Nankivell leads the way as Munster run riot against Benetton

Oh, the heady days when that was the extent of a crisis for Munster. Billy Holland, who played in that game, was one of three former players to resign from the Professional Games Committee this week over the controversial appointment of assistant coach Roger Randle.

Add in voluntary redundancies, more coaching departures and a shocking run of form which has seen Munster win just four of their last 14 games and it’s fair to say that the bar for measuring a crisis in Munster has shifted considerably since that defeat in Treviso 13 years ago.

Hence, the value of winning this one. The opposition may have been poor but Munster did all that was required of them and the seven try win could be significant if points difference comes into it at the end of the season.

Six away defeats in a row in all competitions meant confidence was low for Munster in Stadio Monigo but the good start which head coach Clayton McMillan demanded was delivered with man of the match Alex Nankivell, Jack Crowley and, as usual, Tadhg Beirne leading the way.

A sizeable Munster contingent in Treviso also helped and by half-time the visitors were good value for their 19-3 lead and should have had the bonus point in the bag.

Shane Daly was assured at full-back and his good touchfinder down the left led to the opening try after seven minutes. Benetton messed up their own lineout and Munster pounced with Nankivell providing the key pass wide for Calvin Nash to sprint down the right wing to score. Crowley landed a superb conversion from the touchline.

He was off target with a penalty from 45 metres as Munster tried to build a lead, but the pressure eventually told and Tom Farrell pushed the lead out to 12-0 after 17 minutes after Nankivell again supplied the key pass in midfield.

Benetton struggled to build phases and lacked confidence with just one win in their last five. Their cause suffered a big set-back when they lost Italian international back rower Sebastian Negri to a hamstring injury as he burst forward after 20 minutes.

The Italians were unable to crack a good Munster defence who filled the rearguard well and upped their line speed.

Benetton opted for the posts with a 27th minute penalty after tighthead Michael Ala’alatoa was pinged and Jacob Umaga made no mistake with the kick to cut the gap to 12-3.

But Munster finished the half strongly. They were patient in the build-up, moved the ball well through the hands and Crowley and Daly varied the play some decent kicks which kept the Treviso side penned back.

Munster made the possession count six minutes from the break. They went to the left corner with a penalty which Beirne won and several forays later finished with Gavin Coombes squeezing over for his 54th try for the province. Crowley added the extras to lead 19-3 at the interval.

Good work from scrumhalf Alessandro Garbisi and Tommaso Menoncello, quiet until then, put Umaga away for Benetton two minutes after the restart but Nankivell got back to nail him a few metres short of the line.

Munster countered and quick thinking from scrum-half Craig Casey secured a 50:22 and they made the possession count, again keeping the ball in tight and stretching the defence and Tom Ahern got over after Nash did extremely well to hold a pass with one hand.

That pushed them 26-3 ahead and secured the try bonus point before Treviso hit back and replacement tighthead Bautista Bernasconi scored from close range after they had worked the ball infield after going to the left corner. Umaga converted to cut the gap to 16.

But Munster wrapped up the game four minutes later. Crowley, with penalty advantage, measured his crosskick to precision for Alex Kendellen to collect in the left corner and skip inside former Munster player Matt Gallagher to score their fifth try.

Another brilliant break from Nankivell in midfield set up Munster’s sixth try against a wilting home defence and when Nash was stopped in the right corner, they recycled with Nankivell again making crucial metres before Beirne scored and Crowley converted.

Munster made the task difficult for themselves in the final quarter. Crowley picked up a yellow card and then was followed to the bin by his half-back partner Casey for a deliberate knock-on.

But they defended the penalty superbly with just 13 men and cleared the lines as they did enough to disrupt the Treviso attack.

Munster continued to press forward and Brian Gleeson, after executing the initial turnover, was on hand to finish the movement with their seventh try two minutes from the end, although there was still time for Alessandro Garbisi to get a consolation score at the death.

Scorers for Benetton: Tries: B Bernasconi, A Garbisi. Con: J Umaga. Pen: Umaga.

Scorers for Munster: Tries: C Nash, T Farrell, G Coombes, T Ahern, A Kendellen, T Beirne, B Gleeson. Cons: J Crowley (5).

BENETTON: M Gallagher (Garbisi 73); L Lynagh (L Marin 63), T Menoncello (Cannone 75), M Fekitoa, P Odogwu; J Umaga, A Garbisi (A Uren 68); D Aminu (I Nemer 58), N Gasperini (B Bernasconi 45), M Gallorini (T Pasquali 45); G Marini, F Ruzza; S Negri (A Izekor 20), M Lamaro (c), L Cannone (J Kingi 68).

MUNSTER: S Daly (Coombes 73); C Nash, T Farrell (D Kelly 23-41), A Nankivell (D Kelly 73), A Smith; J Crowley, C Casey; J Loughman (M Milne 48), D Barron (L Barron 58), M Ala’alatoa (O Jager half-time); J Kleyn (E Edogbo 60), T Beirne (c); T Ahern (B Gleeson 60), J Hodnett (A Kendellen 48), G Coombes (B O’Donovan 68).

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales).