Anthony Foley wants his Munster side to finish their Champions Cup campaign on a high as they make the trip to Italy to meet regular league rivals Benetton Treviso.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP – POOL 4: Sunday, January 24
BENETTON TREVISO (4th) v MUNSTER (3rd), Stadio di Monigo, 2pm local time/1pm Irish time (live BT Sport 2/Sky Italia/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights TG4)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has named his team for their European Champions Cup round 6 match against Benetton Treviso, making two changes to the side that defeated Stade Francais last weekend.
For Munster’s 150th European Cup game, John and Donnacha Ryan are introduced in the pack, with John named at tighthead prop after it was confirmed that the prop will remain with the province until at least June 2019.
Munster’s seven representatives that were included in the Ireland RBS 6 Nations squad earlier this week are all named, including the welcome return of James Cronin to the matchday 23 after rehabbing an ankle ligament injury sustained against Leinster in December.
The other change to the front five sees Mark Chisholm makes way for Donnacha Ryan, with the Ireland international joining fellow Tipperary lock Dave Foley in the second row. The back row of Billy Holland, Tommy O’Donnell and captain CJ Stander remains in place.
With no changes in the back-line, Conor Murray and Ian Keatley link up once again at half-back along with the Rory Scannell-Francis Saili centre pairing and the back-three of Ronan O’Mahony, Keith Earls and Simon Zebo.
Full-back Zebo went on to share the honours of Munster’s leading try scorer last weekend, equalling Anthony Horgan’s tally of 41 tries.
Meanwhile, the selected Benetton Treviso side shows six personnel changes to the one that started last weekend’s 47-7 loss away to pool leaders Leicester Tigers.
Enrico Bacchin returns at outside centre in place of the benched Sam Christie, while props Matteo Zanusso and Simone Ferrari, lock Marco Fuser and back rowers Alessandro Zanni and Braam Steyn all come in up front.
Experienced Italian international Zanni will captain Treviso from the openside berth, while South African talent Steyn, who touched down against Munster in November’s 32-7 reversal in Limerick, features again at number 8.
Treviso are now coached by former South African out-half Marius Goosen following Umberto Casellato’s recent departure from the position. They have lost all 17 of their league and cup fixtures so far this season.
* The 2016 European Rugby Challenge Cup and Champions Cup finals featuring the cream of European professional club rugby will be staged in Lyon next May.
Both showpiece matches will be held at the brand new 59,000-capacity Grand Stade de Lyon with the Challenge Cup final going ahead on Friday, May 13 (9pm) and the Champions Cup scheduled for Saturday, May 14 (5.45pm).
Tickets for the finals are now on sale and with demand expected to be high for one of Europe’s most prestigious sporting weekends, fans are advised to purchase without delay. Purchase your ticket(s) online here.
BENETTON TREVISO: Jayden Hayward; Andrea Pratichetti, Enrico Bacchin, Alberto Sgarbi, Simone Ragusi; James Ambrosini, Alberto Lucchese; Matteo Zanusso, Ornel Gega, Simone Ferrari, Marco Fuser, Jean-François Montauriol, Marco Lazzaroni, Alessandro Zanni (capt), Braam Steyn.
Replacements: Davide Giazzon, Andrea de Marchi, Salesi Manu, Tom Palmer, Marco Barbini, Tommaso Iannone, Sam Christie, Luke McLean.
MUNSTER: Simon Zebo; Keith Earls, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Ronan O’Mahony; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoye, Mike Sherry, John Ryan, Dave Foley, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland, Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander (capt).
Replacements: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, Mario Sagario, Mark Chisholm, Robin Copeland, Jack O’Donoghue, Tomas O’Leary, Gerhard van den Heever.
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Assistant Referees: Cedric Marchat, Tual Trainini (both France)
Television Match Official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Benetton Treviso to win: 6/1; Draw: 33/1; Munster to win: 1/10
Pre-Match Quotes: Anthony Foley (Munster) – “It’s not that difficult (to motivate players) at all, because the boys are training well. They see light at the end of the tunnel. They want to get another big performance in.
“They know going to Italy is going to be tough because Treviso are packed with internationals and are waiting to take another scalp in round 6, which they have done in the past. We are very aware of that, and we are very aware of their potential.
“With the changing of the coaching staff they have gone back to a more physical game-plan. They have that ability because they are stacked with internationals. We have to be very conscious that we go there, and it’s not about turning up – it’s about going and performing to the best level that we can because it is going to be required.
“They’re completely different (at home), they love playing in front of their fans. They will test us in a lot of areas but hopefully we will test them as well, and hopefully we will come out on top.”
Current Form – Benetton Treviso – (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 18-13 away to Munster; Lost 27-24 at home to Edinburgh; Lost 48-7 away to Ulster; Lost 25-22 at home to the Ospreys; Lost 19-12 away to the Newport Gwent Dragons; Lost 27-3 at home to Leinster; Lost 33-19 away to Connacht; (European Champions Cup): Lost 32-7 away to Munster; Lost 36-3 at home to Leicester Tigers; (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 13-6 away to Glasgow Warriors; Lost 22-20 at home to the Scarlets; (European Champions Cup): Lost 50-17 at home to Stade Francais; Lost 40-14 away to Stade Francais; (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 28-25 away to Zebre; Lost 18-8 at home to Zebre; Lost 28-13 away to Edinburgh; (European Champions Cup): Lost 47-7 away to Leicester Tigers
Munster – (GUINNESS PRO12): Won 18-13 at home to Benetton Treviso; Won 20-18 away to the Ospreys; Won 23-21 at home to Glasgow Warriors; Won 35-27 at home to Cardiff Blues; Lost 25-22 away to the Scarlets; Won 32-28 at home to Ulster; Won 16-14 away to Edinburgh; (European Champions Cup): Won 32-7 at home to Benetton Treviso; (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 18-12 at home to Connacht; Lost 22-6 away to the Newport Gwent Dragons; (European Champions Cup): Lost 31-19 at home to Leicester Tigers; Lost 17-6 away to Leicester Tigers; (GUINNESS PRO12): Lost 24-7 at home to Leinster; Won 9-7 away to Ulster; (European Champions Cup): Lost 27-7 away to Stade Francais; Won 26-13 at home to Stade Francais
Top Scorers – 2015/16 European Champions Cup: Benetton Treviso – Points: James Ambrosini 7; Tries: Braam Steyn, Sam Christie, Marco Lazzaroni, Simone Ragusi, Alberto Sgarbi, Davide Giazzon, Andrea Pratichetti 1 each; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 33; Tries: CJ Stander, Simon Zebo, Mike Sherry 2 each
Previous European Meetings: 5
Saturday, November 14, 2016 – Pool 4 – Munster 32 Benetton Treviso 7, Thomond Park
Saturday, January 16, 2010 – Pool 1 – Benetton Treviso 7 Munster 44, Stadio di Monigo
Saturday, October 17, 2009 – Pool 1 – Munster 41 Benetton Treviso 10, Thomond Park
Saturday, January 24, 2004 – Pool 5 – Benetton Treviso 20 Munster 31, Stadio di Monigo
Saturday, December 13, 2003 – Pool 5 – Munster 51 Benetton Treviso 0, Thomond Park
European Cup Records:
Benetton Treviso –
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2013/14: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2011/12: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2009/10: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2008/09: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2006/07: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2005/06: Failed to qualify from Pool 4
2004/05: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2001/02: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
1998/99: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool E
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool A
Munster –
2014/15: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
2013/14: Reached the semi-finals
2012/13: Reached the semi-finals
2011/12: Reached the quarter-finals
2010/11: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Reached the semi-finals
2007/08: Champions
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Champions
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Reached the semi-finals
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Runners-up
2000/01: Reached the semi-finals
1999/00: Runners-up
1998/99: Reached the quarter-finals
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool D
1995/96: Failed to qualify from Pool D
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