Pro14: Last-gasp Benetton snatch 27-27 draw against Leinster

Benetton are third in Pro14 Conference B with two games remaining

Benetton kept their Pro14 play-off hopes alive with a last-gasp try to snatch a deserved draw with Leinster.

Two tries in seven minutes helped Leinster come from behind to take a narrow lead at the RDS.

But Ratuva Tavuyara danced over after 25 phases and Tommasso Allan kicked the conversion for a 27-27 draw.

Leinster are already assured of a home semi-final but the draw keeps Benetton in the hunt for the remaining two play-off spots in Conference B.

The Italian side move above Edinburgh into third place in the conference table and just two points behind second-placed Ulster with two rounds remaining.

• Pro14 conference tables

Benetton appeared to be on course for a repeat of last season's historic victory at the RDS when Luca Bigi's early try and Allan's boot gave them a seven-point lead at the break and the Italian side showed no hint of intimidation against the defending champions when they regained the lead through Federico Ruzza after James Lowe's levelling try.

Leinster thought they had secured victory when they upped the gears in the final quarter to send Bryan Byrne and Ciaran Frawley over the line and into a decisive lead but Tavuyara's injury-time score and Allan's last-ditch conversion clinched a share of the points.

Ciaran Frawley's try with nine minutes remaining gave Leinster the lead for the first time

Thunderous start

Leinster chose to rest many of their first-choice stars as they prepare for their European semi-final against Toulouse and the Pro14 play-offs but head coach Leo Cullen had to further dilute his squad before kick off when flanker Josh Murphy was a late withdrawal, leaving loose-head prop Ed Byrne as back-row cover on the bench.

Benetton took advantage of their hosts' relative inexperience with a thunderous start that resulted in hooker Bigi dashing over from the tail of a wheeling maul and fly-half Allan slotted the conversion.

A blistering midfield break by Barry Daly set up a penalty for Noel Reid but the Leinster fly-half was forced off shortly afterwards and second row Mick Kearney also had to be helped off with an arm injury during the first half as the home side had to reshuffle their side.

Replacement fly-half Frawley cancelled out a penalty by Allan but the visitors dominated the final 10 minutes of the opening half as the Leinster defence twice had to withstand over 14 phases in their own 22 before Benetton settled for a penalty in front of the posts for a seven-point half-time advantage.

James Lowe's try drew Leinster level at the start of the second half

Leinster increase the tempo

The home side began to look more fluid after the restart and strong carries by Daly and the impressive Max Deegan brought them up to the Benetton line before Lowe bustled through three defenders to score.

The visitors responded with an attack off a midfield scrum and ground their way through 26 phases in Leinster territory before Ruzza eventually burst through the blue wall to score.

But Leinster were looking increasingly threatening in attack as scrum-half Luke McGrath increased the tempo and the defending champions were rewarded with two scores in quick succession.

Replacement hooker Byrne barrelled over at the back of a route-one maul and then Frawley finished off an electrifying strike play that featured an expertly-timed no-look pass by Conor O'Brien to send the fly-half through a gaping hole.

Benetton are enjoying a remarkable season under head coach Kieran Crowley and they showed impressive mettle to work their way back up the pitch as time ticked away before Tavuyara wriggled out of one tackle and ducked away from another to score and Allan held his nerve to add the levelling conversion.

Leinster: B Daly; F McFadden, C O'Brien, J Tomane, J Lowe; N Reid, L McGrath; J McGrath, J Tracy, A Porter, M Kearney, S Fardy, M Deegan, S Penny, C Doris.

Replacements: B Byrne, P Dooley, M Bent, J Dunne, E Byrne, H O'Sullivan, C Frawley, J O'Brien.

Benetton: J Hayward; R Tavuyara, M Zanon, L Morisi, M Ioane; T Allan, D Duvenage; N Quaglio, L Bigi, M Riccioni, I Herbst, F Ruzza, S Negri, A Steyn, T Halafihi.

Replacements: T Baravalle, D A, S Ferrari, M Lazzaroni, G Pettinelli, T Tebaldi, A Rizzi, A Sgarbi.

Referee: N Owens (WRU)