The second set of festive derbies might not have been as close as the first, but there was no shortage of drama in the Guinness PRO14. Benetton overcame a first-half red card to secure all five points against Zebre, while Edinburgh finished the stronger to level the 1872 Cup. Elsewhere Leinster continued their perfect season with a battling success at Thomond Park, Ulster proved too strong for Connacht and on Boxing Day Cardiff Blues and Scarlets earned Welsh bragging rights. BENETTON CONFIDENCE When Juan Ignacio Brex saw red midway through the first half at the Stadio Monigo, it looked like Benetton might be in trouble against their Italian rivals. Instead, they were able to power to a 36-25 success with a hat-trick from Hame Faiva, leaving forwards coach Marco Bortolami purring at the efforts of his side. He told OnRugby: “The greatest satisfaction is the character shown by the team. We said it to the boys last week: we can help them in the technical and mental aspect of the game, but the one thing we cannot coach is heart. So all the credit goes to the players. “The red could have ruined the game, but in reality it united us even more, even in the most difficult moments like in the first half. Honestly, watching the game, I never had any doubts that the team would bring it home.” 💯 CAPS WITH US! CONGRATULATIONS #HAYWARD 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/K4yZdTBYmb — Benetton Rugby 🦁 (@BenettonRugby) December 29, 2019 COCKERILL HAS A DIG AT WARRIORS Richard Cockerill has won the 1872 Cup in each of his first two seasons at Edinburgh, and that record could be extended after the 29-19 clash in front of a record crowd at BT Murrayfield. And while Glasgow Warriors have been the great entertainers with both Gregor Townsend and now Dave Rennie at the helm, the former England hooker insists his Edinburgh team are just as exciting these days. He told BBC Scotland: “Glasgow have always said that we’re a kick-chase team and don’t score tries. “Well, we scored more tries [than Glasgow] tonight. We won the game and they got nothing. If you look at the two pools, we’ve scored more tries than them, so maybe they’re a kick-chase team. “We’ve lived in their shadow enough – why shouldn’t we enjoy the win?” 😁😁😁 Derby day winners.#EDIvGLA | @PRO14Official pic.twitter.com/E9aUQxqMb1 — Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) December 29, 2019 CONTRASTING EMOTIONS AT THOMOND Fortress Thomond Park was breached at last as Leinster became the first team to beat Munster at their Limerick home in 22 matches. The 13-6 success was a rather more defensive affair than last week’s try-fest against Ulster, with the returning Sean Cronin putting in one notable tackle on Darren O’Shea late on as Munster pressed for a draw. “I think I had a bit of help,” said Cronin afterwards, with flanker Will Connors having joined him in hammering O’Shea backwards. And it was that defensive steel that pleased Leo Cullen with the victory. He said: “It’s the manner of the game and overall scheme of the performance that’s most important to us. We know parts of that performance weren’t perfect today, but at least there was a better dig-in for each other.” "It was a massive effort - a win here is always a good result." 💪@SeanCronin2 spoke to #LeinsterRugby TV following yesterday's win over Munster at Thomond Park. 👇#MUNvLEI #JoinTheRoar pic.twitter.com/7rPFxoo3BY — Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 29, 2019 Johann van Graan, meanwhile, bemoaned Munster’s slow start as Ed Byrne’s first-half try proved the difference between the teams. He said: “Obviously very disappointed to lose at home. It was an incredibly tough match. I thought we didn’t start the game well enough. They put us under pressure, we conceded penalties and they kicked us into the corner. “Ultimately, their try was the difference in the game. I thought we reassessed quite well at half-time and adapted. “We had multiple opportunities in the 22. All credit to Leinster, they kept us out. In the last ten minutes, we just literally couldn’t get over the try line.” ULSTER FOCUS ON LINEOUT Ulster laid down a marker with a convincing 35-3 win over Connacht, but coach Dan McFarland has already set his sights on next week’s clash with Munster. For McFarland, it was the set-piece and particularly the lineout where Ulster will have to step it up in their third successive Inter-Pro. He said: “We made a few mistakes on the edge that could cost us next week, and we lost a few lineouts there, so we shipped a lot of possession and turned a lot of possession over that we shouldn’t have done. “But we ended up scoring five tries against them so you’ve got to be pretty pleased with that.” 🎬 Go behind-the-scenes at Kingspan Stadium during Friday's Inter-pro game against Connacht! 👀 Full video ➡️https://t.co/HOTpxtF5zy pic.twitter.com/xTxuWTBG6O — Ulster Rugby (@UlsterRugby) December 28, 2019 LEWIS-HUGHES SETS SIGHTS ON SCARLETS Few players have enjoyed a better festive period that Shane Lewis-Hughes, man of the match against the Ospreys and then the match-winner against the Dragons on Boxing Day. And the Cardiff Blues flanker is now looking to make it a perfect three from three against the Welsh regions when the side from the capital take on the Scarlets. He said: “We’ve got the Scarlets coming up, which is another big game and they don’t come any easier. But it’s a challenge that we’re relishing and we can’t wait to get stuck in. “I’m trying to be the best that I can be every single day in training, to prepare myself for the weekend. “I have a goal to get better each week and each day and the rest will take care of itself. “Last year I broke through in January and started playing a bit more and this year I’m having more consistent game time. “I’m just very grateful for the opportunity. I realise how lucky I am to get to do this as a job, and I realise that a lot of people would give an arm and a leg away to do what I do.” Cardiff Blues relishing Scarlets challenge as they target festive clean sweep - Lewis-Hugheshttps://t.co/JuCe4xXza9 pic.twitter.com/YlQiJ9xuKZ — Cardiff Blues (@cardiff_blues) December 28, 2019 MOOAR AIMS TO BUILD A PLATFORM Brad Mooar’s future may be with the All Blacks, but the Scarlets coach insists he wants to leave the region in position to kick on under his successor. Mooar will join Ian Foster’s coaching staff next summer, but after a thumping win over the Ospreys on Thursday, is already planning for how he can leave the Scarlets in the best possible place before he returns to New Zealand. “It was always important to me it was always going to be the end of the season and we get to finish what we started and leave the place in a position where it is ready to explode and go forward,” he said. “It would please me 100 per cent to see the side and the club kicking on. “It is a heck of a squad. We have seen ‘Sanjay’ [Liam Williams] sign on and Leigh Halfpenny is a national treasure at the back doing a superb job and being the utmost professional. “Once a Scarlet always a Scarlet and what is dear to my heart is what has been started here continues on and I am willing to be part of that conversation [with finding a successor].” #ICYMI 🔥 @s4cchwaraeon pic.twitter.com/NMNF8NxKxA — Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) December 28, 2019
