2008–09 Munster Rugby season

The 2008–09 Munster Rugby season was Munster's eighth season competing in the Celtic League, alongside which they also competed in the Heineken Cup. It was Tony McGahan's first season as Director of Rugby.

2008–09 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s)Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600)
Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,500)
Coach(es)Tony McGahan
Captain(s)Paul O'Connell
League(s)Celtic League
2008–091st, Champions
← 2007–08 2009–10 →

2008–09 squad

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Denis Fogarty Hooker Ireland
Jerry Flannery Hooker Ireland
Frankie Sheahan Hooker Ireland
Tony Buckley Prop Ireland
John Hayes Prop Ireland
Marcus Horan Prop Ireland
Darragh Hurley Prop Ireland
Federico Pucciariello Prop Italy
Tim Ryan Prop Ireland
Billy Holland Lock Ireland
Mark Melbourne Lock Ireland
Donncha O'Callaghan Lock Ireland
Paul O'Connell (c) Lock Ireland
Mick O'Driscoll Lock Ireland
Donnacha Ryan Lock Ireland
James Coughlan Back row Ireland
Denis Leamy Back row Ireland
Tommy O'Donnell Back row Ireland
John O'Sullivan Back row Ireland
Alan Quinlan Back row Ireland
Niall Ronan Back row Ireland
David Wallace Back row Ireland
Nick Williams Back row New Zealand
Player Position Union
Gerry Hurley Scrum-half Ireland
Tomás O'Leary Scrum-half Ireland
Mike Prendergast Scrum-half Ireland
Peter Stringer Scrum-half Ireland
Duncan Williams Scrum-half Ireland
Jeremy Manning Fly-half Ireland
Ronan O'Gara Fly-half Ireland
Paul Warwick Fly-half Australia
Tom Gleeson Centre Ireland
Kieran Lewis Centre Ireland
Lifeimi Mafi Centre New Zealand
Barry Murphy Centre Ireland
Rua Tipoki Centre New Zealand
Ian Dowling Wing Ireland
Keith Earls Wing Ireland
Anthony Horgan Wing Ireland
Doug Howlett Wing New Zealand
Ciarán O'Boyle Wing Ireland
Denis Hurley Fullback Ireland

Pre-season
23 August 2008
United States XV 22–46 Munster
Report[1]
Rentschler Field
Attendance: 8,350
29 August 2008
Munster 35–14 London Irish
Report[2]
18 November 2008
19:30
Munster 16–18 New Zealand
Report[3]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,000
Referee: Romain Poite

2008–09 Celtic League
Main article: 2008–09 Celtic League
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1 Munster 181404405257+14849236163
2 Edinburgh 181107416296+12040306555
3 Leinster 181116401270+13138204252
4 Ospreys 181107397319+7839283552
5 Scarlets 18909376395−1941463140
6 Cardiff Blues 18819322361−3931362238
7 Glasgow Warriors 187011349375−2636414537
8 Ulster 187011298331−3330332636
9 Newport Gwent Dragons 187011305429−12426391433
10 Connacht 184014224460−23620541320

Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:

  • 4 points for a win
  • 2 points for a draw
  • 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus)
    •
  • 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)
Source: RaboDirect PRO12
5 September 2008
19:30
Edinburgh 15–20 Munster
Report[4]
Murrayfield
Attendance: 5,443
Referee: James Jones
14 September 2008
18:00
Munster 50–6 Newport Gwent Dragons
Report[5]
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
Referee: Nigel Owens
20 September 2008
19:30
Munster 28–20 Cardiff Blues
Report[6]
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
Referee: Peter Allan
28 September 2008
19:00
Leinster 0–18 Munster
Report[7]
RDS Arena
Attendance: 18,500
Referee: Simon McDowell
4 October 2008
19:00
Munster 25–17 Glasgow Warriors
Report[8]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 22,885
Referee: Andrew Small
25 October 2008
19:30
Ulster 22–6 Munster
Report[9]
Ravenhill
Attendance: 10,058
Referee: Alain Rolland
28 November 2008
19:05
Scarlets 16–18 Munster
Report[10]
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 8,435
Referee: James Jones
28 December 2008
18:00
Connacht 12–6 Munster
Report[11]
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Alain Rolland
3 January 2009
19:30
Munster 11–37 Ulster
Report[12]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 25,623
Referee: Alan Lewis
9 January 2009
19:05
Ospreys 21–25 Munster
Report[13]
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 9,003
Referee: Andy Macpherson
21 February 2009
19:30
Munster 28–14 Edinburgh
Report[14]
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
Referee: Nigel Owens
7 March 2009
17:30
Newport Gwent Dragons 9–20 Munster
Report[15]
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,865
Referee: Alan Lewis
27 March 2009
19:45
Glasgow Warriors 13–26 Munster
Report[16]
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 3,615
Referee: Tim Hayes
4 April 2009
19:30
Munster 22–5 Leinster
Report[17]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,043
Referee: Christophe Berdos
18 April 2009
19:30
Munster 25–10 Connacht
Report[18]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,043
Referee: James Jones
24 April 2009
19:35
Munster 29–10 Scarlets
Report[19]
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
10 May 2009
16:35
Cardiff Blues 20–12 Munster
Report[20]
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 7,428
Referee: Peter Allan
15 May 2009
19:45
Munster 36–10 Ospreys
Report[21]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,043
Referee: Peter Allan

2008–09 Heineken Cup
Main article: 2008–09 Heineken Cup

Pool 1
Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
Munster (2) 65011861216198632123
Sale 630314113136115212115
Clermont 63031413113712981013
Montauban 6105521−1681173−92026
10 October 2008
20:00
Munster 19–17 Montauban
Report[22]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 23,500
Referee: Wayne Barnes
19 October 2008
13:00
Sale Sharks 16–24 Munster
Report[23]
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,928
Referee: Christophe Berdos
7 December 2008
16:00
Clermont 25–19 Munster
Report[24]
13 December 2008
15:30
Munster 23–13 Clermont
Report[25]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 25,623
Referee: Chris White
16 January 2009
20:00
Munster 37–14 Sale Sharks
Report[26]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,043
Referee: Nigel Owens
25 January 2009
14:00
Montauban 13–39 Munster
Report[27]
Stade Sapiac
Attendance: 7,223
Referee: Dave Pearson

Quarter-final
12 April 2009
13:00
Munster 43–9 Ospreys
Report[28]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,043
Referee: Wayne Barnes

Semi-final
2 May 2009
17:30
Munster 6–25 Leinster
Report[29]
Croke Park
Attendance: 82,208
Referee: Nigel Owens

References
  1. "Munster Retain the Setanta Cup". Munster Rugby. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  2. "Irish Find Munster Too Hot To Handle". Munster Rugby. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. "Oh So Close". Munster Rugby. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  4. "Munster Win in Murrayfield". Munster Rugby. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  5. "Bonus Point Win For Munster". Munster Rugby. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  6. "Superb Comeback Gives Munster Bonus Point Win". Munster Rugby. 20 September 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  7. "Munster Hold The Whip Hand At The RDS". Munster Rugby. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  8. "Winning Start on Return To Thomond". Munster Rugby. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  9. "Unbeaten Record Goes in Ravenhill". Munster Rugby. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  10. "No Stroll in the Parc for Munster". Munster Rugby. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  11. "Defeat For Munster in Galway". Munster Rugby. 28 December 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  12. "Ulster In Control". Munster Rugby. 4 January 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  13. "Munster Win a Thriller". Munster Rugby. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  14. "Bonus Point Musgrave Park Win For Munster". Munster Rugby. 22 February 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  15. "Gutsy Win Sends Munster Back To The Top". Munster Rugby. 7 March 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  16. "Hat Trick For Ronan As Munster Sweep To Victory". Munster Rugby. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  17. "Top Spot For Munster". Munster Rugby. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  18. "Thomond Win". Munster Rugby. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  19. "Injury Mars Munster Victory". Munster Rugby. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  20. "No Consolation in Cardiff". Munster Rugby. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  21. "Munster End In Style". Munster Rugby. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  22. "Munster Edge Their Heineken Opener". Munster Rugby. 10 October 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  23. "Munster Win in Edgeley Park". Munster Rugby. 19 October 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  24. "Losing Point For Munster". Munster Rugby. 7 December 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  25. "Late Thomond Triumph". Munster Rugby. 13 December 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  26. "Quarter Final Qualification Secured". Munster Rugby. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  27. "Bonus Point Win in Montauban". Munster Rugby. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  28. "Heineken Cup Semi Secured". Munster Rugby. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  29. "Munster's Heineken Journey Ends". Munster Rugby. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
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