Munster secure play-off berth

 

Early scores from Simon Zebo and CJ Stander set Munster on their way to a ninth successive win at Irish Independent Park but Matt Luamanu reduced the deficit with a shock try for Treviso.

 

O'Donnell then went over on his landmark appearance for the Munstermen before Treviso scored their second try of the game through Andrea Pratichetti.

 

But Munster were relentless in their search for the bonus point and were awarded a penalty try late on before Simone Ragusi grabbed a consolation score for the industrious Italians.

 

Treviso haven't won a Pro12 game outside of Italy since their match against Scarlets in the 2012/13 season and they didn't get off to the best of starts, giving away an early penalty for Ian Keatley to convert.

 

Munster's early pressure was rewarded when Zebo showed excellent strength to go over for their first try of the game.

 

And the Irish province extended that lead minutes later after great play from Andrew Smith, who laid it off to Stander to force his way through for the score.

 

But after hardly touching the ball for the first 20 minutes, Treviso were back in it when Muster gave away a penalty and Luamanu forced the ball over from the line-out, with Jayden Hayward adding the extras.

 

Treviso gained in confidence as the half wore on but O'Donnell refused to let the Italians spoil his party.

 

The back row went over on the stroke of half-time after Conor Murray had gathered the ball from the line-out and found O'Donnell in space.

 

Munster went in at the interval 20-14 to the good but Treviso made a brilliant start to the second-half, opening up the Munster defence to score their second try of the match through Pratichetti.

 

Murray almost secured the bonus point for Munster but lost control of the ball as he crossed the line and was judged to have knocked it on.

 

The referee pulled the game back for a penalty, which Keatley converted to put Munster nine points ahead.

And the result was put beyond any doubt when Munster were awarded a penalty try, which finally secured the bonus-point.

 

Ragusi did make a try-scoring appearance off the bench with five minutes to go but it was too little too late for Treviso, while the result also ended any slim hopes of champions Leinster finishing in the Pro12 top four.

 

 

Tries: O'Donnell, Stander, Zebo, Penalty Try

Con: Keatley 2

Pens: Keatley 2

 

Tries: Pratichetti, Luamanu, Ragusi

Cons: Hayward 2

 

 

Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Peter O'Mahony (captain), 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Billy Holland, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Duncan Casey, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.

Replacements: 16 Eusebio Guinazu, 17 John Ryan, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Dave O'Callaghan, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Ronan O'Mahony.

 

Benetton Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Andrea Pratichetti, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Enrico Bacchin, 11 Ludovico Nitoglia, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Paul Derbyshire, 5 Corniel Van Zyl (captain), 4 Marco Fuser, 3 Rupert Harden, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matteo Zanusso.

Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Josè Novak, 18 Romulo Acosta, 19 Meyer Swanepoel, 20 Nicola Cattina, 21Marco Lazzaroni, 22 Simone Ragusi, 23 James Ambrosini.

 

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)

Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips (Ireland), Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

TMO: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)