Guinness PRO14 weekend action: Munster 31-27 Cardiff Blues (Friday) moved the Irish province temporarily top; Benetton 20-12 Connacht (Saturday) sent the Italian outfit back to the summit. Ulster's clash with Scarlets was cancelled due to positive Covid-19 tests.
Saturday 29 May 2021 22:02, UK
Catch up on the weekend's PRO14 Rainbow Cup action, as Munster and Benetton both won, with the Italians remaining at the top of the table...
Munster gave retiring duo CJ Stander and Tommy O'Donnell a winning Thomond Park send-off with a dramatic 31-27 Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup bonus-point victory over Cardiff Blues.
Belatedly responding to Tomos Williams' early try, Munster reeled off three converted scores between the 29th and 37th minutes - hooker Niall Scannell touched down twice - to lead 21-10 at half-time.
Fineen Wycherley also scored for the hosts, but Blues scrum-half Williams completed his brace before his replacement Lloyd Williams made it three tries each while Munster's Mike Haley was in the sin bin.
A Jarrod Evans penalty edged the Blues back in front at 27-24, only for Munster replacement Keynan Knox to rumble over with six minutes remaining and temporarily move them back to the top of the table.
Benetton maintained their flawless tournament record with a 20-12 victory over 14-man Connacht in the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup.
Unbeaten in the tournament going into the game, Benetton extended their winning run with an impressive physical performance against Connacht, who finished with 14 men after Abraham Papali'i's 73rd-minute red card.
Benetton's dominance of the scrum limited Connacht's chances throughout the game, especially in the second half, with the visitors unable to add to the scoreline after their 42nd-minute try.
Paolo Garbisi, who made six kicks from six two weeks ago, also had a good game despite a slightly less impressive record with five successful penalty kicks.
Despite Connacht scoring two tries to Benetton's one, it was not to be for the Irish side, with some resolute defending denying them just metres from the line just before the half-time break.
Glasgow Warriors came from behind to record a 27-16 Rainbow Cup victory over the Dragons at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Tries from Kyle Steyn, Ross Thompson, George Turner and Kiran McDonald were enough to get the Warriors over the line, while Thompson also contributed seven points from the kicking tee.
Aneurin Owen scored the Dragons' only try with Sam Davies kicking 12 points.
