Munster Rugby have secured their place in the play-off stages of the United Rugby Championship and also secured qualification for next season's Investec Champions Cup following a hard-fought 30-21 bonus point victory over a gritty Benetton.
Munster trailed their spirited visitors 10-14 at half-time and the second half looked set to be a right dog fight given the significance of the prize on offer for both sides.
Out-half Jack Crowley had scored all of Munster's first-half points, after scoring a 13th-minute try which he converted, while also adding a 21st-minute penalty.
However, a run of 15 unanswered points in the third quarter, including tries for replacement hooker Lee Barron and full-back Thaakir Abrahams, and a conversion and penalty from Man of the Match Craig Casey turned the contest in the home side's favour.
A try from Benetton's Bautista Bernasconi on 68 minutes set up something of a nervy finish for the home supporters, before Josh Wycherley's late try, which secured a bonus point, sealed victory for Munster.
Scorers:
Munster Rugby: Tries: Jack Crowley, Lee Barron, Thaakir Abrahams, Josh Wycherley. Conversions: Jack Crowley, Craig Casey. Penalties: Jack Crowley, Craig Casey.
Benetton Rugby: Tries: Rhyno Smith (2), Bautista Bernasconi.Conversions:Jacob Umaga (3).
Teams:
Munster Rugby: 15 Thaakir Abrahams, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Diarmuid Kilgallen, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Michael Milne. Replacements: 16 Lee Barron, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 John Ryan, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Tom Ahern, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Seán O’Brien, 23 Alex Kendellen.
Benetton Rugby: 15 Rhyno Smith, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Federico Ruzza (c), 4 Scott Scrafton, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Thomas Gallo. Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Mirco Spagnolo, 18 Tiziano Pasquali, 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Sebastian Negri, 21 Nicolò Casilio, 22 Tomas Albornoz, 23 Malakai Fekitoa.