Munster: Road to the URC Grand Final

Munster are through to their ninth Vodacom United Rugby Championship Grand Final.

The Irish province have lifted the title on three occasions, the last coming in 2011, but have been beaten in their last three finals.

They face defending champions the Stormers, who overcame South African rivals the Bulls 18-13 last June, on Saturday.

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Cape Town’s DHL Stadium will again be the venue as the Stormers seek to make it back-to-back triumphs while Munster are bidding to end a 12-year wait for a trophy.

Here we take a look at how Munster progressed to the final.

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MUNSTER LIST OF RESULTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE 2022/23 URC SEASON

Round 1: Lost 20-13 to Cardiff
It proved a disappointing start to the campaign for Munster, with Cardiff back Aled Summerhill’s late try leaving them defeated.

Round 2: Lost 23-17 to Dragons
A quickfire return to Wales did not mean a change of fortune as former Munster player JJ Hanrahan kicked six penalties in Dragons’ narrow victory.

Round 3: Beat Zebre Parma 21-5
Three tries during the first 24 minutes sent Munster on the way to a first win of the season, with two of those touchdowns being scored by Niall Scannell.

Round 4: Lost 20-11 to Connacht
Inconsistency again surfaced for Munster, this time at the Sportsground in Galway where Connacht deservedly claimed the points.

Round 5: Beat Bulls 31-17
Munster delivered a fine display to see off last season’s beaten URC finalists. Gavin Coombes scored two tries while Joey Carbery contributed 11 points.

Round 6: Lost 27-13 to Leinster
Coombes was again on the try-sheet for Munster but Leinster were always in control of events, cruising home through four touchdowns of their own.

Round 7: Lost 14-15 to Ulster
Munster were caught napping by a flying Ulster start that saw them score two tries in the first 14 minutes. Despite clawing their way back into the contest, it ultimately proved a frustrating loss.

Round 8: Beat Connacht 24-17
The key for Graham Rowntree’s team was to rediscover winning ways following two successive defeats and they managed it in a controlled and disciplined fashion, scoring four tries.

Round 9: Beat Edinburgh 17-38
Scannell and Coombes were among the try scorers and there were 18 points from Carbery amid a performance of impressive all-round excellence.

Round 10: Lost 19-20 to Leinster
Although the try count was shared 2-2, Munster suffered the agony of a one-point defeat against their fierce rivals.

Round 11: Beat Ulster 14-15
Munster avenged their defeat against Ulster earlier in the season, winning by an identical scoreline. Ben Healy’s 78th-minute try and conversion sealed the deal.

Round 12: Beat Lions 33-3
A fourth win in five games, emphatically brushing aside their South African opponents by scoring five tries, with Scott Buckley bagging a brace.

Round 13: Beat Benetton 30-40
An entertaining contest at Stadio Monigo went Munster’s way, scoring six tries and Carbery contributing 15 points.

Round 14: Beat Ospreys 58-3
Munster proved to be in unstoppable form, grounding the Ospreys in ruthless fashion as Coombes scored three of his team’s nine tries.

Round 15: Beat Scarlets 49-42
The two sides served up a 13-try spectacular. Shane Daly was twice on the scoresheet for Munster as they made it 180 points scored in four matches.

Round 16: Lost 26-38 to Glasgow
Beaten more convincingly than the scoreline suggests, only reducing the gap through two tries during the last nine minutes as Glasgow halted their opponents’ impressive run.

Round 17: Beat Stormers 24-26
Two first-half tries from Diarmuid Barron sent Munster on their way in Cape Town but it took Coombes’ score six minutes from time – converted by Healy – to clinch a famous win.

Round 18: Drew 22-22 with Sharks
Another gritty effort by Munster saw them collect more points on the road, with Conor Murray’s try and a Healy conversion securing a well-deserved draw.

Quarter-final: Beat Glasgow 5-14
Munster resumed their rivalry with Glasgow at Scotstoun and they had enough in the tank to triumph following early tries by Malakai Fekitoa and Antoine Frisch.

Semi-final: Beat Leinster 15-16

A stunning effort by Munster gained a glorious reward when Jack Crowley landed a dramatic late drop-goal to end Leinster’s hopes of a URC/Heineken Champions Cup double.

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URC GRAND FINAL INFOGRAPHIC