2015 Pro12 Grand Final

The 2015 Pro12 Grand Final was the final match of the 2014–15 Pro12 season. The 2014–15 season was the first with Guinness as the title sponsor and the sixth ever League Grand Final. The final was played between Glasgow Warriors and Munster.[1][2]

2015 Pro12 Grand Final
Event2014–15 Pro12
Munster Glasgow Warriors
13 31
Date30 May 2015
VenueKingspan Stadium, Belfast
RefereeNigel Owens (WRU)
Attendance17,057
WeatherOvercast

Glasgow won their first title, winning on a 31–13 scoreline.[3][4][5]

Route to the final
Main article: 2014–15 Pro12

2015 Play-offs

The semi-finals followed a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system with the games being played at the home ground of the higher placed teams.

22 May 2015
19:45
Glasgow Warriors 16–14 Ulster
Try: Van der Merwe 75' c
Con: Russell (1/1)
Pen: Russell (2/2) 5', 60'
Hogg (1/2) 13'
 Report[6] Try: Henry 18' m
Pen: Pienaar (3/3) 1', 55', 66'
Scotstoun Stadium
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
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[7] 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)

Build-up

In January 2015, the tournament organisers confirmed that the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast would host the final. The organisers chose to move away from giving home advantage to the highest placed finisher at the end of the regular season.[8][9]

Munster were looking to win the title for a fourth time, the last win being in 2011 against Leinster, while Glasgow had never won the title.[10][11]

The match was shown live on Sky Sports in Ireland and the UK, on TG4 in Ireland and on BBC Two Scotland in Scotland.[12] Both teams received an allocation of 2,000 tickets after the public sale sold out in April.[13] [14]

Conor Murray was an injury doubt to start for Munster after he was forced off in the semi-final with an injury to the medial ligament in his right knee, he may be replaced again by Duncan Williams at scrum-half.[15][16] Paul O'Connell was expected to play his last game for Munster in the final.[17]

Match

Summary

Rob Harley scored the first try for Glasgow in the 9th minute which was converted by Finn Russell. Ian Keatley got the first score for Munster, a penalty in the 23rd minute. Glasgow then scored two try's without reply to lead 21-3 in the 32nd minute and lead 10-21 at half time, Andrew Smith scored the Munster try just before half time. Ian Keatley reduced the lead to 13-21 in the 48th minute with another penalty for Munster but a Finn Russell try and conversion in the 58th minute made the score 13-28 in favor of Glasgow. Another penalty for Glasgow by Duncan Weir with seven minutes to go made the final score 13-31.

Details
30 May 2015[18]
18:30[18]
Munster 13–31 Glasgow Warriors
Try: Smith 37' c
Con: Keatley (1/1)
Pen: Keatley (2/3) 23', 48'
 Report[19] 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[18]
Attendance: 17,057
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
FB15 Felix Jones
RW14 Keith Earls
OC13 Andrew Smith
IC12 Denis Hurley (c)
LW11 Simon Zebo 56'
FH10 Ian Keatley 56'
SH9 Duncan Williams 71'
N88 CJ Stander
OF7 Paddy Butler 10' to 19' 71'
BF6 Donnacha Ryan
RL5 Paul O'Connell
LL4 Billy Holland 60'
TP3 BJ Botha 60'
HK2 Eusebio Guiñazú 62'
LP1 Dave Kilcoyne 62'
Replacements:
HK16 Duncan Casey 62'
PR17 James Cronin 62'
PR18 Stephen Archer 60'
FL19 Sean Dougall 10' 19' 71'
N820 Jack O'Donoghue 60'
SH21 Cathal Sheridan 71'
FH22 JJ Hanrahan 56'
WG23 Ronan O'Mahony 56'
Coach:
Anthony Foley
FB15 Stuart Hogg 62'
RW14 Tommy Seymour
OC13 Richie Vernon
IC12 Peter Horne
LW11 D. T. H. van der Merwe 70'
FH10 Finn Russell 66'
SH9 Henry Pyrgos
N88 Josh Strauss (c)
OF7 Ryan Wilson
BF6 Rob Harley 60'
RL5 Jonny Gray
LL4 Leone Nakarawa 66'
TP3 Rossouw de Klerk 52'
HK2 Dougie Hall 62'
LP1 Gordon Reid 77'
Replacements:
HK16 Fraser Brown 62'
PR17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa 77'
PR18 Jon Welsh 52'
LK19 Alastair Kellock 66'
FL20 Chris Fusaro 60'
SH21 Nikola Matawalu 70'
FH22 Duncan Weir 66'
WG23 Sean Lamont 62'
Coach:
Gregor Townsend

Man of the Match:
Leone Nakarawa (Glasgow Warriors)

Touch judges:
Ian Davies (WRU)
Sean Brickell (WRU)
Television match official:
Derek Bevan (WRU)

References
  1. "Munster survive late drama to reach PRO12 final". ESPN. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  2. "Glasgow edge Ulster to reach final". ESPN. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  3. "Glasgow Warriors 31-13 Munster". BBC Sport. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  4. "No excuses for outclassed Munster". Irish Examiner. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  5. "The Final: as it happened". The 42. 30 May 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  6. "Russell's late conversion sends Glasgow into final : Guinness PRO12 : Match Centre". archive.org. 25 May 2015. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  7. "Agony to ecstasy for Munster in thrilling semi-final : Guinness PRO12 : Match Centre". archive.org. 25 May 2015. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  8. "Kingspan Stadium to host Guinness Pro12 final after tournament organisers' u-turn". Irish Independent. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  9. "Final:BELFAST 2015 Match Pack" (PDF). Munster Rugby. 26 May 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  10. "STAT ATTACK: Contrasting histories clash in Belfast". pro12rugby.com. 26 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  11. "Preview: Munster v Glasgow Warriors". pro12rugby.com. 26 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  12. "BBC Two Scotland - Schedules, Saturday 30 May 2015". BBC. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  13. "Ticket Update: Guinness PRO12 Final". Munster Rugby. 26 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  14. "2014/15 GUINNESS PRO12 Final". Pro12 Official Site. 26 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  15. "Munster sweating on Conor Murray's fitness but good news for Simon Zebo and Peter O'Mahony". Irish Independent. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  16. "Peter O'Mahony: I'm ready for Belfast showdown". Irish Examiner. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  17. "Anthony Foley calls on Munster players not to get emotional about Paul O'Connell departure". Irish Independent. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  18. "Ulster to host Pro12 final at Kingspan Stadium in May". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  19. "Russell guides Glasgow Warriors to historic title : Guinness PRO12 : Match Centre". archive.org. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
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