Munster dethroned as Glasgow Warriors set up Bulls clash in United Rugby Championship final
Glasgow Warriors’ Kyle Steyn during the Investec Champions Cup match at the Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow. Picture date: Friday January 19, 2024.
Glasgow Warriors produced an outstanding performance to stun defending champions Munster 17-10 and move into the United Rugby Championship final.
Like the Bulls earlier, the Warriors were not the favourites going into the clash, but they turned up when it mattered to secure their place in the showpiece event against the South African outfit.
Munster did open the brighter, going 3-0 ahead through a Jack Crowley penalty, but Glasgow responded and were in front at the break via Kyle Steyn’s intercept try.
Franco Smith’s men then extended their buffer as Sebastian Cancelliere touched down, and that proved to be the decisive try.
Antoine Frisch did give the hosts hope by crossing the whitewash, but Alex Nankivell’s late red card ended the Irish side’s chances as the visitors deservedly moved into the URC final.
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Following an early Crowley miss from the tee, a Sione Tuipulotu break had Franco Smith’s men pressing close in for the opening score of the match.
Mike Haley came to Munster’s rescue, and when they advanced again from successive penalties, Richie Gray’s yellow for offside preceded Crowley’s 11th-minute penalty as Munster drew first blood in the semi-final.
Glasgow hit back in though when, after the ball went loose between Frisch and Nankivell, Steyn swooped in to score from halfway and George Horne converted.
Glasgow were also now winning the breakdown battle and Munster were frustrated by the away side’s defence, which was brilliant at times.
Huw Jones tackled Simon Zebo into touch, and Scott Cummings and Tom Jordan both earned turnovers.
Fagerson’s high tackle on Peter O’Mahony drew another yellow card for Glasgow, but Munster needed captain Tadhg Beirne to twice thwart the Warriors in quick succession.
United Rugby Championship final date, kick-off time and venue confirmed
Glasgow would not be denied 10 minutes into the second half, though, as they moved further clear.
Following a Horne penalty miss, Glasgow ran a Crowley kickback with interest, and the fast-breaking Jones fed Argentinian Cancelliere for a slick finish. Horne supplied the extras from the right.
With the game slipping away, Munster earned themselves a lifeline when prop Jeremy Loughman’s impressive run paved the way for Frisch to score in the left corner. Crowley’s classy conversion brought it back to a four-point game.
However, an error-strewn Munster failed to kick on and when Nankivell made contact with Horne’s head at a ruck, it allowed the scrum-half to book Glasgow’s flight to South Africa.
The teams
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Shane Daly, 13 Antoine Frisch, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Jack O’Donoghue, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 Fineen Wycherley, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jeremy Loughman
Replacements: 16 Diarmuid Barron, 17 John Ryan, 18 Oli Jager, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Gavin Coombes, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Seán O’Brien, 23 Alex Kendellen
Glasgow: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Steyn (c), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Ross Thompson
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy), Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Lipirini (Italy)