Bonus point Munster start with Benetton Treviso victory

Munster kicked off their European Rugby Champions Cup with a bonus point 32-7 victory over Treviso in Pool 4 at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Simon Zebo’s try five minutes from time ensured Munster earnt the bonus point.

South Africans BJ Botha and CJ Stander crossed the whitewash as well as Irish hooker Duncan Casey as the Munster pack dominated the Italian minnows after the break having led only 10-7 at half-time.

Treviso scored a try through another South African forward in Braam Steyn.

Fly-half Ian Keatley kicked 12 points for the hosts, with New Zealander full-back Jayden Hayward’s conversion rounding off Treviso’s points.

Final Score Munster 32 (32) Benetton Treviso 7 (7)

Scorers

Munster
Tries – Botha, Stander, Casey, Zebo
Pen – Keatley (2)
Con – Keatley (3)
Drop –

Benetton Treviso
Tries – Steyn
Pen –
Con – Hayward
Drop –

Match Officials
Referee: Matthew Carley (England),
Assistant ref: Tim Wigglesworth (England),
Assistant ref: Paul Dix (England),
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England),
Citing Commissioner: Patrice Frantschi (France)

Teams

Munster Rugby: Andrew Conway; Keith Earls, Francis Saili, Denis Hurley, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, BJ Botha, Donnacha Ryan, Mark Chisholm, Dave O’Callaghan, Jack O’Donoghue, CJ Stander (c)

Replacements: Duncan Casey, James Cronin, John Ryan, Dave Foley, Robin Copeland, Tomas O’Leary, Rory Scannell, Lucas Amorosino

Benetton Treviso: Luke McLean; Ludovico Nitoglia, Jayden Hayward, Enrico Bacchin, Tommaso Iannone; James Ambrosini, Edoardo Gori; Matteo Zanusso, Ornel Gega, Rupert Harden, Rudolph Duncan Naude, Jean-François Montauriol, Francesco Minto, Alessandro Zanni, Abraham Jurgens Steyn

Replacements: Davide Giazzon, Matteo Muccignat, Filippo Filippetto, Dean Budd, Marco Barbini, Andrea De Marchi, Christopher Smylie, Samuel Christie