Munster salvage draw against Benetton

MATCH REPORT: Tom Ahern’s last-gasp try rescued a draw for Munster as they fought back from 13-3 down to earn a 13-13 draw in their United Rugby Championship clash at Benetton.

Munster started the campaign with a bonus-point win over Hollywoodbets Sharks last week but were largely subdued at the Stadio Monigo, where Rhyno Smith’s first-half try looked set to prove the difference.

The defending champions came on strong in the closing stages and although Scott Buckley saw his try chalked off for a knock-on, Ahern bundled over and Joey Carbery’s conversion evened up the scores.

Benetton, who edged out Cardiff by a single point in the Welsh capital in their season-opener, started strongly and got on the board through Jacob Umaga’s penalty after a Munster infringement in the scrum.

Carbery booted Munster level but the visitors were then penalised for offside, allowing Umaga to restore Benetton’s three-point lead inside the first quarter of an hour.

Munster were struggling for rhythm and were grateful for the alertness of Shane Daly, who intervened after fellow full-back Smith’s kick-and-chase attempt left everyone else scrambling backwards.

Benetton continued to hem in Munster in their own half for much of the final quarter of an hour of the half and their persistent pressure was rewarded with three minutes to go until half-time.

It was a simple move with Munster caught on the heels as the ball was spread to the left, with Umaga passing to Smith, who exploited a gap in the away side’s defence to touch down. Umaga added the extras.

Munster attempted to assert themselves after the break but they especially struggled at the lineout and Benetton did not seem to have too much trouble keeping out their opponents.

However, Benetton’s attacking threat dwindled in the final quarter of an hour as they looked to consolidate their position and they coughed up a couple of sloppy penalties to invite Munster forward.

Benetton were then penalised again at the breakdown, with Carbery opting to kick a straightforward penalty with six minutes left to bring Munster to within a converted try.

Now with some impetus, Munster charged up field and Buckley thought he had burrowed over, the hooker was not in control of the ball by the time he crossed the whitewash.

But with time having crept past the regulation 80 minutes, there was no denying Ahern, who tunnelled his way over after several attempts from his team-mates were thwarted by Benetton’s stubborn defence.

Carbery added the conversion as Munster walked away with a share of the spoils.

Player of the Match
Benetton openside Manuel Zuliani received the award after a confident display on both sides of the ball. The Italy forward was excellent in the mauls and at the breakdown while a resolute display in defence was only thwarted by Ahern at the last.

Play of the Match
Benetton faded down the stretch but tenaciously defended their line up until the final moments of the contest, with substitute Ahern, on for Fineen Wycherley, prospering where his teammates had failed. Wave after wave of attack was repelled but the young lock found an opening and dived over the line.

The scorers:

For Benetton:
Try: Smith
Con: Umaga
Pens: Umaga 2

For Munster:
Try: Ahem
Con: Carbery
Pens: Carbery 2

Teams:

Benetton: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Filippo Drago, 11 Edoardo Padovani, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Andy Uren, 8 Toa Halafihi, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Edoardo Iachizzi, 3 Giosué Zilocchi, 2 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 1 Mirco Spagnolo.
Replacements: 16 Giacomo Nicotera, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Henry Time-Stowers, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Tomas Albornoz, 23 Marco Zanon.

Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Shay McCarthy, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Calvin Nash, 10 Joey Carbery, 9 Ethan Coughlan, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Edwin Edogbo, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Josh Wycherley
Replacements: 16 Scott Buckley, 17 Kieran Ryan, 18 John Ryan, 19 Tom Ahern, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Paddy Patterson, 22 Alex Nankivell, 23 Sean O’Brien.

Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi, Alex Frasson
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen