Springbok lock keeps Munster's play-off hopes alive
WRAP: Munster returned to winning ways with a 45-10 win over Benetton, running in seven tries to grab a bonus-point victory in Treviso.
The Irish side lost away to the Sharks and the Bulls last month and made it three straight defeats when they were beaten by Exeter in the Challenge Cup, but finally found some form at Stadio Comunale di Monigo.
Calvin Nash, Thomas Farrell and Gavin Coombes all touched down as the visitors ran up a 19-3 half-time lead, Jack Crowley chipping in with a pair of conversions.
Alex Nankivell made a stunning try-saving tackle that typified a relentless Munster defensive effort and Springbok Jean Kleyn went over for the bonus point after 45 minutes.
Bautista Bernasconi finally got over for Benetton soon after but the points kept coming for Clayton McMillan’s side, who saw Alex Kendellen and captain Tadgh Beirne add to the scoring.
Crowley added the extras for five conversions before both he and Craig Casey were sent to the sin bin, but Munster did not ship a point when they were down to 13. Brian Gleeson and Alessandro Garbisi swapped late tries but the celebrations belonged to the away fans.
Meanwhile, Javan Sebastian’s last-gasp try helped Cardiff snatch derby bragging rights and keep their United Rugby Championship play-off hopes alive with a 28-24 victory at Scarlets.
Scarlets led 24-7 following three tries in eight minutes but Cardiff pounced with Taine Plumtree and Blair Murray in the sin-bin as Sebastian’s double and one for Cam Winnett sealed a Blues win.
Ben Thomas put the visitors ahead when he dived over in the corner, although Plumtree did likewise for Scarlets, and only Callum Sheedy’s successful conversion for Cardiff separated the sides at half-time.
But in the blink of an eye, from 7-5 down Scarlets established a 17-point lead, first going ahead when Johnny Williams went over from Plumtree’s pass before Dane Blacker and then Blair Murray touched down.
Joe Hawkins added the extras to two tries but after Plumtree was yellow carded for interference at the breakdown, Sebastian and Winnett narrowed the deficit in the final 10 minutes with converted scores.
Murray was sent to the sin-bin for an intentional knock on, leaving Scarlets down to 13 men when Sebastian burrowed over from close range in the final minute to seal a famous comeback win for Cardiff.
Scarlets 24-28 Cardiff
The scorers:
For Scarlets:
Tries: Plumtree, J Williams, Blacker, Murray
Cons: Hawkins 2
For Cardiff:
Tries: B Thomas, Sebastian 2, Winnett
Cons: Sheedy 4
Teams
Scarlets: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Eddie James, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Joe Hawkins, 9 Dane Blacker,8 Fletcher Anderson (captain), 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Max Douglas, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Archer Holz, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Josh Morse, 18 Harri O’Connor, 19 Jac Price, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Archie Hughes, 22 Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, 23 Joe Roberts
Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Jacob Beetham, 13 Ben Thomas, 12 Rory Jennings, 11 Mason Grady, 10 Callum Sheedy, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Alun Lawrence,7 James Botham, 6 Alex Mann, 5 George Nott, 4 Josh McNally, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Liam Belcher (captain), 1 Rhys Barratt
Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Dan Thomas, 21 Taine Basham, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Ioan Lloyd
Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Adam Jones (Wales), Carwyn Sion (Wales)
TMO: Christopher Allison (South Africa)
Benetton 15-45 Munster
The scorers:
For Benetton:
Tries: Bernasconi, Garbisi
Con: Umaga
Pen: Umaga
For Munster:
Tries: Nash, Farrell, Coombes, Kleyn, Kendellen, Tadgh Beirne, Gleeson
Cons: Crowley 5
Teams
Benetton: 15 Matt Gallagher, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi,8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Giulio Marini, 3 Marcos Gallorini, 2 Nicholas Gasperini, 1 Destiny Aminu
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Riccardo Favretto, 20 Jadin Kingi, 21 Alessandro Izekor, 22 Andy Uren, 23 Leonardo Marin
Munster: 15 Shane Daly, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Edwin Edogbo, 20 Brian Gleeson, 21 Ben O’Donovan, 22 Dan Kelly, 23 Alex Kendellen`
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Andrew Piardi (Italy), Riccardo Bonato (Italy)
TMO: Keith David (Wales)
