RUGBY/ HEINEKEN CUP Benetton Treviso v Munster: THE OBSERVATION that statistics are like a lamp post, there to illuminate rather than lean on, may prove prescient when examining the credentials of Benetton Treviso.
The Italian club has proved feisty opposition in the Heineken Cup this season without quite having the nerveless self-belief to sustain that impetus past the 80-minute mark. A highlight was the opening day 9-8 win over Perpignan at today’s venue.
Treviso then travelled to Thomond Park and for virtually the entire first half silenced the home fans as they grabbed a couple of tries and a 10-0 lead. Munster managed 41 unanswered points, a trend repeated in the Italians’ next game against the Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens.
Benetton were leading by a couple of scores but three tries immediately either side of the interval allowed the Saints to march to a convincing victory. In both of those games Treviso started to wilt defensively when their opponents introduced a higher pace and tempo.
Treviso will try to chase after Munster at scrum time, use a driving maul from the lineout and look to play a territorial game through the respective boots of fullback Luke McLean and South African outhalf Marius Goosen. It’s a simple, limited game plan but potentially very effective.
Munster produced a magnificent performance at the Stade Aime Giral in declawing Perpignan. They have a superbly attuned sense of theatre. Victory today is essential. Perpignan travel to Franklin’s Gardens with neither their strongest team nor, one suspects, much stomach for squaring up to Northampton.
If their last outing in Europe is a barometer then Munster are in rude health from a rugby perspective. The remodelled backline looks a better fit, benefiting from the platform provided by the forwards. Denis Leamy’s injury means Niall Ronan has been handed an opportunity. His presence should allow the visitors to pursue an expansive approach.
Treviso would prefer to drag Munster into a combative, stop-start affair dominated by the boot. The Irish province, in contrast, will know the Italians are vulnerable to high-tempo recycling and continuity. Ronan O’Gara will look to vary the game and so too Paul Warwick when he drops into the role of pivot in broken play.
Jean de Villiers’ midfield partnership with Keith Earls has the potential to make it difficult for Treviso. Concentrating at scrum time will be important, while Paul O’Connell and his cohorts up front will look to be physically combative at the breakdown in slowing opposition ball and aggressively precise in ensuring a speedier delivery on their own ball.
It won’t be straight forward but Munster know the virtue of patience and that the integrity of performance can brings its own rewards and bonuses.
BENETTON TREVISO: L McLean; A Vilk, A Sgarbi, G Garcia, B de Jager; M Goosen, S Picone; M Rizzo, L Ghiraldini, I Fernandez Rouyet; A Pavanello (capt), C van Zyl; B Vermaak , A Zanni, D Kingi. Replacements: D Vidal, A Allori, P di Santo, E Pavanello, M Filippucci, S Orlando, F Semenzato, T Botes.
MUNSTER: P Warwick, D Howlett, K Earls, J de Villiers, D Hurley; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; W du Preez, D Fogarty, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell (capt); A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Wallace. Replacements: D Varley, J Brugnault, T Buckley, D Ryan, J Coughlan, P Stringer, L Mafi, I Dowling.
Referee: Chris White(England).
Previous HC meetings: Dec 2003 – Munster 51 Treviso 0; Jan 2004 – Treviso 20 Munster 31; Oct 2009 – Munster 41 Treviso 10.
HC results so far: Treviso – bt Perpignan (h) 9-8; lost to Munster (a) 41-10; lost to Northampton (a) 30-18; lost to Northampton (h) 21-18. Munster – lost to Northampton (a) 31-27; bt Treviso (h) 41-10; bt Perpignan (h) 24-23; bt Perpignan (a) 37-14.
Leading points scorers: Treviso– Marius Goosen 23. Munster– Ronan O'Gara 59.
Leading try scorers: Treviso– B Williams, A Vilk, M Goosen, B Vermaak, E Mulieri, 1 each; penalty try. Munster– David Wallace, Denis Fogarty 2 each.
Odds(courtesy of Paddy Powers): Treviso 15/2, draw 50/1, Munster 1/20. Handicap: Treviso (+18) 10/11, draw 25/1, Munster (-18) 10/11.
Verdict: Munster to win.
