2016–17 Munster Rugby season

The 2016–17 Munster Rugby season was Munster's sixteenth season competing in the Pro12, alongside which they also competed in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It was Anthony Foley's third season as head coach and Rassie Erasmus's first season as director of rugby.

2016–17 Munster Rugby season

Ground(s)	Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600) Irish Independent Park (Capacity: 9,500)
Director of Rugby	Rassie Erasmus
Coach(es)	Anthony Foley (Until 16 October 2016)
Captain(s)	Peter O'Mahony
League(s)	Pro12
2016–17	1st (runners-up)
1st kit 2nd kit 3rd kit
← 2015–16 2017–18 →

Events

In August 2016, Munster started using the new central training base at the University of Limerick campus, thus marking an end to the days of splitting training between Cork and Limerick.^[1]

Munster opened their pre-season with a 17–0 victory over Zebre in a pre-season friendly at Waterford Regional Sports Centre on 19 August.^[2]

The new Pro12 season was launched on 23 August at the Aviva Stadium. Munster began the new season on 3 September with an away game against Scarlets.^[3]

On 26 August, Munster defeated Worcester in their final pre-season friendly at Musgrave Park, scoring seven-tries during the game.^[4]

On 16 October 2016, head coach Anthony Foley died suddenly while in Paris with Munster.^[5] The team was preparing to face Racing 92 in their opening game of the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup. The match was postponed as a result of Foley's death.^[6][7][8][9]

On 22 October Munster paid tribute to the late Anthony Foley with a 38-17 bonus-point win over Glasgow in the European Champions Cup.^[10][11] A minutes silence was observed before the match during which a special tribute took place in the West Stand with the words "AXEL" spelled out with the number 8 on either side. The Munster Rugby Supporter's Club Choir performed 'There Is An Isle', and soprano Sinead O'Brien joined the Choir to perform 'Stand Up And Fight.^{[12][13][14][15]}

On 10 December, Munster defeated Leicester 38–0 at Thomond Park in their second European Rugby Champions Cup game of the season to go top of the pool with ten points after two games.^[16][17][18]

Over the Christmas period, Munster defeated Leinster at Thomond Park on 26 December 29–17 to move five points clear of them at the top of the Pro12.^[19][20] They followed up that victory with a 16–9 victory over Connacht on 31 December at the Galway Sportsgrounds.^[21][22]

On 7 January, Munster played the re-arranged game against Racing 92 in Paris and had a bonus point victory by 32–7.^[23][24]

On 14 January, Francis Saili scored the winning try in Munster's 12–14 away win against Glasgow Warriors, a win that secured Munster's place in the quarter-finals of the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup. It was the 11th win out of the last 12 matches for Munster.^[25][26][27]

In March, it was announced that Donnacha Ryan would leave Munster at the end of the season to join Racing 92.^[28]

On 1 April, Munster reached their first European Champions Cup semi-final in three years with a 41–16 victory over Toulouse.^[29][30][31]

On 22 April, Munster played Saracens in the European Champions Cup semi-final at the Aviva Stadium. They lost the game 26–10 to go out of the competition.^[32] Munster minus the injured Conor Murray scored the first penalty of the game but Saracens took control of the game and scored two tries to win comfortably in the end.^[33][34][35] It was also confirmed that coach Rassie Erasmus would remain in charge for the next season after much speculation that he would return to South-Africa.^[36]

On 4 May, Tyler Bleyendaal was named as the Munster Player of the Year at an awards ceremony in Cork. The ceremony was attended by 250 guests with 11 awards presented on the day.^[37]

On 20 May, Munster defeated the Ospreys by 23–3 in the Pro12 playoff semi-final to advance to the 2017 Pro12 Grand Final against Scarlets at the Aviva Stadium on 27 May.^[38] The match was Donnacha Ryan's and Francis Saili's final appearance for Munster at Thomond Park.^[39][40]

On 27 May, Munster lost the 2017 Pro12 Grand Final to Scarlets 46–22.^[41][42][43]

Coaching and management staff 2016–17

Position	Name	Nationality
Director of Rugby	Rassie Erasmus	South Africa
Head coach	Anthony Foley	Ireland
Defence Coach	Jacques Nienaber	South Africa
Team manager	Niall O'Donovan	Ireland
Scrum Coach	Jerry Flannery	Ireland
Technical coach	Felix Jones	Ireland
Head of Fitness	Aled Walters	Wales
Strength & conditioning coach	Aidan O'Connell	Ireland
Strength & conditioning coach	Adam Sheehan	Ireland
Performance analyst	George Murray	Ireland
Operations manager	Bryan Murphy	Ireland

Senior Playing Squad 2016–17

For player movements leading up to the 2016–17 season, see List of 2016–17 Pro12 transfers § Munster.

Players In Sammy Arnold from Ulster[44] John Andress from Edinburgh Darren O'Shea from Worcester Warriors[45] Jean Kleyn from Stormers[46] Jaco Taute from Stormers / Western Province[47] Collie O'Shea from Leinster[48] Steve Crosbie from Wanganui[49] Rhys Marshall from Chiefs[50] Thomas du Toit from Sharks[51]

Players Out Jordan Coghlan to Nottingham[52] Gearoid Lyons to Nottingham[53] Shane Buckley to Nottingham[54] Jack Cullen to London Scottish[55] Cathal Sheridan to UL Bohemians[56] BJ Botha to Lyon[57] Johnny Holland retired[58] Denis Hurley released[59] Gerhard van den Heever to Yamaha Jubilo[60]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union Duncan Casey Hooker Ireland Rhys Marshall Hooker New Zealand Kevin O'Byrne Hooker Ireland Niall Scannell Hooker Ireland Mike Sherry Hooker Ireland John Andress Prop Ireland Stephen Archer Prop Ireland James Cronin Prop Ireland Thomas du Toit Prop South Africa Dave Kilcoyne Prop Ireland Peter McCabe Prop Ireland John Ryan Prop Ireland Mark Chisholm Lock Australia Dave Foley Lock Ireland Billy Holland Lock Ireland Jean Kleyn Lock South Africa John Madigan Lock Ireland Seán McCarthy Lock Ireland Darren O'Shea Lock Ireland Donnacha Ryan Lock Ireland Dave O'Callaghan Flanker Ireland Tommy O'Donnell Flanker Ireland Peter O’Mahony (c) Flanker Ireland Robin Copeland Number 8 Ireland Jack O'Donoghue Number 8 Ireland CJ Stander Number 8 Ireland

Player Position Union Angus Lloyd Scrum-half Ireland Conor Murray Scrum-half Ireland Tomás O'Leary Scrum-half Ireland Cathal Sheridan Scrum-half Ireland Te Aihe Toma Scrum-half New Zealand Duncan Williams Scrum-half Ireland Tyler Bleyendaal Fly-half New Zealand Steve Crosbie Fly-half Ireland Ian Keatley Fly-half Ireland Sammy Arnold Centre Ireland Cian Bohane Centre Ireland David Johnston Centre Ireland Collie O'Shea Centre Ireland Francis Saili Centre New Zealand Rory Scannell Centre Ireland Jaco Taute Centre South Africa Andrew Conway Wing Ireland Keith Earls Wing Ireland Ronan O'Mahony Wing Ireland Alex Wootton Wing Ireland Darren Sweetnam Fullback Ireland Simon Zebo Fullback Ireland

• Internationally capped players in bold.
• Players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. *
• Irish provinces are currently limited to four non-Irish eligible (NIE) players and one non-Irish qualified player (NIQ or "Project Player").

2016–17 Pro12

Main article: 2016–17 Pro12

3 September 2016 15:00

Scarlets	13–23	Munster
Try: G. Davies 31' c Con: Patchell (1/1) Pen: Patchell (2/4) 26', 47'	Report	Try: Cronin 18' c O'Mahony 29' c Con: Bleyendaal (2/2) Pen: Bleyendaal (2/3) 37', 53' Keatley (1/1)

Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 6,107 Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU)

9 September 2016 19:35

(1 BP) Munster	23–24	Cardiff Blues
Try: Conway 9' c Kilcoyne 61' c Con: Keatley (2/2) Pen: Keatley (3/3) 29', 54', 71'	Report	Try: James (2) 7' c, 35' c Fish 67' c Con: Anscombe (2/2) Shingler (1/1) Pen: Anscombe (1/2) 14'

Irish Independent Park Attendance: 7,405 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

17 September 2016 17:15

(1 BP) Newport Gwent Dragons	16–20	Munster
Try: Amos 32' c Con: O'Brien (1/1) 32' Pen: O'Brien (3/3) 14', 49', 54'	Report	Try: Kleyn 20' c Bohane 56' c Con: Bleyendaal (2/2) 20', 56' Pen: Bleyendaal (2/2) 11', 51'

Rodney Parade Attendance: 3,841 Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU)

24 September 2016 15:00

(1 BP) Munster	28–14	Edinburgh
Try: Murray (2) 27' c, 38' c Oliver 42' c O'Callaghan 57' c Con: Bleyendaal (4/4) 27', 38', 42', 57'	Report	Try: Dean 23' c Hardie 67' c Con: Weir (1/1) 23' Kinghorn (1/1) 67'

Thomond Park Attendance: 12,826 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

1 October 2016 17:00

(1 BP) Munster	49–5	Zebre
Try: Sweetnam 2' c Murray 22' c Stander (2) 28' c, 78' c Zebo 31' c Penalty try 52' c Archer 63' c Con: Bleyendaal (4/4) Keatley (3/3)	Report	Try: Di Giulio 71' m

Thomond Park Attendance: 11,737 Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)

8 October 2016 14:05

Leinster	25–14	Munster
Try: Nacewa (2) 35' m, 55' c Gibson-Park 68' c Con: Sexton (1/1) 55' Nacewa (1/1) 68' Pen: Sexton (2/2) 6', 10'	Report	Try: O'Mahony 26' c Taute 74' c Con: Bleyendaal (2/2) 26', 74'

Aviva Stadium Attendance: 40,527 Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)

28 October 2016 19:35

(1 BP) Ulster	14-15	Munster
Try: Piutau 4' c Lyttle '34 c Con: Jackson (2/2) 5', 35'	Report	Try: Scannell 40' c Taute 63' c Con: Scannell (1/1) 64' Drop: Scannell 74'

Kingspan Stadium

4 November 2016 19:35

(1 BP) Munster	33–0	Ospreys
Try: Kilcoyne (2) 8' c, 69' c Sweetnam 14' c O'Mahony 54' m Copeland 78' c Con: Bleyendaal (4/5) 8', 14', 69', 78'	Report

Irish Independent Park Attendance: 8,008 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

26 November 2016 14:00

(1 BP) Munster	46-3	Benetton Treviso
Try: Copeland 20' c Conway 25' m, 34' c O'Shea 42' c R. O'Mahony 64' m, 71' m Wootton 69' Con: Bleyendaal (3/5) 21', 35', 43' Keatley (1/2) 69' Pen: Bleyendaal (1/1) 14'	Report	Pen: McKinley (1/1) 8'

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

2 December 2016 19:35

(1 BP) Glasgow Warriors	15–16	Munster
Try: Price 62' c Grigg 70' m Con: Clegg (1/2) 62' Pen: Horne (1/1) 16'	Report	Try: Conway 12' c Con: Keatley (1/1) 12' Pen: Keatley (2/2) 9', 37' Drop: Keatley (1/1) 77'

Scotstoun Stadium

26 December 2016 17:30

(1 BP) Munster	29–17	Leinster
Try: Zebo 22' c R. O'Mahony 40' c O'Donnell 49' c Stander 56' m Con: Bleyendaal (3/4) 23', 40', 51' Pen: Bleyendaal (1/1) 61'	Report	Try: Kirchner 17' c Strauss 76' c Con: Nacewa (1/1) 18' Molony (1/1) 77' Pen: Nacewa (1/1) 27'

Thomond Park Attendance: 26,200 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

31 December 2016 17:30

(1 BP) Connacht	9–16	Munster
Pen: Carty (3/4) 30', 50', 76'	Report	Try: Marshall 56' c Con: Keatley (1/1) 57' Pen: Keatley (2/3) 2', 39' Drop: Keatley (1/2) 68'

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 8,090 Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)

3 February 2017 15:00

(1 BP) Edinburgh	9–10	Munster
Pen: Tovey (3) 7', 24', 34'	Report	Try: O’Mahony 15' c Con: Bleyendaal (1/1) 16' Pen: Bleyendaal 66'

New Myreside Attendance: 5,235 Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

10 February 2017 19:35

(1 BP) Munster	45–17	Newport Gwent Dragons
Try: Taute (2) 14' c, 28' c Conway 20' c Penalty try 40' c Kilcoyne 64' c R. O'Mahony 80' c Con: Bleyendaal (6/6) 14', 20', 28', 40', 64', 80' Pen: Bleyendaal (1/1) 7'	Report	Try: Buckley 36' c Dee 60' c Con: D. Jones (2/2) 36', 60' Pen: D. Jones (1/1) 12'

Irish Independent Park Attendance: 8,008 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

18 February 2017 17:15

(1 BP) Ospreys	23–25	Munster
Try: Dirksen 5' c Fonotia 13' c Con: S. Davies (2/2) 5', 13' Pen: S. Davies (3/3) 24', 40', 59'	Report	Try: O'Donoghue 36' m Saili 40' c Kilcoyne 78' c Con: Bleyendaal (2/3) 40', 78' Pen: Bleyendaal (2/2) 4', 29'

Liberty Stadium Attendance: 8,782 Referee: Marius Mitrea

24 February 2017 19:35

Munster	21–30	Scarlets
Try: Taute 13' c Sweetnam 23' c Oliver 30' c Con: Bleyendaal (3/3) 13', 23', 30'	Report	Try: Parkes 56' c McNicholl 59' c van der Merwe 62' c Con: D. Jones (3/3) 56', 59', 62' Pen: D. Jones (3/3) 3', 16', 53'

Thomond Park Attendance: 16,742 Referee: Daniel Jones

4 March 2017 17:15

Cardiff Blues	13–23	Munster
Try: Summerhill 47' c Con: Shingler (1/1) 48' Pen: Shingler (2/2) 21', 33'	Report	Try: Saili 51' c Oliver 76' c Con: R. Scannell (2/2) 52', 77' Pen: R. Scannell (2/3) 25', 66' Drop: R. Scannell (1/1) 75'

BT Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 6,546 Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

25 March 2017 15:00

Zebre	14–50	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Minnie 30' c Greeff 56' c Con: Violi (1/1) 30' Bordoli (1/1) 56'	Report	Try: N. Scannell 3' c O'Donnell 19' c R. O'Mahony (2) 26' c, 51' m R. Scannell 47' c Cronin (2) 62' c, 71' c Con: Bleyendaal (4/5) 3', 19', 26', 47' R. Scannell (2/2) 62', 71' Pen: Bleyendaal (1/1) 40'

Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance: 1,240 Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)

8 April 2017 19:35

Munster	10–7	Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
Try: Cronin 4' c Con: Bleyendaal (1/1) 5' Pen: R. Scannell (1/1) 60'	Report	Try: Hogg 68' c Con: Russell (1/1) 69'

Irish Independent Park Attendance: 8,008 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

15 April 2017 15:00

Munster	22–20	Ulster (1 BP)
Try: Lloyd 6' c Earls 61' m O'Callaghan 69' c Con: Keatley (1/1) 7' Bleyendaal (1/2) 71' Pen: Keatley (1/1) 36'	Report	Try: Best 3' c L. Marshall 64' c Con: Jackson (2/2) 4', 65' Pen: Jackson (2/3) 13', 52'

Thomond Park Attendance: 20,047 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

29 April 2017 19:05

Benetton Treviso	14–34	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Odiete 49' c Montauriol 80'+1 Con: McKinley (1/1) 50' Tebaldi (1/1) 80'+1	Report	Try: Sweetnam (2) 25' m, 70' c Zebo 32' c Wootton 64' m O'Donoghue 67' c Con: Bleyendaal (3/5) 33', 68', 71 Pen: Bleyendaal (1/1) 41'

Stadio Comunale di Monigo Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

6 May 2017 17:15

(1 BP) Munster	50–14	Connacht
Try: Earls 8' c O'Donoghue 27' c Conway (2) 33' c, 54' c Cronin 43' c Saili 70' c Oliver 80' m Con: Keatley (6/7) 8', 28', 34', 44', 54', 70' Pen: Keatley (1/1) 25'	Report	Try: Kelleher 51' c Dawai 64' c Con: Ronaldson (2/2) 52', 65'

Thomond Park Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)

Play-offs

Semi-finals

20 May 2017 18:15

Munster	23–3	Ospreys
Try: Saili 26' m Zebo 61' c Conway 75' m Con: Bleyendaal (1/3) 62' Pen: Bleyendaal (2/2) 67', 41'+3	Report	Pen: Biggar (1/2) 8'

Thomond Park Attendance: 18,332 Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

Final

Main article: 2017 Pro12 Grand Final

27 May 2017 18:15

Munster	22–46	Scarlets
Try: Bleyendaal 40' c Conway 75' m Earls 78' c Con: Bleyendaal (1/1) 41' Keatley (1/2) 78' Pen: Bleyendaal (1/1) 7'	Report	Try: L. Williams 9' m S. Evans 20' c G. Davies 27' c Beirne 31' c van der Merwe 70' c Ja. Davies 80' Con: Patchell (3/4) 21', 28', 32' L. Williams (2/2) 72', 80'+1 Pen: Patchell (2/2) 19', 45'

Aviva Stadium Attendance: 44,558 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup

Main article: 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup

Munster faced Racing 92, Glasgow Warriors and Leicester Tigers in Pool 1 of the 2016-17 Champions Cup. They were seeded in the bottom tier following their sixth-placed position in the 2015–16 Pro12.^[61]

Team v t e	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Diff	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Munster (2)	6	5	0	1	160	64	+96	18	4	3	1	24
Glasgow Warriors (6)	6	4	0	2	160	86	+74	18	10	2	1	19
Leicester Tigers	6	2	0	4	61	190	–129	3	23	0	0	8
Racing 92	6	1	0	5	89	130	–41	12	14	1	0	5

22 October 2016 13:00

(1 BP) Munster	38–17	Glasgow Warriors
Try: Bleyendaal 4' c Taute 14' c Zebo 30' c Penalty try 47' c Scannell 75' c Con: Bleyendaal (4/4) 4', 14', 30', 47' Keatley (1/1) 75' Pen: Bleyendaal (1/1) 7'	Report	Try: MacArthur 66' c Bennett 70' c Con: S. Hogg (2/2) 66', 70' Pen: Russell (1/2) 10'

Thomond Park Attendance: 25,600 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (FFR)

10 December 2016 15:15

(1 BP) Munster	38–0	Leicester Tigers
Try: Zebo 35' c Taute 49' c, 56' m Penalty try 71' c Con: Bleyendaal (3/4) 36', 50', 71' Pen: Bleyendaal (4/5) 10', 15', 23', 27'	Report

Thomond Park Attendance: 25,600 Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)

17 December 2016 15:15

Leicester Tigers	18–16	Munster (1 BP)
Pen: O. Williams (6/6) 33', 39', 49', 54', 66', 79'	Report	Try: Scannell 74' c Con: Bleyendaal (1/1) 74' Pen: Bleyendaal (3/5) 9', 18', 44'

Welford Road Attendance: 24,213 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (FFR)

7 January 2017 15:45

Racing 92	7–32	Munster (1 BP)
Try: Voisin 63' c Con: Carter (1/1) 64'	Report	Try: Zebo 22' m Stander 35' c Conway 39' c N. Scannell 54' c Con: Bleyendaal (3/4) 36', 40', 55' Pen: Bleyendaal (2/2) 14, 33'

Stade Yves-du-Manoir Attendance: 9,233 Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

14 January 2017 17:30

(1 BP) Glasgow Warriors	12–14	Munster
Pen: Russell (3/3) 13', 47', 59' Hogg (1/2) 32'	Report	Try: Saili 71' m Pen: Bleyendaal (3/4) 20', 34', 50'

Scotstoun Stadium Attendance: 7,351 Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU)

21 January 2017 17:30

Munster	22–10	Racing 92
Try: Zebo 36' c R. O'Mahony 48' c Keatley 69' m Con: Bleyendaal (2/3) 37', 49' Pen: Bleyendaal (1/1) 42'	Report	Try: Chavancy 59' c Con: Machenaud (1/1) 60' Pen: Machenaud (1/2) 40'

Thomond Park Attendance: 26,200 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

Quarter-final

1 April 2017 17:45

Munster (2)	41–16	(7) Toulouse
Try: J. Ryan 4' c Stander 47' m Sweetnam 75' c Conway 79' c Con: Bleyendaal (3/4) 4', 77', 80' Pen: Bleyendaal (5/5) 9', 26', 42', 52', 74'	Report	Try: Perez 54' c Con: Doussain (1/1) 55' Pen: Doussain (3/3) 19', 31', 40'

Thomond Park Attendance: 26,200 Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)

Semi-final

22 April 2017 15:15

Munster	10–26	Saracens
Try: Stander 80' c Con: Keatley (1/1) 80' Pen: Bleyendaal (1/2) 7'	Report	Try: M. Vunipola 54' c Wyles 70' c Con: Farrell (2/2) 55', 72' Pen: Farrell (4/4) 17', 35', 64', 75'

Aviva Stadium Attendance: 51,300 Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)