Treviso Target Three In A Row
23rd February 2016 By Munster Rugby
Munster travel to face a buoyant Benetton Treviso at the Stadio Monigo this Sunday – KO 2pm (Irish). With wins at home to Cardiff Blues and Newport-Gwent Dragons in the previous two rounds of the PRO12, the Italians will look to make it three wins in a row for the first time since October 2011.
Munster in contrast have lost their last two league fixtures – against Ospreys and Glasgow. However, they have not lost three regular season league games in succession since April 2013.
Foley’s charges are well versed in the challenge that lies in store this weekend having already faced the Treviso on three occasions this season – twice in European competition.
Munster won all three fixtures, but this time out, they face a resurgent Treviso side who, following Rounds 14 and 15, find themselves within four points of Zebre with whom they are battling it out for the Italian Champions Cup qualification spot.
Munster also enter this weekend with Champions Cup qualification foremost in their thoughts. A narrow loss to reigning champions Glasgow Warriors on Friday night saw them slip to 7th on the PRO12 table and, along with Ospreys and Edinburgh, are one of three teams level on 38 points and battling it out for Champions Cup qualification.
The Munstermen have visited Stadio Monigo on eight previous occasions where their record is five wins and three losses.
In September 2013 – the most recent defeat to Treviso – huge intensity from the hosts induced persistent ill-discipline with Munster seeing no less than four players sent to the bin. As penance, Munster suffered a 29-19 PRO12 defeat with the Italians kicking five penalties and scoring 2 tries in the process.
Benetton Treviso v Munster Rugby, Guinness PRO12 Round 16, Sunday February 28th at the Stadio Monigo – KO 2pm (Irish).
| Head To Head – Recent Guinness PRO12 Meetings | |||||
| Date | Venue | B | M | Benetton Treviso scorers | Munster scorers |
| Sun 24 Feb 13 | Stadio Monigo | 34 | 10 | Alberto di Bernardo(3C/P) Doppies la Grange(T) Ludovico Nitoglia(T) Fabio Semenzato(T) Giulio Toniolatti(T) Filippo Giusti(T) | Ian Keatley(C/P) Penalty Try(T) |
| Fri 20 Sep 13 | Stadio Monigo | 29 | 19 | Mat Berquist(2C/5P) Ludovico Nitoglia(2T) | Keith Earls(T) Stephen Archer(T) Ian Keatley(2C) Penalty Try(T) |
| Sat 22 Mar 14 | Thomond Park | 3 | 14 | Mat Berquist(P) | James Downey(T) Keith Earls(T) JJ Hanrahan(2C) |
| Fri 12 Sep 14 | Stadio Monigo | 10 | 21 | Joe Carlisle(C/P) Simone Ragusi(T) | CJ Stander(T) Ian Keatley(C/3P) Simon Zebo(T) |
| Sat 25 Apr 15 | Irish Independent Park | 19 | 30 | Jayden Hayward(2C) Mat Luamanu(T) Simone Ragusi(T) Andrea Pratichetti(T) | CJ Stander(T) Ian Keatley(2C/2P) Tommy O'Donnell(T) Penalty Try(T) Simon Zebo(T) |
| Sat 5 Sep 15 | Irish Independent Park | 13 | 18 | Jayden Hayward(C/2P) Dean Budd(T) | CJ Stander(2T) Ian Keatley(C/2P) |
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 42nd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Elia Rizzo, Simone Boaretto (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Achille Reali (FIR)
TMO: Alan Falzone (FIR)
