With rain forecast, Munster are expecting a tough, forwards-dominated encounter with bottom side Benetton Treviso, a team they have already beaten three times this season across the GUINNESS PRO12 and European Champions Cup.
BENETTON TREVISO (12th) v MUNSTER (8th), Stadio di Monigo, 3pm local time/2pm Irish time (live Rai Sport)
Team News: Munster head coach Anthony Foley has made six changes to his team for Sunday’s GUINNESS PRO12 round 16 fixture away to Benetton Treviso.
The first of three changes in the pack comes in the front row with hooker Mike Sherry returning to pack down between Dave Kilcoyne and John Ryan.
Mark Chisholm is another returnee to the starting line-up with the Australian partnering captain Billy Holland in the second row, and following his successful rehabilitation of a rib injury, Dave O’Callaghan comes in to join Jack O’Donoghue and number 8 Robin Copeland in the back row.
There are three more switches across the back-line. Duncan Williams resumes his half-back partnership with Ian Keatley, and Francis Saili returns alongside Rory Scannell in the centre The New Zealander has completed his return-to-play protocols for a concussion sustained against the Ospreys in round 14.
Winger Gerhard van den Heever is the final alteration to the side that lost in Glasgow, with Darren Sweetnam and Andrew Conway remaining on the opposite wing and full-back respectively.
Ireland internationals Tommy O’Donnell and Dave Foley have been made available to the province for this weekend’s game in Italy and are included among the replacements.
Should he make an appearance from the bench, development prop Peter McCabe will make his first competitive appearance for the province. James Cronin reported a tight hamstring this week and was unavailable for selection.
Meanwhile, Benetton Treviso boss Marius Goosen has unsurprisingly kept faith with the majority of the side that started last week’s hard-earned 19-17 victory at home to the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Top scorer Jayden Hayward (114 points) combines in the back-three with wingers Ludovico Nitoglia and Angelo Esposito, who both touched down against the Dragons.
There is a straight swap at loosehead prop as Cherif Traorè makes way for Alberto de Marchi, while Marco Barbini and Robert Barbieri link up with Marco Lazzaroni in the back row. Dean Budd drops to the bench and both Roberto Santamaria and Ornel Gega are unavailable.
BENETTON TREVISO: Jayden Hayward; Ludovico Nitoglia, Luca Morisi, Alberto Sgarbi (capt), Angelo Esposito; Sam Christie, Alberto Lucchese; Alberto de Marchi, Luca Bigi, Simone Ferrari, Filo Paulo, Tom Palmer, Marco Barbini, Marco Lazzaroni, Robert Barbieri.
Replacements: Federico Zani, Cherif Traorè, Filippo Filippetto, Jeff Montauriol, Dean Budd, Robert Barbi, Chris Smylie, Tommaso Iannone.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Gerhard van den Heever; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, John Ryan, Mark Chisholm, Billy Holland (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Dave O’Callaghan, Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Peter McCabe, Mario Sagario, Dave Foley, Tommy O’Donnell, Cathal Sheridan, Cian Bohane, David Johnston.
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant Referees: Elia Rizzo, Simone Boaretto (both Italy)
Television Match Official: Alan Falzone (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Benetton Treviso to win: 3/1; Draw: 20/1; Munster to win: 1/4
Pre-Match Quotes: Andrew Conway (Munster) – “I didn’t play in our last game against Treviso – in round 6 of the Champions Cup – but I remember our guys started really well but then Treviso got right back into the game and had they kicked a few goals it could have been a different outcome.
“They have won their last two matches proving they are a dangerous side and they will take a lot of confidence from that.
“When a team is losing and lacking confidence, that’s when you want to strike, but when they are winning, they go into training on a Monday morning excited about what happened and what they will see in their review meetings. They will then work on that to get better.
“You never get anything easy against the Italian sides, especially over there, and when you add in what I’ve just mentioned, we’re expecting nothing different this weekend.”
Tom Palmer (Benetton Treviso) – “I am responsible for coaching the lineout and it is an area where I feel we have performed well all season. I have put a system in place, but the success of the lineout is due to the hard work which the forwards do in training and the time spent by each individual studying their roles, making sure that they do their job correctly.
“Munster are always a difficult team to play. They are a team with a great history who always play with lots of passion and physicality. Looking at the weather forecast for heavy rain on Sunday I expect the game will be set piece-based with lots of kicking.”
Top Scorers – 2015/16 GUINNESS PRO12: Benetton Treviso – Points: Jayden Hayward 114; Tries: Jayden Hayward 4; Munster – Points: Ian Keatley 106; Tries: CJ Stander, Andrew Conway, Robin Copeland, Mike Sherry 3 each
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
Sunday, February 24, 2013 – Benetton Treviso 34 Munster 10, Stadio di Monigo
Friday, September 20, 2013 – Benetton Treviso 29 Munster 19, Stadio di Monigo
Saturday, March 22, 2014 – Munster 14 Benetton Treviso 3, Thomond Park
Friday, September 12, 2014 – Benetton Treviso 10 Munster 21, Stadio di Monigo
Saturday, April 25, 2015 – Munster 30 Benetton Treviso 19, Irish Independent Park
Saturday, September 5, 2015 – Munster 18 Benetton Treviso 13, Irish Independent Park
MATCH FACTS:
– Benetton Treviso have won their last two matches, at home to Cardiff Blues and the Newport Gwent Dragons, but have not won three in succession since October 2011
– The Italians have not beaten Irish opponents since their victory over Connacht at Stadio di Monigo in the GUINNESS PRO12 in October 2013
– Munster have lost their last two PRO12 fixtures, against the Ospreys and Glasgow Warriors, and have not lost three regular season games in succession since April 2013
– Munster have won their last ten encounters with Italian opponents since their 29-19 reversal in Treviso in September 2013
– The two sides have already met three times this season (two of those in the European Champions Cup) with Munster victorious on each occasion
– The Munstermen have visited Stadio di Monigo on eight previous occasions where their record is won five, lost three
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