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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Munster fought to 'bitter end'
Munster lost in the URC quarter-finals for the first time since 2022 [Getty Images] Munster captain Tadhg Beirne said "there was nothing more" he could ask of his team-mates after their United Rugby Championship quarter-final loss to Sharks was decided by a place-kick competition. The visitors to Durban had led 21-10 in the second half but, after the game finished 24-24 and neither side scored during extra time, the Sharks were a perfect six-from-six in their shots at goal, while Rory Scannell was wayward off the tee for Munster. Advertisement "They're riddled with internationals, they know what they're doing," said Beirne of the Sharks who will now face the Bulls in the semi-finals. "We knew they were going to keep coming at us, we knew they would be a tough battle, and we fought to the bitter end. "There's nothing more I could ask of the lads. To go to a penalty shootout or whatever you call that there is gutting for us, but that's the way it goes and that's the way we lost the game." The defeat represented final Munster appearances for Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer. "There's no tomorrow for us this season and we have to say goodbye to some pretty special characters within this room," added Beirne, who will tour with the British and Irish Lions for a second time this summer. "It's going to be a weird place without them, we've spoken about it before. "They epitomise Munster, they love the club and they put blood, sweat and tears in for the club."
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
What TV channel is Munster vs Benetton on? FREE stream, kick-off time and odds as Peter O'Mahony leads Cork farewell
MUNSTER essentially have a win-and-in scenario in tonight's regular season finale as they aim to squeak into the URC play-offs. On the back of last week's Advertisement If they beat Benetton this evening they will finish inside the top eight places and thereby secure a play-off berth and Champions Cup rugby next season. Here's everything you need to know about tonight's match which will take place at Cork's Virgin Media Park, formerly Musgrave Park: What TV channel is Munster vs Benetton on? It will be shown live on TG4 and Premier Sports 1. So everyone has the free streaming option provided by the TG4 Player. Kick-off will be at 8pm. Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport What are the odds? The Reds are red-hot favourites at 1/6 while the Italian outfit are 4/1 outsiders. A draw is priced at 22/1 while the handicap is +/-11 points. Munster: 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, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Seán O'Brien, Alex Kendellen. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union What's been said in the build-up? Earlier this week Craig Casey described the prospect of No Munster team has ever missed on competing in Europe's premier club competition, and Casey is well aware of the high stakes. Shocking moment enormous brawl breaks out in rubgy league after 'horrendous hit' He emphasized: 'Munster and the Heineken Cup and the Champions Cup, it's something — we have no choice — we have to be there to be honest. 'The pressure is on this weekend like we've all touched on here. It would be inconceivable not to be there. Advertisement 'Our job is to win. Every time you put on a Munster jersey, the only thing you're thinking about is winning. 'So if we start thinking about the other games while we're on the pitch, it's going to go drastically wrong so we've got to think about what we need to do.' 1 This will be the last game Stephen Archer, Peter O'Mahony and Conor Murray play for Munster at the Cork ground since the first two are retiring while the latter is moving abroad If disaster were to strike, a losing bonus point should still be enough to get the job done but they will no doubt be hoping to have a happier last home outing than that eventuality. Advertisement
Irish Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Munster are taking Champions Cup hopes down to the wire as they face dangerously strong Benetton
URC: Munster v Benetton, Musgrave Park, Friday, 8pm – Live on TG4 and Premier Sports 1 Ever the drama kings, Munster have taken their ambition of reaching the URC playoffs and next season's Champions Cup down to the last game of the regular season. Throw in Peter O'Mahony and Stephen Archer making their farewell appearances on Munster soil in their hometown, as well as the generational Conor Murray , and even by Munster standards this could hardly be pitched more dramatically. [ Munster will face probably the best Benetton side that has ever set foot on an Irish ground ] When there's bonus points involved there are multiple possibilities, but essentially this comes down to a winner-takes-all shoot-out for a place in the playoffs and next season's Champions Cup between the teams sitting seventh and eight in the table on 46 points. Benetton are ranked above Munster by dint of winning more matches, which is the first criteria for separating sides on the same points, to be followed by points difference. Therefore, in the event of a draw and either the same number of bonus points or none on the night, Benetton would finish above Munster. READ MORE Otherwise, bonus points can be ignored, for if there's a decisive result the winner will finish above the loser, who is likely to drop further as Cardiff sit ninth also on 46 points and Edinburgh are on 44 points in 10th. Helpfully, Cardiff meet the reshuffled Stormers in Cape Town beforehand (kick-off 6pm Irish time) and the Edinburgh-Ulster result will also be known entering the final quarter in Cork as that game kicks off at 7.35pm in Hive Stadium. In truth, these feel like sideshows, with this shoot-out in effect amounting to a Round of 16 tie, but with huge connotations if Munster are to retain their status as ever-presents in the Champions Cup over the last 30 years. Munster and Benetton come into this season-defining game on the back of impressive bonus-point wins at home to Ulster (38-20) and the champions Glasgow (33-7) and both have named unchanged starting XV. Benetton's Malakai Fekitoa is tackled during a United Rugby Championship game against Emirates Lions at Stadio Monigo. Photograph: Luca Sighinolfi/INPHO Munster also keep the same 6-2 bench configuration, whereas Benetton make two changes among their replacements by recalling experienced Azzurri prop Tiziano Pasquali and the Pumas outhalf Tomás Albornoz to replace Giosuè Zilocchi and Leonardo Marin. While the former All Blacks and Munster centre Malakai Fekitoa, now of Tonga, retains the number 23 jersey, perhaps nothing demonstrates Benetton's unprecedented strength-in-depth than the dead-eyed Albornoz having to be content with a place on the bench and the talented Marin, who nearly snatched victory for Italy over Ireland in Rome, isn't even named among the replacements. Save for the Italian A scrumhalf Nicolò Casilio, Benetton have an all-international bench which boasts a combined 258 Test caps. Last week it was striking how much energy and impact the likes of 40-year-old ex-Pumas captain Agustin Creevy, Niccolò Cannone and Sebastian Negri provided as the Italians tightened the screw on Glasgow. Save for a draw at the Stadio Monigo in their most recent meeting last season, Munster lead the head-to-head 18-3 and are unbeaten in their last 15 meetings with Benetton. However, this did include a lucky 15-13 win in the 2018-19 quarter-finals against a less accomplished Benetton side that led 13-6 entering the final quarter before three JJ Hanrahan penalties in the final quarter. The vast bulk of the Benetton squad have been together for a few years and they reached the playoffs last season, losing 30-23 in a thrilling quarter-final away to the Bulls. This season they came within one play of winning away to Castres (where Munster lost) and reaching the Champions Cup knock-out stages for the first time after beating Premiership leaders Bath and La Rochelle in the pool stages. Benetton's scrum and lineout are generally very solid, their defences has improved this season, their back three provide a sharp cutting edge and, of course, they have the superb, telepathic Nacho Brex and Tommaso Menoncello in midfield. They can cut any team open. And often do. Munster, and their capacity home crowd, will need to be on it for this gamefrom the off. If there's anything like the same tension in the air as seven nights ago in Thomond Park, and more pertinently a repeat of those recurring lineout malfunctions and defensive glitches, then given any encouragement, unlike a callow Ulster, this dangerous Benetton side has the depth and experience to stay in the fight until the end. Tadhg Beirne is pictured at Munster's United Rugby Championship away game against Connacht last March. Photograph: James Crombie/INPHO Any pack with the experience of Niall Scannell, the brilliant standard bearer Tadhg Beirne and O'Mahony, whose presence should be as inspirational as it was when scoring one try and assisting for two others last week, should be capable of problem solving as it did against Ulster. If they play with the same freedom and if the in-form Craig Casey and Jack Crowley ensure the same tempo, they probably have the greater all-round firepower: for while these two have similar defensive records over this season's URC campaign, Munster have scored 63 tries to Benetton's 47. A nervy start and with it a few hiccups along the way seems a likelier problem than Munster and their supporters being lulled into any false sense of security by history. The highest stakes game of their season should take care of that and see Munster pull through. But it could be dramatic. MUNSTER: 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, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Seán O'Brien, Alex Kendellen. 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: Bautista Bernasconi, Mirco Spagnolo, Tiziano Pasquali, Niccolò Cannone, Sebastian Negri, Nicolò Casilio, Tomás Albornoz, Malakai Fekitoa. Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU).
Irish Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Munster stick with winning formula for vital visit of Benetton
As expected, Munster have retained the same starting XV and an unchanged 23-man squad from last week's bonus-point win over Ulster at Thomond Park for Friday's must-win final match of the URC regular season against Benetton at a sold-out Virgin Media Park (kick-off 8pm, live on TG4 and Premier Sports). This means, of course, there will be a suitable sense of occasion for the final appearance on Munster soil of the retiring Cork duo Peter O'Mahony and Stephen Archer, who are both named in the starting team. In another landmark, Jean Kleyn will also make his 150th appearance for Munster in front of the 8,800 capacity crowd, while the ever-present Tom Farrell will start his 25th game of the season. The match will also mark the final appearance on a Munster ground of Conor Murray before his move abroad next season, as the multi-capped, multi-decorated provides the backline cover alongside Sean O'Brien in a reprise of a 6-2 bench split. Munster go into the final weekend of the regular season occupying the eighth and last place for both the play-offs and next season's Champions Cup, level with Benetton on 46 points but with the Italians ahead by dint of having won more matches. READ MORE Hence, a win of any kind will ensure Munster secure a place in the quarter-finals and in next season's Champions Cup. However, a defeat will likely see Munster miss out, as ninth-placed Cardiff are also on 46 points but behind on points difference. They play the Stormers in Cape Town on Friday evening (kick-off 6pm Irish time) while Edinburgh, in 10th on 44 points, host Ulster on Friday (kick-off 7.35pm Irish time, live on Premier Sports). Benetton come into this crunch game on the back of an impressive bonus point win by 33-7 over the champions Glasgow and also name an unchanged starting XV. They do make two changes among their replacements by recalling experienced prop Tiziano Pasquali and the Pumas outhalf Tomas Albornoz to replace Giosuè Zilocchi and Leonardo Marin on a bench also featuring the former All Blacks and Munster centre Malakai Fekitoa. The long-serving duo of Andrew Warwick and Kieran Treadwell are in line for their final appearances in an Ulster jersey in Hive Stadium. Richie Murphy has made one change to the front row which started against Munster last weekend, with Tom O'Toole name at tighthead prop, while Treadwell's recall means Cormac Izuchukwu moves to blindside flanker. The is one change in the backs, with South African winger Werner Kok replacing Robert Baloucoune. 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 (C); Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Seán O'Brien, Alex Kendellen. 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 (C), Riccardo Favretto, Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone. Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Mirco Spagnolo, Tiziano Pasquali, Niccolò Cannone, Sebastian Negri, Nicolò Casilio, Tomas Albornoz, Malakai Fekitoa. Edinburgh Rugby: Wes Goosen, Darcy Graham, Matt Currie, James Lang, Harry Paterson, Ross Thompson, Ali Price, Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, D'arcy Rae, Marshall Sykes, Sam Skinner, Ben Muncaster, Hamish Watson, Magnus Bradbury (C). Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Boan Venter, Javan Sebastian, Glen Young, Jamie Ritchie, Charlie Shiel, Ben Healy, Mark Bennett. Ulster: Michael Lowry, Werner Kok, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson (C), Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, David McCann. Replacements: Tom Stewart, Callum Reid, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, James McNabney, David Shanahan, Aidan Morgan, Stewart Moore.
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Munster v Benetton preview: A sell-out crowd, an emotional farewell and a chance of a top-eight finish
In their hour of need their public have rallied to the cause. Munster's all-or-nothing shoot-out on the 18th and final weekend of the URC regular season against Benetton in Virgin Media Park next Friday (kick-off 8pm) is an 8,000 sell-out. To all intents and purposes, this is effectively a playoff to reach the playoffs and with it next season's Champions Cup. This glorified knockout tie, which will also mark the final game on Irish soil of the Cork duo of Peter O'Mahony and Stephen Archer as well as Conor Murray, is the kind of cup rugby on which Munster players such as that trio were reared. They and the rest of the match day squad all came through last Friday's vital 38-20 win over Ulster in front of a 17,000-plus attendance at Thomond Park unscathed. Hence, with Diarmuid Barron (shoulder injury) and Oli Jager (head injury) again unavailable, although Edwin Edogbo is thankfully back in training after his lengthy absence, Munster are likely to be unchanged for this season-defining game. 'There will be that little bit of emotion' around the aforementioned trio's Cork farewell, admitted the Munster defence coach Denis Leamy. 'That will be there but we've a big job of work to do. We're playing a very good team and it's fair to say it's a cup final, or a cup game.' READ MORE Hailing Munster's supporters last Friday and looking ahead to this Friday's sell-out, Leamy said: 'It's just a great chance to bring people together and we value our support so much. Cork will be exceptional – the Cork sports people, as a county, the best in Ireland. Musgrave will be rocking. It will feel like 16,000, it will feel unbelievable and I know that the Cork supporters will give us everything on Friday night.' Munster sit eighth, behind Benetton by dint of the latter having won one more match. On what could be a dramatic as well as emotional night, Munster should know their fate at the full-time whistle, as the two teams immediately below them also play on Friday evening, with Cardiff away to the Stormers at 6pm Irish time, and Edinburgh hosting Ulster at 7.35pm. 'That's something we'll keep an eye on,' said Leamy, 'around permutations and decisions that we may need to take on the field.' But Munster know that a win of any hue will guarantee a top-eight finish, whereas a defeat will probably see them miss out on the playoffs and next season's Champions Cup for the first time since the competition came into being 30 years ago. Munster's Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer after their URC Championship match against Ulster at Thomond Park, Limerick, last Friday. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho 'It's very clear cut – you win the game and that probably takes care of the vast majority of what we need to, so that will be the thing,' said Leamy. 'Just try and go out and, as difficult as it will be, put in place a performance that can win the can.' Only three times this season have Munster backed up a win with another but Leamy takes comfort in how his team found the means to subdue Ulster after a difficult start. [ Win over Ulster a fitting Thomond Park farewell for Munster's departing faithful Opens in new window ] 'The boys fully understand it's about growing week-to-week and we did an awful lot right against Ulster. We didn't get an easy start but we stayed calm and managed to get up the field and score tries and we put in a good D set to deny Ulster opportunities. 'Our set-piece delivered at crucial times as well, which gave us platforms to attack off. All those little pieces are important and it's about building on that again in that little bit of a pressure zone that Cork and Musgrave Park is going to be on Friday night. 'We fully believe in our players and we've got players who have played at the very highest level and have won a URC only a couple of seasons before. These boys have been in tough places and we back them all the way.' Leamy is struck by the number of internationals in Benetton's ranks, referencing outhalf Jacob Umaga, the renowned midfield pairing of Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello, and winger Paolo Odogwu, and also took note of their 33-7 bonus point win over the champions Glasgow last Saturday, having earlier taken the scalps of Bath and La Rochelle in the Champions Cup. 'You see what they're capable of doing, it definitely puts you on high alert. We've spoken about that a lot today, but we've just got to back ourselves, back our game, understand the people that we have in the building and believe in that.'
