Munster v Glasgow: Last 5 meetings

With Munster taking on Glasgow Warriors in this weekends Pro12 final we take a look back at the last 5 meetings between the sides.

The most recent game between the sides took place in Independent Park in Late February. In what was a slow start to the game, Munster scored the first points of the game through Jack O’Donoghue in the 30th minute. Things got better for Munster just before the break with hooker Guinazu touching down after a rolling maul to give Munster a 12-0 half-time lead. Glasgow started the second half the better and found a way back into the game thanks to the boot of Connor Braid and a try from prop Roussow De Klerk to make it 12-10 with 20 minutes left to go. However they would end up leaving Independent Park empty handed as the home side stepped it up a gear with two tries from Keith Earls and CJ Stander securing them maximum points in a 22-10 win.

The corresponding fixture took place in Scotstoun in late December. Glasgow have had an impressive home record in the past few seasons and Munster were looking good for an unlikely win as they led 18-9 at the break thanks to tries from Robin Copeland and JJ Hanrahan. Glasgow were looking to respond and they did just that 10 minutes into the second-half with Fijian Nakarawa going over in the corner to make it 18-16. With just under 10 minutes remaining Munster looked to hang on for the win but they eventually came undone with Jonny Gray going over the whitewash. Munster pushed for a late score to at least salvage a draw but it never came and Glasgow hung on for a 21-18 win.

The most important game between the sides in recent years came in May 2014 when they met in the play-off semi-final at Scotstoun. In what was a first ever home semi-final for Glasgow they didn’t get off to the best of starts with Munster getting the first try of the game through captain Damien Varley. With Glasgow looking to meet Leinster in the final they responded with three Finn Russell penalties to go into the break leading 9-7. Things got better for Glasgow at the beginning of the second-half with Gordon Reid going over in the corner to give his side a 16-7 lead. If Glasgow thought the game was over they were mistaken as Munster responded with a try of their own thanks to a Sean Dougall try who made it 16-12 with just under half an hour to go. As the game drew to a close Keatley made it a one point game with a penalty but Munster were once again on the losing side of a semi-final with Glasgow Warriors making it to their first Pro12 final.

The game between the sides in April 2014 was a famous win for Glasgow who recorded only their second win at Thomond Park in 8 years. The Warriors got off to the best possible starts with Jonny Gray going over early on with Duncan Weir adding a penalty to give his side a 10-0 lead after 9 minutes. However Munster did not panic and they got their first score of the game through a CJ Stander try. Munster’s task of keeping their fine home record intact became even more difficult when Glasgow increased their lead with a well worked try with Sean Maitland going over in the end. The game was as good as over minutes later as Josh Strauss got in on the act and gave his side a 22-5 half-time lead. The second half was one to forget as we saw no further scores in the game with Glasgow securing a 22-5 win.

The corresponding fixture in the 2013/14 season took place at Scotstoun in October. It will not be a game remembered for the free flowing Rugby that was played but rather the man of the match performance from JJ Hanrahan. He scored all of Munster points which included a magnificent individual try and some difficult kicks from the tee as Munster left Scotstoun with a 13-6 win.