WATCH: Munster Rugby see off Benetton to secure URC play-off spot and Champions Cup place

MUNSTER Rugby have secured their place in the play-off stages of the United Rugby Championship and also secured qualification for next season's Investec Champions Cup following a hard fought 30-21 bonus point victory over a gritty Benetton side in front of a capacity attendance of 8,800 at Virgin Media Park in Cork on Friday night.

Munster trailed their energised visitors 10-14 at half-time and the second half looked set to be a right dog fight given the significance of the prize on offer for both sides.

2023 URC champions Munster now look set to face an away date against the Bulls or Glasgow Warriors in the URC quarter-final play-offs depending on the results of the remaining Round 18 fixtures this Saturday.

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And next season, two-time winners Munster will get to compete in the top tier of European club rugby, the Investec Champions Cup for a 31st season, when one of their two home pool fixtures will be played at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Munster are now unbeaten in their last 16 Championship encounters with Benetton but this was one of the stiff tests the Irish province has faced from the Italians.

Jack Crowley opens the scoring! @Munsterrugby take the lead against Benetton as their star fly-half goes over pic.twitter.com/YuJQMEKDLW

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 16, 2025

Benetton had lost only one of their five previous fixtures in this season's URC before visiting Cork.

Out-half Jack Crowley had scored all of Munster's first half points in Friday's crucial win over Benetton, after scoring a 13th minute try which he converted, while also adding a 21st minute penalty.

However, a run of 15 unanswered points in the third quarter, including tries for replacement hooker Lee Barron and full-back Thaakir Abrahams, and a conversion and penalty from Man of the Match Craig Casey turned the contest in the home side's favour. Casey, who was making a landmark 100th appearance for the province in the game, had the honour of leading the Munster side out for the contest.

A try from Benetton's Bautista Bernasconi on 68 minutes set up something of a nervy finish for the home supporters, before Josh Wycherley's late try, which secured a bonus point, sealed victory for Munster.

@Munsterrugby are in their groove!

Thaakir Abrahams extends the lead against Benetton to the delight of the Red Army pic.twitter.com/wLOFg3a8IX

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 16, 2025

During the second half, long-serving flanker Peter O‘Mahony was given a rousing ovation by the capacity crowd as he was replaced in what was more than likely his last home fixture for Munster Rugby.

Veteran prop Stephen Archer, also making his final home appearance in red before retiring, also received a warm reception as he made his way to the bench, while Limerick scrum-half Conor Murray, another player having his final home outing for the province, was spung from the bench in the second half to replace Jack Crowley who picked up a knock.

Crowley had scored the opening try if what was a nervy contest early on 14 minutes when the Munster play-maker dashed over from close range to score beside the posts. Crowley also converted his own touchdown.

A well-drilled Benetton side, boosted by an impressive scrum, responded with a try from flying full-back Rhyno Smith as he went on an angled run, skipped through an attempted tackle and dived over, Jacob Umaga converting for 7-7.

Massive score for @Munsterrugby!

Josh Wycherley with the bonus point try against Benetton at Virgin Media Park ✅ pic.twitter.com/KQFocGqeVf

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 16, 2025

Crowley's penalty edged the hosts in front again, 10-7, before the visitors went ahead with a stunning breakaway try.

The Munster defence was caught napping as fly-half Umaga made a break on halfway and he fed speedster Smith who raced away for his second try.

Trailing by four points at half-time, and with their season on the line, Munster needed to make a composed start to the second half.

And four minutes after the restart, replacement hooker Lee Barron rumbled over from a maul after a line-out, Crowley off-target with the tee on that occasion.

Speedster Thaakir Abrahams then showed a fine turn of pace after collecing an offload for Munster's third try and Casey added a superb conversion from the touchline.

Craig Casey and Tadhg Beirne react after Munster's qualification to the URC playoffs

"It's the club I grew up absolutely loving and it means an awful lot to myself, my family and my friends, as well." ️ pic.twitter.com/Kz0gY1bkPQ

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 16, 2025

Crowley set up the score with a cross-kick for Diarmuid Kilgallen on the wing and he provided the pass for the South African to race clear.

A Casey penalty extended the lead to 11 points but Benetton weren't finished and Bautista Bernasconi barged over for their third score. Umaga's kick reduced the deficit to four.

Josh Wycherley powered over to give the home side some breathing space, Casey contributing the additional two points.

SCORERS: Munster Rugby: Jack Crowley try, con, pen, Lee Barron, Thaakir Abrahams, Josh Wycherley try each, Craig Casey pen, con. Benetton: Rhyno Smith two tries, Bautista Bernasconi try, Jacob Umaga three cons. 

MUNSTER RUGBY: Thaakir Abrahams; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (Capt); Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Lee Barron for Scannell (33 mins), Tom Ahern for O’Mahony (54 mins), Josh Wycherley for Milne, Alex Kendellen for Hodnett (both 57 mins), John Ryan for Archer (63 mins), Fineen Wycherley for Kleyn, Conor Murray for Crowley (both 75 mins), Seán O’Brien for Farrell (79 mins).

BENETTON: Rhyno Smith; Ignacio Mendy, Tommaso Menoncello, Ignacio Brex, Paolo Odogwu; Jacob Umaga, Alessandro Garbisi; Thomas Gallo, Siua Maile, Simone Ferrari; Scott Scrafton, Federico Ruzza (Capt); Riccardo Favretto, Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone. Replacements:  Tomas Albornoz for Odogwu (11 mins), Bautista Bernasconi for Maile, Niccolò Cannone for Scrafton, Sebastian Negri for Favretto, Malakai Fekitoa for Brex (all 52 mins), Nicolò Casilio for Menoncello (57 mins), Mirco Spagnolo for Gallo (65 mins), Tiziano Pasquali for Ferrari (75 mins).

REFEREE: Mike Adamson (Scotland).