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

Event	2014–15 Pro12
Munster Glasgow Warriors 13 31
Date	30 May 2015
Venue	Kingspan Stadium, Belfast
Referee	Nigel Owens (WRU)
Attendance	17,057
Weather	Overcast

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

Route to the final

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)

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

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.

External links

• Coverage at ESPN