Munster Move Back Up To Third

A 78th minute try from Simon Zebo, his second of the match, helped Munster to a bonus point victory over Benetton Treviso at the Stadio di Monigo.

Munster had the ideal start when Treviso ran a ball inside their own 22 but had an attempted kick charged down by Danny Barnes who collected to score an opportunist fourth minute try.

Ronan O’Gara, who had an impressive day with the boot, landed the conversion for a seven-point lead and an early statement of the province’s intent.

Six minutes later, a clever kick ahead from Zebo was collected by Barnes who then delayed his pass back to Zebo to perfection and the winger twisted over for his first try which needed the confirmation of television match official Mauro Dordolo.

Munster extended their lead when O’Gara landed his third successful effort after Treviso were penalised for a high tackle on Barnes.

In the 25th minute, O’Gara chipped through for winger Johne Murphy to score his side’s third try, with O’Gara once again adding the extras for a 24-0 buffer.

The first half ended with Treviso forcing a succession of five metre scrums. Munster’s defence was immense until deep into injury-time time after lock Mick O’Driscoll had departed to the sin-bin.

Home scrum half Fabio Semenzato managed to squeeze over for a late try which his half-back partner Willem de Waal converted to leave 17 points between the sides.

Munster were reduced to 13 players when Zebo saw yellow in the 45th minute and shortly after he departed, the Italians scored their second try in the right hand corner. Lock Corniel van Zyl got the touchdown with de Waal landing a difficult conversion.

Two more O’Gara penalties saw the Munster lead go out to 30-14 towards the end of the third quarter, but they had to wait until the 75th minute for Zebo to strike out wide on the left for the bonus point score.

Zebo’s fifth try in two games helped Tony McGahan’s men climb back into third place in the table, overhauling fellow play-off hopefuls Glasgow Warriors who drew 13-13 with Connacht.