abrahams, J Wycherley (1 try each).

Benetton: J Umaga (3 cons), R Smith (2 tries), B Bernasconi (1 try).

MUNSTER: T Abrahams; C Nash, T Farrell, A Nankivell, D Kilgallen; J Crowley, C Casey; M Milne, N Scannell, S Archer; J Kleyn, T Beirne (c); P O'Mahony, J Hodnett, G Coombes.

Subs: L Barron for N Scannell (32), T Ahern for P O’Mahony (53), J Wycherley for M Milne (56), A Kendellen for J Hodnett (57), J Ryan for S Archer (62), F Wycherley and C Murray for J Kleyn and J Crowley (74), S O'Brien for T Farrell (78).

BENETTON: R Smith; I Mendy, T Menoncello, I Brex, P Odogwu; J Umaga, A Garbisi; T Gallo, S Maile, S Ferrari; S Scrafton, F Ruzza (c); R Favretto, M Zuliani, L Cannone.

Subs: T Albornoz for P Odugwu (11), B Bernasconi for S Maile (51), N Cannone, S Negri, M Fekitoa for S Scrafton, R Favretto and I Brex (50), N Casilio for T Menoncello (56), M Spagnolo for T Gallo (64), T Pasquali for S Ferrari (67).

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU).