2014–15 Munster Rugby season

Ground(s)	Thomond Park Musgrave Park (Capacity: 26,500 8,500)
Coach(es)	Anthony Foley
Captain(s)	Peter O'Mahony
League(s)	Pro12
2014–15	2nd (runners-up)
1st kit 2nd kit
← 2013–14 2015–16 →

The 2014–15 Munster Rugby season was Munster's fourteenth season competing in the Pro12, alongside which they also competed in the new European Rugby Champions Cup. It was Anthony Foley's first season as head coach. ^{[1] [2]}

Events

On 27 August a document detailing players individual strengths and weaknesses was leaked. ^[3] The email intended only for the management team was accidentally sent to every player in the Munster squad. Players were notified within an hour that the email had been sent to them through human error. Anthony Foley speaking on 3 September said that it is unfortunate that the document was leaked saying "It will never, ever happen again. ^[4] It's unfortunate that it's out in the public domain, something that we do behind closed doors to make us better." ^{[5] [6]}

Upgrades to Thomond Park were completed in time for the new season kick off on 5 September against Edinburgh. The creation of a Fan Zone Plaza and introduction of a dedicated Bank of Ireland Family Fun Zone, and face-lift of the Guinness Dug Out bar were among the improvements and changes carried out at the ground. ^[7] The new Fanzone Plaza was officially opened on 10 October before the match against the Scarlets. ^[8]

The season kicked off on 5 September against Edinburgh at Thomond Park, a match that Munster lost 13–14. ^{[9] [10]} Munster secured their first win of the season, a 21–10 away win against Benetton Treviso on 12 September. ^[11] The following week on 19 September, Simon Zebo scored a hat-trick of try's against Zebre at Thomond Park as Munser recorded their second win of the season on a 31-5 scoreline. ^[12] On 27 September, Munster suffered a second defeat at home in three games when the Ospreys won 19–14. ^[13] On 4 October, Munster beat Leinster in Dublin for the first time since 2008 with a 34–23 win at the Aviva Stadium. ^[14] First half try's from James Cronin, Robin Copeland, and an interception try from Ian Keatley gave Munster a 28–9 lead at half time. ^[15] Munster received four yellow cards in the second half. ^{[16] [17]}

On 18 October in their first game in the new European Rugby Champions Cup against Sale Sharks, Munster came back from 23-7 down at half-time to win the game 27–26 with a last kick drop-goal from Ian Keatley. ^{[18] [19]} On 24 October in their first home game in the European Rugby Champions Cup, Munster defeated Saracens 14–3 to continue their winning start to the European campaign. ^{[20] [21] [22] [23] [24]}

On 6 December in their second home game in the European Rugby Champions Cup, Munster lost 16–9 to Clermont Auvergne, with Clermont becoming the first French team to win a European game at Thomond Park. ^[25] The loss was the third defeat in 53 European games for Munster on their home ground. ^{[26] [27]} Eight days later on 14 December, Munster lost the away game against Clermont by 26–19. ^[28] Ian Keatley's two penalties gave Munster an early lead but two tries from Clermont gave them a 15-6 half-time lead. ^[29] Clermont scored another try in the second half but Munster gained a losing bonus point with a try from Duncan Casey and a late Ian Keatley penalty. ^[30]

On 17 January, Munster lost 33–10 to Saracens in their second last game in the pool stage, a defeat that meant that they would not qualify for the quarter-finals, only the second time that has happened in seventeen seasons. ^{[31] [32]} Saracens had a 23–3 lead at half-time after a disappointing display from Munster. ^[33] It is the first time in history that Munster have lost three pool games in succession. ^{[34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39]}

In their final pool game of the European Rugby Champions Cup against Sale Sharks on 25 January at Thomond Park, Munster won by 65–10. ^[40] Munster scored nine tries in total, eight came in a second half during which they scored 52 points without reply. Munster ended the pool stage with three wins from six games, finishing third behind Clermont and Saracens who both made the last eight. ^{[41] [42] [43] [44]}

On 16 May, Munster had a bonus-point 50–27 win against the Newport Gwent Dragons, scoring eight tries which booked a home semi-final against the Ospreys in the Pro12 on 23 May. ^{[45] [46] [47] [48] [49]}

On 23 May, Munster defeated the Ospreys by 21–18 to reach the 2015 Pro12 Grand Final on 30 May at the Kingspan Stadium. ^{[50] [51]} Josh Matavesi looked to have won it for the Ospreys with an injury-time try, but it was ruled out after Rhys Webb had knocked on earlier in the move. ^[52] The game was Paul O'Connell's last game for Munster at Thomond Park. ^{[53] [54]} Munster went on to lose the final to Glasgow on a 31-13 scoreline. ^{[55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61]}

Coaching and management staff 2014–15

Position	Name	Nationality
Head coach	Anthony Foley	Ireland
Team manager	Niall O'Donovan	Ireland
Scrum Coach	Jerry Flannery	Ireland
Backs Coach	Brian Walsh	Ireland
Assistant coach	Ian Costello	Ireland
Technical Advisor	Mick O'Driscoll	Ireland
Head of Fitness	Adam Trypas	Australia
Strength & conditioning coach	Aidan O'Connell	Ireland
Conditioning Assistant	Will Douglas	Wales
Head of physiotherapy	Anthony Coole	South Africa
Physiotherapist	Colm Fuller	Ireland
Rehab physiotherapist	Colm Oakley	Ireland
Performance analyst	George Murray	Ireland
Asst. Performance Analyst	Elliot Corcoran	Ireland
Kit manager	Jack Kiely	Ireland
Operations manager	Bryan Murphy	Ireland

Senior Playing Squad 2014–15

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union Duncan Casey Hooker Ireland Eusebio Guiñazú Hooker Argentina Niall Scannell Hooker Ireland Mike Sherry Hooker Ireland Damien Varley Hooker Ireland Stephen Archer Prop Ireland BJ Botha Prop South Africa Alan Cotter Prop Ireland James Cronin Prop Ireland Martin Kelly Prop Ireland Dave Kilcoyne Prop Ireland John Ryan Prop Ireland Dave Foley Lock Ireland Billy Holland Lock Ireland Donncha O'Callaghan Lock Ireland Paul O'Connell Lock Ireland Donnacha Ryan Lock Ireland Shane Buckley Flanker Ireland Sean Dougall Flanker Ireland Dave O'Callaghan Flanker Ireland Tommy O'Donnell Flanker Ireland Barry O'Mahony Flanker Ireland Peter O'Mahony ( c) Flanker Ireland CJ Stander Flanker South Africa Paddy Butler Number 8 Ireland Robin Copeland Number 8 Ireland

Player Position Union Conor Murray Scrum-half Ireland Cathal Sheridan Scrum-half Ireland Duncan Williams Scrum-half Ireland JJ Hanrahan Fly-half Ireland Jonathan Holland Fly-half Ireland Ian Keatley Fly-half Ireland Cian Bohane Centre Ireland Tyler Bleyendaal Centre New Zealand Ivan Dineen Centre Ireland Keith Earls Centre Ireland Andrew Smith Centre Australia Andrew Conway Wing Ireland Johne Murphy Wing Ireland Luke O'Dea Wing Ireland Ronan O'Mahony Wing Ireland Gerhard van den Heever Wing South Africa Simon Zebo Wing Ireland Denis Hurley Fullback Ireland Felix Jones Fullback Ireland

Internationally capped players in bold.

2014–15 Pro12

5 September 2014 19:35

(1 BP) Munster	13–14	Edinburgh
Try: Stander (2) 35' m, 59' m Pen: Keatley (1/2) 69'	Report	Try: Cuthbert 47' m Pen: Heathcote (3/5) 3', 8', 40'

Thomond Park Attendance: 13,428 Referee: Leighton Hodges ( WRU)

12 September 2014 20:00

Benetton Treviso	10–21	Munster
Try: Ragusi 17' c Con: Carlisle (1/1) Pen: Carlisle (1/3) 63'	Report	Try: Stander 28' c Zebo 50' m Con: Keatley (1/2) Pen: Keatley (3/3) 2', 25', 70'

Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 3,491 Referee: Andrew McMenemy ( SRU)

19 September 2014 19:30

(1 BP) Munster	31–5	Zebre
Try: Zebo (3) 14' m, 30' m, 36' c Smith 43' c Kilcoyne 64' c Con: Hanrahan (3/4)	Report	Try: Vunisa 80' m

Thomond Park Attendance: 12,488 Referee: Ian Davies ( WRU)

27 September 2014 18:30

(1 BP) Munster	14–19	Ospreys
Try: van den Heever 11' m Pen: Keatley (3/4) 40', 41', 56'	Report	Try: Hassler 15' c Con: Biggar (1/1) Pen: Biggar (4/4) 32', 53', 65', 69'

Thomond Park Attendance: 13,547 Referee: Neil Hennessy ( WRU)

4 October 2014 18:30

Leinster	23–34	Munster
Try: Fanning 62' c penalty try 69' c Con: Madigan (2/2) Pen: Madigan (3/3) 2', 12', 35'	Report	Try: Cronin 18' m Copeland 31' c Keatley 37' c Con: Keatley (2/3) Pen: Keatley (4/5) 4', 16', 24', 66' Hanrahan (1/1) 76'

Aviva Stadium Attendance: 43,817 Referee: Ian Davies ( WRU)

10 October 2014 19:35

Munster	17–6	Scarlets
Try: Smith 24' m Pen: Hanrahan (4/6) 21', 42', 48', 60'	Report	Pen: Priestland (1/3) 38' Drop: Priestland (1/1) 1'

Thomond Park Attendance: 13,851 Referee: Claudio Blessano ( FIR)

1 November 2014 17:15

(1 BP) Cardiff Blues	24–28	Munster
Try: Amorosino 33' m Vosawai 62' c Con: G. Davies (1/2) Pen: Patchell (3/4) 8', 13', 23' G. Davies (1/1) 73'	Report	Try: Butler 77' c Con: J. Holland (1/1) Pen: Hanrahan (7/7) 2', 10', 15', 19', 32', 39', 69'

BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 6,902 Referee: Marius Mitrea ( FIR)

21 November 2014 19:30

Newport Gwent Dragons	12–38	Munster (1 BP)
Pen: G. Jones (4/5) 5', 19', 32', 65'	Report	Try: Copeland 14' c Casey (2) 46' c, 72' c Smith 62' c R. O'Mahony 78' c Con: Keatley (5/5) Pen: Keatley (1/1) 43'

Rodney Parade Attendance: 5,783 Referee: Matteo Liperini ( FIR)

28 November 2014 19:35

Munster	21–20	Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Copeland 29' m Williams 43' c Con: Keatley (1/2) Pen: Keatley (3/5) 23', 51', 54'	Report	Try: Williams 79' m Pen: Humphreys (5/5) 2', 10', 12', 20', 71'

Thomond Park Attendance: 17,101 Referee: Ian Davies ( WRU)

20 December 2014 14:40

Glasgow Warriors	21–18	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Nakarawa 51' c Gray 72' m Con: Russell (1/2) Pen: Russell (3/5) 6', 18', 29'	Report	Try: Hanrahan 7' m Copeland 40' c Con: Hanrahan (1/2) Pen: Hanrahan (2/4) 26', 36'

Scotstoun Stadium Attendance: 6,176 Referee: Leighton Hodges ( WRU)

26 December 2014 17:00

Munster	28–13	Leinster
Try: Stander 16' m Conway 44' c Da. O'Callaghan 62' c Con: Keatley (2/3) Pen: Keatley (3/4) 2', 31', 54'	Report	Try: Jennings 69' c Con: Madigan (1/1) Pen: Madigan (2/3) 6', 28'

Thomond Park Attendance: 25,600 Referee: Nigel Owens ( WRU)

1 January 2015 17:00

Connacht	24–16	Munster
Try: Marmion 29' c Ronaldson 42' c Muldowney 60' c Con: Ronaldson (1/1) Leader (2/2) Pen: Nikora (1/1) 55'	Report	Try: P. O'Mahony 10' c Con: Keatley (1/1) Pen: Keatley (3/3) 7', 15', 38'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 7,745 Referee: David Wilkinson ( IRFU)

10 January 2015 16:00

Zebre	7–31	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Fabiani 57' c Con: Orquera (1/1)	Report	Try: Jones 13' c Stander 28' c Murray 32' c Zebo 42' c Con: Keatley (4/4) Pen: Keatley (1/1) 8'

Stadio XXV Aprile Attendance: 2,615 Referee: Ian Davies ( WRU)

14 February 2015 19:35

Munster	33–16	Cardiff Blues
Try: Hurley 47' c O'Donoghue 59' c R. O'Mahony 80' c Con: Hanrahan (3/3) Pen: Hanrahan (4/5) 10', 35', 38', 76'	Report	Try: Navidi 70' c Con: Patchell (1/1) Pen: Patchell (3/3) 13', 17', 30'

Irish Independent Park Attendance: 6,991 Referee: Lloyd Linton ( SRU)

21 February 2015 14:40

Scarlets	25–25	Munster
Try: Parkes 60' c Con: S. Shingler (1/1) Pen: S. Shingler (6/6) 3', 14', 23', 27', 59', 68'	Report	Try: O'Donoghue 53' c Jones 75' m Hanrahan 80' c Con: Keatley (2/3) Pen: Keatley (2/3) 10', 20'

Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 6,059 Referee: Dudley Phillips ( IRFU)

28 February 2015 19:15

(1 BP) Munster	22–10	Glasgow Warriors
Try: O'Donoghue 28' m Guiñazú 37' c Earls 61' m Stander 66' m Con: Keatley (1/4)	Report	Try: de Klerk 59' c Con: Braid (1/1) Pen: Braid (1/2) 52'

Irish Independent Park Attendance: 7,361 Referee: Nigel Owens ( WRU)

7 March 2015 14:40

Ospreys	26–12	Munster
Try: Baker 31' m Pen: Davies (6/6) 4', 22', 37', 60', 74', 79' Drop: Davies (1/2) 39'	Report	Try: D. Ryan 71' m Earls 76' c Con: Keatley (1/2)

Liberty Stadium Attendance: 8,632 Referee: Marius Mitrea ( FIR)

28 March 2015 17:15

(1 BP) Munster	42–20	Connacht
Try: B. Holland 12' c Casey 55' c Zebo 63' c Smith 72' c Hurley 74' c Earls 79' c Con: Keatley (3/3) Hanrahan (3/3)	Report	Try: Nikora 68' c O'Leary 78' c Con: Nikora (2/2) Pen: Carty (2/3) 1', 45'

Thomond Park Attendance: 18,762 Referee: Leighton Hodges ( WRU)

11 April 2015 19:30

Edinburgh	3–34	Munster (1 BP)
Pen: Heathcote (1/1) 3'	Report	Try: Casey 32' c Stander 52' m Murray 56' c Zebo 62' m Earls 64' c Con: Keatley (3/5) Pen: Keatley (1/1) 19'

Murrayfield Stadium Attendance: 4,818 Referee: Ian Davies ( WRU)

25 April 2015 15:05

(1 BP) Munster	30–19	Benetton Treviso
Try: Zebo 9' m Stander 18' m O'Donnell 39' c penalty try 67' c Con: Keatley (2/4) Pen: Keatley (2/2) 4', 52'	Report	Try: Luamanu 24' c Pratichetti 42' c Ragusi 74' m Con: Hayward (2/3)

Irish Independent Park Attendance: 7,644 Referee: Ben Whitehouse ( WRU)

9 May 2015 14:40

Ulster	23–23	Munster
Try: Bowe 40' c P. Marshall 80' c Con: Jackson (2/2) Pen: Jackson (3/3) 39', 44', 70'	Report	Try: Earls 76' m Pen: Keatley (6/6) 4', 31', 36', 54', 60', 68'

Kingspan Stadium Attendance: 17,139 Referee: Nigel Owens ( WRU)

16 May 2015 15:00

(1 BP) Munster	50–27	Newport Gwent Dragons (1 BP)
Try: Smith 3' c Stander 8' c Murray (3) 16' c, 23' c, 64' m O'Connell 40' m Earls 41' c R. O'Mahony 78' m Con: Keatley (5/6)	Report	Try: Hewitt 4' c Morgan 50' c Buckley 74' m Dixon 80' m Con: Tovey (2/2) Pen: Tovey (1/1) 2'

Irish Independent Park Attendance: 8,200 Referee: Ben Whitehouse ( WRU)

Play-offs

Semi-final

23 May 2015 14:30

Munster	21–18	Ospreys
Try: Zebo 39' m Hurley 42' m Butler 49' m Pen: Keatley (2/4) 16', 22'	Report	Try: Webb 46' m Hassler 52' c Con: Biggar (1/2) Pen: Biggar (2/2) 13', 66'

Thomond Park Attendance: 16,158 Referee: Nigel Owens ( WRU)

Final

30 May 2015 [75] 18:30 [75]

Munster	13–31	Glasgow Warriors
Try: Smith 37' c Con: Keatley (1/1) Pen: Keatley (2/3) 23', 48'	Report	Try: Harley 8' c Van der Merwe 25' c Pyrgos 31' c Russell 58' c Con: Russell (4/4) Pen: Weir (1/1) 73'

Kingspan Stadium [75] Attendance: 17,057 Referee: Nigel Owens ( WRU)

FB 15 Felix Jones RW 14 Keith Earls OC 13 Andrew Smith IC 12 Denis Hurley ( c) LW 11 Simon Zebo  56' FH 10 Ian Keatley  56' SH 9 Duncan Williams  71' N8 8 CJ Stander OF 7 Paddy Butler 10' to 19'  71' BF 6 Donnacha Ryan RL 5 Paul O'Connell LL 4 Billy Holland  60' TP 3 BJ Botha  60' HK 2 Eusebio Guiñazú  62' LP 1 Dave Kilcoyne  62' Replacements: HK 16 Duncan Casey  62' PR 17 James Cronin  62' PR 18 Stephen Archer  60' FL 19 Sean Dougall  10'  19'  71' N8 20 Jack O'Donoghue  60' SH 21 Cathal Sheridan  71' FH 22 JJ Hanrahan  56' WG 23 Ronan O'Mahony  56' Coach: Anthony Foley

FB 15 Stuart Hogg  62' RW 14 Tommy Seymour OC 13 Richie Vernon IC 12 Peter Horne LW 11 D. T. H. van der Merwe  70' FH 10 Finn Russell  66' SH 9 Henry Pyrgos N8 8 Josh Strauss ( c) OF 7 Ryan Wilson BF 6 Rob Harley  60' RL 5 Jonny Gray LL 4 Leone Nakarawa  66' TP 3 Rossouw de Klerk  52' HK 2 Dougie Hall  62' LP 1 Gordon Reid  77' Replacements: HK 16 Fraser Brown  62' PR 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa  77' PR 18 Jon Welsh  52' LK 19 Alastair Kellock  66' FL 20 Chris Fusaro  60' SH 21 Nikola Matawalu  70' FH 22 Duncan Weir  66' WG 23 Sean Lamont  62' Coach: Gregor Townsend

2014–15 European Rugby Champions Cup

Pool 1

Team v t e	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Clermont (3)	6	5	0	1	140	80	+60	14	6	1	1	22
Saracens (8)	6	4	0	2	119	95	+24	12	10	1	0	17
Munster	6	3	0	3	144	114	+30	15	11	1	2	15
Sale Sharks	6	0	0	6	82	196	−114	8	22	0	2	2

18 October 2014 13:00

Sale Sharks	26–27	Munster
Try: Lund 23' c Leota 28' c Con: Cipriani (2/2) 25', 29' Pen: Cipriani (4/4) 6', 15', 18', 68'	Report	Try: Kilcoyne 9' c Conway 55' c Murray 64' c Con: Keatley (3/3) 10', 56', 65' Pen: Keatley (1/1) 71' Drop: Keatley (1/1) 80'

AJ Bell Stadium Attendance: 9,879 Referee: Mathieu Raynal ( FFR)

24 October 2014 19:45

Munster	14-3	Saracens
Try: Kilcoyne 60' m Pen: Keatley (2/6) 26', 53' Drop: Keatley 65'	Report	Pen: Owen Farrell (1/2) 37'

Thomond Park Attendance: 26,000 Referee: Jerome Garces ( FFR)

6 December 2014 17:30

(1 BP) Munster	9–16	Clermont
Pen: Keatley (3/3) 15', 26', 61'	Report	Try: Lee 1' m Fofana 21' m Pen: Lopez (1/2) 30' Drop: Lopez (1/1) 34'

Thomond Park Attendance: 25,600 Referee: Wayne Barnes ( RFU)

14 December 2014 16:15

Clermont	26–19	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Chouly (2) 18' m, 72' m Nakaitaci 40' c Con: Lopez (1/3) 40' Pen: Lopez (3/4) 26', 45', 59'	Report	Try: Casey 75' c Con: Keatley (1/1) 75' Pen: Keatley (4/4) 5', 12', 42', 82'

Stade Marcel-Michelin Attendance: 17,723 Referee: Nigel Owens ( WRU)

17 January 2015 13:00

Saracens	33–10	Munster
Try: Wyles 20' c Ashton (2) 35' c, 73' c Con: Farrell (3/3) 22', 36', 74' Pen: Farrell (4/5) 8', 29', 40', 57'	Report	Try: Hurley 69' c Con: Keatley (1/1) 69' Pen: Keatley (1/1) 32'

Allianz Park Attendance: 9,999 Referee: Romain Poite ( FFR) / Christophe Berdos ( FFR) [76]

25 January 2015 15:15

(1 BP) Munster	65–10	Sale Sharks
Try: Zebo (2) 1' c, 67' m Earls 41' c Penalty try 53' c Howard 64' c Conway (2) 68' m, 79' c O'Donnell 72' c Williams 76' c Con: Keatley (4/5) 2', 41', 54', 65' Hanrahan (3/4) 73', 77', 80' Pen: Keatley (2/3) 6', 10'	Report	Try: Arscott 11' c Con: Macleod (1/1) 12' Pen: Macleod (1/1) 8'

Thomond Park Attendance: 17,685 Referee: Marius Mitrea ( FIR)

References

External links

• 2014–15 Munster Rugby season at official site
• 2014–15 Munster Rugby season at Pro12