Munster v Benetton: Five takeaways as hosts avoid Irish ’embarrassment’ while the 4G pitch takes its toll
Jack Crowley struggled with an injury for Munster against Benetton.
Following a 30-21 victory for Munster over Benetton in Friday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) clash, here’s our five takeaways from Virgin Media Park.
The top line
Munster came from 14-10 down at the interval to beat their Italian visitors and therefore secure their spot in the play-offs whilst denying Benetton a knockout place this season.
Tries from Jack Crowley, Lee Barron, Thaakir Abrahams and Josh Wycherley saw the hosts to a maximum haul, but it had to be hard earned as Benetton came out firing.
Indeed, a slick Rhyno Smith double in the opening half-hour set them on their way but they laboured thereafter, with a late Bautista Bernasconi score ultimately not enough.
Munster will now wait until tomorrow to find out their knockout opponents on the road in a fortnight’s time while for Benetton unfortunately the URC season is done and dusted.
Chalk and cheese
While Munster were much improved in the second period – with the quick-fire double from Barron and Abrahams nine minutes into the half proving key – the drop off from Benetton after the interval was stark. They looked unrecognisable from the team that had cut loose early on and it ultimately did for their hopes of a famous win in Cork.
In the cold light of day, Benetton will see this as one that got away as while injuries played their part, their performance and intensity coming out after half-time was not up to standard and Munster promptly made them pay. That meant it was an uphill struggle as they had to chase a roared on home side whose confidence was through the roof.
Crowley concern
The one blot on this triumph for Munster was the sight of fly-half Crowley departing the action late in the game with a niggle that he was carrying for much of the second half.
Munster desperately need the Ireland playmaker fit for their upcoming knockout URC clash as they are not as stocked as they once were in terms of back-up number 10s.
Conor Murray came on as a makeshift fly-half for the final stages of the game, but one imagines a specialist number 10 would be preferred if Crowley doesn’t recover in time.
4G injuries
Staying with that theme and it was noticeable the amount of injuries players suffered tonight as Benetton in particular were hit hard on the Virgin Media Park 4G pitch.
Paolo Odogwu exited the field after just 11 minutes and later Tommaso Menoncello hobbled off, as did Simone Ferrari, whilst Siua Maile and Smith were limping at times.
Throw in what appeared to be a groin injury for Crowley and it does make you wonder about the surface, especially for players who are used to grass on a weekly basis.
Final eight confirmed
It was judgment night in the URC this evening as the teams near the trapdoor of the ‘Race for Eight’ battled to secure a place, with so much riding on the three matches.
Cardiff gave themselves a chance by claiming a bonus point in defeat at the Stormers, but victories for Edinburgh and Munster meant they, like Benetton, would miss out.
That means we have our final eight as Leinster, Bulls, Glasgow, Sharks, Stormers, Munster, Edinburgh and Scarlets have made it ahead of tomorrow’s final five games.
Their joy is in contrast to the disappointment of Cardiff, Benetton, Ospreys, Ulster, Lions, Connacht, Zebre Parma and Dragons, who must watch the play-offs on TV.
For Munster the home victory is also a win for Ireland as it crucially secures a second Investec Champions Cup rugby spot next season alongside Leinster, thus avoiding the embarrassment of just one Irish province sitting at the European top table in 2025/26.
