Munster Rugby looking to bounce back with trip to Benetton in URC

MUNSTER will be looking to bounce back after Clayton McMillan's side crashed out of European action last week with a 31-21 defeat to Exeter Chiefs in their opening game of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

Munster had ended up in the second tier Challenge Cup after a fifth-place finish in their Investec Champions Cup pool - losing three of their four pool fixtures.

McMillan's Munster were second best to the English Premiership side, who raced 31-points clear in the opening half.

Munster battled gamely in the second half with three tries but all the damage was done in an error-ridden first 40-minutes. Speaking to media after the match, head coach McMillan did not hide his disappointment with the result.

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"There’s a lot of work, a lot of work to go, but I didn’t expect it to happen overnight," said McMillan.

"It’s sort of two steps forward, one step back. Look, nothing has changed my belief around where this squad can get to.

"We’re obviously a work in progress and days like today show that we can go from a pretty low point to actually showing some decent rugby and a bit of bottle and it’s about getting more of that second part right.

"That will, you know, bring about the fortunes that we’re looking for," he said.

The defeat meant no game for Munster this past weekend as they bid to refocus for the United Rugby Championship run-in.
Next up for Munster is a trip to the Stadio Comunale di Monigo to face Benetton Rugby tonight at 7.45pm.

Munster face a Benetton side who have endured a mixed bag of results sine the turn of the year.

The Italians inconsistent form sees them lie 12th in the URC table but Wayne Pivac's side have shown some real signs of class in recent performances.

Last time out in Challenge Cup action, Benetton were denied by a late penalty as they also lost to Exeter in a 44-41 thriller.
Other recent noteworthy results include a 31-19 victory over Ospreys in the URC last month as well as draws with Scarlets and Dragons.

Munster themselves sit in seventh position in the table on 41 points, level with sixth placed Cardiff. A win for the 'Red Army' on Saturday night could see them rise to as high as fifth in the URC table should other results go their way this weekend.

Meanwhile, off the pitch, it has been confirmed that Munster stalwart John Ryan will retire at the end of the season after a 16-year career in professional rugby.

The 37-year-old has also earned 24 Ireland caps and lined out for the Barbarians against the All Blacks XV in 2022.

Ryan signed his first contract with Munster in December 2010 and along with his 15 years at the province also had a short-term loan at London Irish in 2012, had a spell with Wasps in 2022 and spent a season in New Zealand with Super Rugby Pacific side Chiefs in 2023.

In total, he has made 309 appearances in professional rugby to date since making his Munster debut against Cardiff in September 2011.