Rugby
Munster vs Benetton Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Venue: Thomond Park Kickoff Time: 20:35 (CAT Time) Benetton must travel to Ireland to face an old foe in Munster. The Irish hosts will know that claiming the points on offer is what is essential for them, but their visitors will not simply lie down and allow Munster to walk over them. These two teams find themselves in 7th and 8th respectively coming into this encounter, which only adds fuel to the proverbial fire. For fans wanting to place their bets, consider some of the best rugby betting sites to provide you with unmatched betting opportunities.
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Tyler Bleyendaal of Munster is tackled by Sebastian Negri of Benetton//Getty Images
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Before placing your online bets, we suggest considering the advertised betting odds as well as the win probability. The hosts are heavy favourites to come away from this with a win.
- Munster: 1/7 (1.14) – 80%
- Benetton: 5/1 (6.0) – 18%
Head-To-Head Record
Last three meetings
29/10/2023: Benetton 13–13 Munster
28/01/2023: Benetton 30-40 Munster
25/03/2022: Munster 51–22 Benetton
Munster Current Form – WLLLW
Munster will want to come into this game with the intention of regaining their confidence here. They have won just two games from their last five encounters but have shown they are able to produce their best when it counts.
The hosts will be buoyed by the fact that they have managed to put together a strong performance at home this season. Their defence looks really solid and begun to create a platform from which their big offensive players can launch dangerous attacks. We expect to see them come into this one with a heightened sense of aggression for sure.
Key Players to Watch
- Jack Crowley: He is slowly but surely becoming their playmaker and continues to grow in style and confidence. He has quickly developed into a player Irish rugby has begun to appreciate and given his ability to manage a game as smoothly as he does, expect another big performance from him here.
- Craig Casey: One of the scrum-halves who often attract a lot of attention in the URC. He is a sniper of a player and has been crucial to ensuring Munster maintain a positive tempo to their game. Keep your eye on him here.
- Tadhg Beirne: He offers incredible value and experience to the Munster forward pack. His work rate and disruptive ability are second to none and he has quickly become something of an indispensable option for the Irish outfit.
Benetton Current Form – WLWLW
The chances of qualification for the top eight at Benetton are hanging on by a thread. They started the season really well before losing momentum and quickly seeing missed chances rack up.
Nevertheless, the Italians are dangerous with possession of the ball. They play with unbridled flair and expression and so defending against them becomes almost impossible. Their only issues are their lack of consistency and ability to play for the entire 80 minutes.
Key Players to Watch
- Tommaso Menoncello: A real attacking weapon for Benetton and a threat from almost anywhere on the field. His ability to break tackles, finish chances and inject intensity into this Benetton side is something we shouldn’t be taking for granted.
- Lorenzo Cannone: The Italian number eight for Benetton is a physical presence like no other on this side. He is a versatile forward who enjoys having ball in hand and enjoys the contact aspect of the game. He will no doubt look to add metres to their attacking threat, so keep an eye out for him here.
- Rhyno Smith: A fullback with incredible experience himself, his kicking ability is without question his biggest asset. Not only does it get his side out of trouble, but he also effortlessly turns defence into attack and puts Benetton on the front foot.
Suggested Bets
For those bettors who enjoy having a bet on URC rugby matches, here are our strong picks to take advantage of with rugby betting sites.
Munster -17.5: We cannot see past the hosts dominating this game from the start. They have beaten Benetton by fair margins before and this won’t be much different. 20/21 (1.95) with Betway.
Total Points (Over 48.5): Munster has a strong attacking ability, and their opponents have shown to hold a rather inconsistent defensive record – back a high scoring affair. 9/10 (1.9) with Hollywoodbets.
Value Bets
Benetton to Score First: It is a bet we have come to enjoy, but in Benetton’s case, they will likely look to get off to a flyer – we just have reservations about whether they can sustain it. 7/2 (4.5) with Supabets.
Rhyno Smith (Anytime Try scorer) Not the most popular bet in rugby circles, but certainly one which often presents incredible value. 6/1 (7.0) with 10Bet.
Prediction: Munster to Win
This is a banker for the weekend bets. They have too much firepower on the field and possibly too much momentum off the field to be overlooked here. They have enjoyed playing at home and bringing their creative, expansive approach to the games – they now have that at their disposal against a side with an inconsistent defensive system. Back the home win here. For those looking to back this form, exploring betting sites with welcome bonus could add extra value to your weekend stake.
A quirky writer with an engaging tone, Ryan Liberty has seen his work published on many of South Africa’s sport’s publications. Ryan has a great passion for everything in the sporting world, from darts to football, motorsport and everything in between. His conversational flair allows him to bring diverse sporting topics to both the avid sports fan as well as the relaxed reader.