Munster boost top-eight hopes with Benetton win

Benetton (3) 15

Tries: Bernasconi, Garbisi Cons: Umaga Pens: Umaga

Munster (19) 45

Tries: Nash, Farrell, Coombes, Kleyn, Kendellen, Beirne, Gleeson Cons: Crowley 5

Munster scored seven tries in a 45-15 win in Benetton to boost their hopes of finishing in the top eight of the United Rugby Championship.

The Irish province led 19-3 at half time as Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell and Gavin Coombes all crossed in the first half, while Benetton's sole score came from the boot of Jacob Umaga.

Jean Kleyn secured the bonus point for Munster seven minutes after the restart, and Benetton got their first try of the game when Bautista Bernascon crossed.

But Munster's dominance was restored when Alex Kendellen and Tadhg Beirne extnded their advantage, but they were reduced to 13 players when Jack Crowley was sin-binned for an infringement at the breakdown just after the hour mark, and Craig Casey followed three minutes later for a failed intercept.

Brian Gleeson scored a seventh try, and Crowley slotted his fifth conversion of the evening on his return, and Benetton got a late consolation score through Alessandro Garbisi with the clock on the red.

The win moves Munster up to seventh in the URC table ahead of Saturday's inter-provincial derby at home to Ulster, while Benetton remain out of the play-off places in 13th.

Benetton: Gallagher; Lynagh; Menoncello, Fekitoa; Odogwu; Umaga, Garbisi; Aminu, Gasperini, Gallorini; Marini, Ruzza; Negri, Lamaro, Cannone.

Replacements: Bernasconi, Nemer, Pasquali, Favretto, Kingi, Izekor, Uren, Marin.

Munster: Daly; Nash; Farrell, Nankivell; Smith; Crowley, Casey; Loughman, Barron, Ala'alatoa; Kleyn, Beirne; Ahern, Hodnett, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Milne, Jager, Edogbo, Gleeson, O'Donovan, Kelly, Kendellen.