Munster were emphatic 33-points winners over the Ospreys last time out in the GUINNESS PRO12, and they will look to build on that result when they entertain bottom side Benetton Treviso in Limerick.
GUINNESS PRO12: Saturday, November 26
MUNSTER (3rd) v BENETTON TREVISO (12th), Thomond Park, 2pm
Team News: Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has rung the changes for today’s GUINNESS PRO12 encounter with Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park. Tommy O’Donnell continues as captain with seven changes made to the side that defeated the Maori All Blacks.
Among the returning international contingent for the round 9 clash are Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Jack O’Donoghue and Billy Holland.
Dave Foley and Sam Arnold have overcome their respective elbow and knee injuries to take their places in the starting line-up with the latter making his competitive debut for Munster.
Named amongst the replacements, prop Thomas du Toit and scrum half Angus Lloyd are included in their first Munster matchday squad with Jean Kleyn also on bench duty after successfully rehabbing an ankle injury.
An all-new front row sees Kilcoyne and Ryan start either side of Kiwi hooker Rhys Marshall (pictured below) who makes his first start in the red jersey.
In the second row Foley returns to partner Darren O’Shea in the PRO12 for the first time, while in the back row, skipper O’Donnell reverts to openside flanker, O’Donoghue comes in at blindside and Robin Copeland continues at number 8. O’Donnell draws ever closer to a century of appearances in the Championship and will make his 99th PRO12 appearance this weekend.
Duncan Williams and Tyler Bleyendaal resume their partnership in the half-backs, with another new pairing seen in midfield where 20-year-old debutant Arnold starts alongside South African Jaco Taute.
There are no further changes to the province’s selected team as Ronan O’Mahony, Darren Sweetnam and full-back Andrew Conway again form the back-three.
Munster v Benetton Treviso tickets can be purchased online here, at the ground today, or from the Munster Rugby Ticket Offices at Thomond Park and Irish Independent Park (061-421103).
Meanwhile, Benetton Treviso’s list of absentees stands at 21 players for this round 9 trip to Limerick. Nine of them are involved with the Italy team for their Test match against Tonga.
Treviso head coach Kieran Crowley has been working with different permit players during the break in fixtures, and two from Mogliano Rugby, Michael van Vuuren and Filippo Ferrarini will start up front this afternoon. Federico Conforti and Enrico Francescato from Petrarca Rugby are on the bench.
Compared to the team that lost 34-28 to Cardiff Blues at home last time out, there are six changes in personnel. Tommaso Iannone and Luca Sperandio start in the back-line, with Alberto de Marchi and Matteo Zanusso coming in at loosehead and tighthead prop respectively, van Vuuren is selected in the second row and Ferrarini gets the nod at openside flanker.
MUNSTER: Andrew Conway; Darren Sweetnam, Sam Arnold, Jaco Taute, Ronan O’Mahony; Tyler Bleyendaal, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan, Dave Foley, Darren O’Shea, Jack O’Donoghue, Tommy O’Donnell (capt), Robin Copeland.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Thomas du Toit, Stephen Archer, Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland, Angus Lloyd, Ian Keatley, Alex Wootton.
BENETTON TREVISO: Jayden Hayward; Michael Tagicakibau, Tommaso Iannone, Alberto Sgarbi (capt), Luca Sperandio; Ian McKinley, Tito Tebaldi; Alberto de Marchi, Luca Bigi, Matteo Zanusso, Filippo Gerosa, Michael van Vuuren, Marco Lazzaroni, Filippo Ferrarini, Marco Barbini.
Replacements: Davide Giazzon, Federico Zani, Tiziano Pasquali, Roberto Santamaria, Federico Conforti, Enrico Francescato, Andrea Pratichetti, David Odiete.
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Oisin Quinn (Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Munster to win: 1/50; Draw: 70/1; Benetton Treviso to win: 20/1
Pre-Match Quotes: Andrew Conway (Munster) – “The Maori game was brilliant. I underestimated how big it was going to be. I hadn’t played in a Thomond Park like that in a long time as I wasn’t playing against Glasgow. On the way in on the bus, you see families on their way to the match, lots of kids, next generations stuff, and then it’s a special place.
“Those games are special and remembered for years and years. It’s always good to put on a performance on occasions like that. The crowd played a massive part, you can see the difference in us when there’s a crowd there. In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have to rely on a crowd but we’re human beings and that’s the way it works.
“When you have people screaming at your back and you know you have 20,000 people pulling for you, it makes things easier. It was the most excited I’ve ever been wearing a Munster jersey to be honest.
“There’s a team around us, Rassie, Jacques (Nienaber), Felix (Jones), Jerry Flannery and the quality of the players in the squad and you accept that you can improve in different areas on a week to week, month to month basis. Now we’ve had a week off and it’s a different challenge and it’s up to us to build the momentum back up.”
Top Scorers – 2016/17 GUINNESS PRO12: Munster – Points: Tyler Bleyendaal 48; Tries: Conor Murray, Dave Kilcoyne 3 each; Benetton Treviso – Points: Tommaso Allan 37; Tries: Marco Fuser 3
2016/17 TEAM FORM: Munster – Played 8, Won 6, Lost 2, 28 Points; W 23-13 v Scarlets (away), L 24-23 v Cardiff Blues (home), W 20-16 v Newport Gwent Dragons (away), W 28-14 v Edinburgh (home), W 49-5 v Zebre (home), Played , L 25-14 v Leinster (away), W 15-14 v Ulster (away), W 33-0 v Ospreys (home); Benetton Treviso – Played 8, Won 1, Lost 7, 6 Points; L 20-8 v Leinster (away), L 22-11 v Ulster (home), L 64-10 v Ospreys (away), W 27-11 v Newport Gwent Dragons (home), L 22-6 v Scarlets (home), L 45-10 v Edinburgh (away), L 31-14 v Glasgow Warriors (away), L 34-28 v Cardiff Blues (home)
RECENT LEAGUE MEETINGS:
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
Sunday, February 28, 2016 – Benetton Treviso 13 Munster 16, Stadio di Monigo
MATCH FACTS:
– Munster’s only defeat in any competition since September was 25-14 to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in round 6 of the GUINNESS PRO12
– The Munstermen are undefeated in any tournament at Thomond Park since Leinster were the visitors in the PRO12 at Christmas 2015
– Benetton Treviso have won just one game in any competition this season: 27-11 at home to the Newport Gwent Dragons in round 4 of the PRO12
– The Italians have not won outside of Italy since a trip to the Scarlets in May 2013, while their most recent victory at an Irish province was on a trip to Galway in December 2011
– Munster have won their last seven meetings with Treviso in all competitions since the Italians’ 29-19 success at Stadio di Monigo in the PRO12 three years ago
– Treviso have never won in nine previous visits to Munster in all competitions
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