Munster 30
Treviso 19
MUNSTER WERE ABLE to secure maximum points with minimal effort as they dispatched the threat of Treviso without ever really getting out of second gear at Musgrave Park in Cork.
Tries from Simon Zebo, CJ Stander and Tommy O’Donnell paved the way for victory in the first half and despite Treviso grounding three tries of their own, Anthony Foley’s men never looked in danger of slipping up.
Perhaps just as important as the bonus point, was the sight of Donnacha Ryan. The lock started his first game in over 13 months and aside from short stint in the blood bin, saw out 70 minutes with little fuss.
With both Ulster and Glasgow winning before they got under way, Munster knew they would need to take advantage of a home meeting with the league’s second-bottom side before the inter-provincial showdown in two weeks’ time.
The southern province were already 13-0 to the good before Matthew Luamanu finished off a maul to get Treviso on the board.
Munster have been able to claim their tries with little fuss. Simon Zebo claimed the first, wriggling out of a tackle after taking a pass from Conor Murray.
CJ Stander grounded the second of the day, picking up and scoring from a ruck after Andrew Smith had checked back inside.
There was a lull in the game as the rain set in in Cork and Treviso hit back with their maul, but before the break Munster struck again, Tommy O’Donnell darting through a gap on from a set-play on a line-out to give the hosts a 20 – 7 lead at the break.
Treviso started the second half the brighter side and Andrea Pratichetti ran under the posts to put them back in striking range of the hosts. They made Munster’s defence sweat too. Mounting pressure through a series of phases inside the 22 before Ian Keatley pounced on a loose pass and hacked upfield after intercepting.
Keatley would kick a penalty minutes later, after a Conor Murray lunge to the line had been chalked off by the TMO, but it took until the 68th minute to finally secure the bonus point. The critical score coming thanks to referee Marius Mitrea who awarded a penalty try against the Italian scrum.
The bonus point win leaves Munster alone in second place of the Pro12, pulling a point clear of Ulster and restoring a two-point lead over fourth placed Ospreys who defeated Cardiff with a bonus point today.
Scorers
Munster
Tries: S Zebo, CJ Stander, T O’Donnell, Penalty
Conversions: I Keatley (2)
Penalties: I Keatley (2)
Treviso
Tries: M Luamanu, A Pratichetti, S Ragusi
Conversions: J Hayward (2).
