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2017–18 Munster Rugby season

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The 2017–18 Munster Rugby season was Munster's seventeenth season competing in the Pro14, alongside which they also competed in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It was Rassie Erasmus's second season as director of rugby and Johann van Graan's first as head coach.[1]

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Events

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In June 2017, after many weeks of media speculation, Munster confirmed that director of rugby Rassie Erasmus and Defence Coach Jacques Nienaber would leave their roles with the province and return to South Africa on 31 December 2017.[2] In the same month however, coaches Jerry Flannery and Felix Jones extended their contracts with the province by two years, both expanding their roles to forwards coach and backline and attack coach respectively. Team manager Niall O'Donovan also signed a new three-year contract.[3]

In the provinces only pre-season fixture, Munster beat English side Worcester Warriors 35–26 in Sixways Stadium on 24 August. The match saw former Munster stalwarts Peter Stringer and Donncha O'Callaghan play against their old club, while new signings Chris Farrell, Gerbrandt Grobler and James Hart made their non-competitive debuts for Munster.[4] Munster began their 2017–18 Pro14 campaign on 1 September 2017, scoring six tries on their way to a comfortable 34–3 win against Benetton.[5] In October 2017, Munster confirmed that then-South Africa Forwards Coach Johann van Graan would join the province in November as their new head coach.[6] In the same month, it was announced that Munster's all-time leading try scorer, Simon Zebo, would leave the province at the end of the season.[7]

In Rounds 1 & 2 of the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup in October 2017, Munster drew 17–17 away to Castres before earning a 14–7 win at home to Racing 92.[8][9] Erasmus and Nienaber left the province in early November 2017, with the province confirming their departure on 13 November 2017.[10] Johann van Graan's first official game as Munster's new head coach was a 36–19 win away against Zebre in the Pro14 on 26 November 2017.[11][12] Lions Defence Coach JP Ferreira joined Munster in December 2017.[13] In the December Champions Cup double-header against Leicester Tigers, Munster won 33–10 at home before winning 25–16 away, their first win at Welford Road for 11 years.[14][15] In doing so, Munster became the first team to defeat Leicester in both games of the double-header since they were introduced in 1999, while the home victory also saw Munster surpass 4,000 points in the competition.[16] In Rounds 5 & 6 of the Champions Cup, Munster lost 34–30 away to Racing 92 before beating Castres 48–3 at home, securing a record 17th quarter-final.[17][18] Munster beat 3-time tournament champions Toulon 20–19 in the quarter-final after a late Andrew Conway try and conversion from Ian Keatley.[19] In the semi-final, Munster were beaten 27–22 by their French pool 4 opponents Racing 92.[20]

Munster finished 2nd in Conference A of the 2017–18 Pro14 season on 69 points. In their semi-final qualifier against Edinburgh on 5 May 2018, Munster won 20–16 to progress to a semi-final away from home.[21] In the semi-final against recently crowned Champions Cup winners and arch-rivals Leinster on 19 May 2018, Munster lost 16–15, bringing to an end their 2017–18 season.[22]

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Coaching and management staff 2017–18

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Senior playing squad 2017–18

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Munster player movements for the 2017–18 season. For a full list, see List of 2017–18 Pro14 transfers.

The Munster senior squad for 2017–18 is:[45]

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

  • 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").
  • Notes:
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    2017–18 Pro14

    More information Conference A, Team ...

    Round 1

    1 September 2017
    19:35
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland34–3Italy Benetton
    Try: Kleyn (2) 8' c, 48' c
    Bleyendaal 13' m
    Sweetnam 26' m
    Wootton 30' m
    Conway 34' m
    Con: Bleyendaal (2/6) 9', 49'
    Report[47]Pen: Banks (1/1) 19'
    Irish Independent Park
    Attendance: 7,854
    Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)

    Round 2

    9 September 2017
    17:15
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland51–18South Africa Cheetahs
    Try: O'Donnell 6' c
    Wootton (4) 19' c, 34' m, 54' m, 60' c
    Kleyn 48' m
    Farrell 50' c
    Zebo 71' m
    Con: Keatley (4/8) 7', 20', 50', 61'
    Pen: Keatley (1/1) 3'
    Report[48]Try: Small-Smith 40' m
    H. Venter 80' c
    Con: Petzer (1/2) 80'+1
    Pen: Petzer (2/2) 15', 24'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 15,144
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

    Round 3

    16 September 2017
    15:15
    (1 BP) Ospreys Wales16–21Ireland Munster
    Try: Hook 11' c
    Con: S. Davies (1/1) 12'
    Pen: S. Davies (3/3) 43', 56', 63'
    Report[49]Try: Kleyn 19' c
    Sweetnam 36' m
    Con: Bleyendaal (1/2) 20'
    Pen: Bleyendaal (3/5) 9', 50', 76'
    Liberty Stadium
    Attendance: 7,302
    Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)

    Round 4

    22 September 2017
    19:35
    (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors Scotland37–10Ireland Munster
    Try: Sarto 3' c
    Jones 35' c
    Grigg 44' c
    Cummings 62' c
    Con: Russell (4/4) 4', 37', 45', 64'
    Pen: Russell (3/3) 9', 34', 55'
    Report[50]Try: R. Scannell 14' m
    Farrell 47' m
    Scotstoun Stadium
    Attendance: 7,351
    Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

    Round 5

    30 September 2017
    13:30
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland39–16Wales Cardiff Blues
    Try: Murray 12' c
    Ryan 51' c
    Hanrahan (2) 55' c, 71' m
    Copeland 67' c
    Con: Keatley (4/5) 13', 52', 56', 68'
    Pen: Keatley (2/2) 23', 35'
    Report[51]Try: Turnbull 25' c
    Con: Evans (1/1) 26'
    Pen: Evans (3/3) 7', 19', 30'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 13,558
    Referee: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

    Round 6

    7 October 2017
    14:00
    Leinster Ireland23–17Ireland Munster (1 BP)
    Try: O'Loughlin (2) 16' c, 34' c
    Con: Sexton (2/2) 17', 35'
    Pen: Sexton (3/3) 43', 51', 54'
    Report[52]Try: Keatley 26' c
    Earls (2) 47' m, 78' m
    Con: Keatley (1/1) 27'
    Aviva Stadium
    Attendance: 46,374
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

    Round 7

    27 October 2017
    19:35
    Connacht Ireland20–16Ireland Munster (1 BP)
    Try: O'Halloran 22' c
    Farrell 66' c
    Con: Carty (1/1) 22'
    Ronaldson (1/1) 67'
    Pen: Carty (2/3) 39', 50'
    Report[53]Try: Zebo 3' c
    Con: Keatley (1/1) 4'
    Pen: Keatley (2/2) 16', 30'
    Hanrahan (1/1) 65'
    Galway Sportsgrounds
    Attendance: 7,089
    Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

    Round 8

    3 November 2017
    19:35
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland49–6Wales Dragons
    Try: Scannell 20' c
    Zebo 28' c
    O'Donoghue 47' c
    Sweetnam 57' c
    Arnold (2) 63' c, 77' c
    O'Byrne 69' c
    Con: Hanrahan (7/7) 21', 30', 48', 58', 64', 70', 78'
    Report[54]Pen: O'Brien (2/2) 24', 41'
    Irish Independent Park
    Attendance: 8,008
    Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

    Round 9

    26 November 2017
    14:30
    Zebre Italy19–36Ireland Munster (1 BP)
    Try: Bisegni 35' c
    Sarto 40' c
    Venditti 68' m
    Con: Palazzani (2/3) 36', 40'+1
    Report[55]Try: Scannell 17' c
    Hart 24' c
    Wootton (2) 51' m, 55' c
    Nash 80' c
    Con: Hanrahan (4/5) 18', 25', 56', 80'+1
    Pen: Hanrahan (1/3) 9'
    Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
    Attendance: 2,500
    Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU)

    Round 10

    2 December 2017
    17:30
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland36–10Wales Ospreys
    Try: Arnold 17' c
    Sweetnam 22' c
    Cloete 29' c
    Scannell 42' c
    O'Donoghue 55' m
    Con: Keatley (4/5) 18', 23', 30', 43'
    Pen: Keatley (1/1) 4'
    Report[56]Try: Hassler 38' m
    Jones 70' m
    Irish Independent Park
    Attendance: 8,008
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

    Round 11

    26 December 2017
    15:15
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland24–34Ireland Leinster (1 BP)
    Try: Murray 17' m
    Keatley 45' c
    Conway (2) 48' c, 76' m
    Con: Keatley (2/3) 46', 49'
    Report[57]Try: Leavy 8' c
    Penalty try 20'
    Henshaw 22' c
    Larmour 69' c
    Con: R. Byrne (3/3) 9', 24', 70'
    Pen: R. Byrne (2/2) 1', 12'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 26,267
    Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

    Round 12

    1 January 2018
    17:35
    (1 BP) Ulster Ireland24–17Ireland Munster (1 BP)
    Try: Cave 57' c
    Gilroy (2) 61' m, 73' c
    Lyttle 79' m
    Con: Cooney (2/4) 58', 74'
    Report[58]Try: Scannell (2) 13' m, 24' m
    Penalty try 33'
    Kingspan Stadium
    Attendance: 17,594
    Referee: Sean Gallagher (IRFU)

    Round 13

    6 January 2018
    19:45
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland39–13Ireland Connacht
    Try: O'Shea 19' c
    Conway 53' c
    Earls 59' m
    Murray (2) 63' c, 69' c
    Con: Keatley (4/5) 20', 54', 64', 70'
    Pen: Keatley (2/2) 30', 50'
    Report[59]Try: McCartney 77'c
    Con: Ronaldson (1/1) 78'
    Pen: Carty (2/2) 2', 24'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 18,604
    Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)

    Round 14

    10 February 2018
    19:35
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland33–5Italy Zebre
    Try: Arnold (2) 25' m, 73' c
    Scott 36' c
    Copeland 55' c
    R. Scannell 57' c
    Con: Hanrahan (1/2) 37'
    Keatley (3/3) 56', 58', 74'
    Report[60]Try: Palazzani 52' m
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 13,412
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

    Round 15

    17 February 2018
    17:30
    Cardiff Blues Wales25–18Ireland Munster (1 BP)
    Try: Cook 18' m
    L. Williams 23' c
    Lane 26' c
    Con: Evans (2/3) 24', 27'
    Pen: Evans (2/2) 67', 75'
    Report[61]Try: Cloete 33' m
    Fitzgerald 52' c
    Con: Keatley (1/2) 53'
    Pen: Keatley (1/2) 43'
    Bleyendaal (1/1) 80'+1
    Cardiff Arms Park
    Attendance: 6,086
    Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)

    Round 16

    23 February 2018
    19:00
    Munster Ireland21–10Scotland Glasgow Warriors
    Try: Scannell 24' c
    Cronin 48' m
    Con: Bleyendaal (1/2) 24'
    Pen: Bleyendaal (3/3) 10', 34', 61'
    Report[62]Try: Horne 46' c
    Con: Hastings (1/1) 47'
    Pen: Hastings (1/1) 42'
    Irish Independent Park
    Attendance: 8,008
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

    Round 17

    2 March 2018
    19:35
    Edinburgh ScotlandPostponed[63]Ireland Munster
    Murrayfield Stadium
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

    Round 17 rescheduled match

    16 March 2018
    19:35
    Edinburgh Scotland12–6Ireland Munster (1 BP)
    Try: Van der Merwe (2) 35' m, 56' c
    Con: Van der Walt (1/2) 57'
    Report[64]Pen: Hanrahan (2/2) 19', 49'
    Murrayfield Stadium
    Attendance: 4,089
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
    • Match rescheduled from 2 March 2018.[65]

    Round 18

    24 March 2018
    17:30
    Munster Ireland19–7Wales Scarlets
    Try: Hart 27' m
    Copeland 47' c
    Wootton 77' c
    Con: Keatley (2/3) 47', 78'
    Report[66]Try: A. Davies 6' c
    Con: Patchell (1/1) 7'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 14,215
    Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

    Round 19

    7 April 2018
    18:35
    Southern Kings South Africa22–39Ireland Munster
    Try: Ntsila 26' c
    Greef 30' m
    Makase 74' c
    Con: Banda (2/3) 28', 75'
    Pen: Banda (1/1) 35'
    Report[67]Try: N. Scannell 37' m
    Nash 40'+3 m
    Stander 47' c
    Goggin 53' m
    Marshall 68' c
    Kilcoyne 71' c
    Con: Ian Keatley (3/5) 48', 68', 72'
    Pen: Ian Keatley (1/1) 16'
    Outeniqua Park
    Attendance: 6,318
    Referee: Lloyd Linton (SRU)

    Round 20

    13 April 2018
    18:35
    (1 BP) Cheetahs South Africa17–19Ireland Munster
    Try: Blommetjies 10' c
    Meyer 28' c
    Con: Goosen (2/2) 11', 29'
    Pen: Goosen (1/1) 40'
    Report[68]Try: Murray 36' c
    Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 36'
    Pen: Hanrahan (3/3) 44', 52', 61'
    Murray (1/1) 65'
    Toyota Stadium
    Attendance: 6,869
    Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

    Round 21

    28 April 2018
    17:35
    Munster Ireland24–24Ireland Ulster
    Try: Williams 1' c
    Scott 26' c
    Copeland 48' c
    Con: Hanrahan (3/3) 2', 28', 49'
    Pen: Hanrahan (1/1) 67'
    Report[69]Try: McCloskey 4' c
    Best (2) 32' c, 40' c
    Con: McPhillips (3/3) 5', 34', 40'
    Pen: McPhillips (1/1) 15'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 16,178
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

    Semi-final qualifier

    5 May 2018
    15:15
    Munster Ireland20–16Scotland Edinburgh
    Try: Marshall 8' c
    Earls 42' c
    Con: Hanrahan (2/2) 9', 43'
    Pen: Hanrahan (2/3) 51', 72'
    Report[70]Try: Fowles 58' c
    Con: Van der Walt (1/1) 59'
    Pen: Hidalgo-Clyne (3/3) 18', 24', 55'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 10,205
    Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

    Semi-final

    19 May 2018
    15:15
    Leinster Ireland16–15Ireland Munster
    Try: Conan 7' c
    Con: Carbery (1/1) 7'
    Pen: Byrne (2/3) 20', 45'
    Carbery (1/2) 76'
    Report[71]Try: Earls 43' m
    Grobler 78' c
    Con: Keatley (1/1) 78'
    Pen: Hanrahan (1/2) 18'
    RDS Arena
    Attendance: 18,930
    Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)
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    2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup

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    Munster faced Racing 92, Leicester Tigers and Castres Olympique in Pool 4 of the 2017–18 European Rugby Champions Cup. They were seeded in Tier 1 following their 1st-place finish in the regular 2016–17 Pro12 season.[72]

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    Round 1

    15 October 2017
    14:00
    Castres France17–17Ireland Munster
    Try: Ebersohn 12' c
    Dumora 32' c
    Con: Urdapilleta (2/2) 13', 33'
    Pen: Urdapilleta (1/1) 50'
    Report[73]Try: Zebo 30' c
    Kilcoyne 46' c
    Con: Bleyendaal (2/2) 31', 47'
    Pen: Bleyendaal (1/1) 38'
    Stade Pierre-Antoine
    Attendance: 9,577
    Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

    Round 2

    21 October 2017
    17:30
    Munster Ireland14–7France Racing 92 (1 BP)
    Try: Murray 60' c
    Conway 69' c
    Con: Keatley (2/2) 61', 70'
    Report[74]Try: Nakarawa 75' c
    Con: Iribaren (1/1) 76'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 22,054
    Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)

    Round 3

    9 December 2017
    19:45
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland33–10England Leicester Tigers
    Try: Marshall 19' c
    Zebo 30' c
    O'Mahony 55' m
    Cloete 67' m
    Con: Keatley (2/4) 20', 31'
    Pen: Keatley (3/3) 7', 26', 37'
    Report[75]Try: Thacker 64' c
    Con: G. Ford (1/1) 65'
    Pen: G. Ford (1/1) 35'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 25,355
    Referee: Jérôme Garcès (FFR)

    Round 4

    17 December 2017
    17:30
    Leicester Tigers England16–25Ireland Munster
    Try: Tait 12' c
    Con: G. Ford (1/1) 13'
    Pen: G. Ford (3/3) 2', 51', 60'
    Report[76]Try: Stander 42' c
    Con: Keatley (1/1) 43'
    Pen: Keatley (6/7) 10', 23', 33', 39', 72', 77'
    Welford Road
    Attendance: 23,100
    Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)

    Round 5

    14 January 2018
    15:15
    Racing 92 France34–30Ireland Munster (1 BP)
    Try: Nyanga 2' c
    Andreu 42' m
    Szarzewski 64' c
    Con: Machenaud (2/3) 3', 65'
    Pen: Machenaud (5/5) 8', 40', 55', 75', 77'
    Report[77]Try: Kleyn 20' c
    Earls 45' c
    Farrell 51' c
    Con: Keatley (3/3) 21', 46', 51'
    Pen: Keatley (2/3) 56', 64'
    Murray (1/3) 74'
    Paris La Défense Arena
    Attendance: 16,155
    Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

    Round 6

    21 January 2018
    16:00
    (1 BP) Munster Ireland48–3France Castres
    Try: Earls 33' c
    Marshall 44' c
    Penalty try 56'
    Zebo 58' c
    Wootton 67' c
    Cronin 80' c
    Con: Keatley (3/3) 34', 45', 59'
    Hanrahan (2/2) 68', 80'+1
    Pen: Keatley (2/2) 17', 25'
    Report[78]Pen: Kockott (1/1) 13'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 23,116
    Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

    Quarter-final

    31 March 2018
    15:15
    Munster Ireland (3)20–19(6) France Toulon
    Try: Murray 27' c
    Conway 74' c
    Con: Keatley (2/2) 28', 75'
    Pen: Keatley (2/2) 31', 55'
    Report[79]Try: Ashton 64' c
    Con: Trinh-Duc (1/1) 65'
    Pen: Belleau (1/1) 9'
    Trinh-Duc (2/2) 60', 67'
    Drop: Belleau (1/1) 18'
    Thomond Park
    Attendance: 26,265
    Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

    Semi-final

    22 April 2018
    15:15
    Racing 92 France (7)27–22(3) Ireland Munster
    Try: Thomas (2) 4' c, 17' c
    Machenaud 21' c
    Con: Machenaud (3/3) 6', 19', 23'
    Pen: Machenaud (2/3) 26', 42'
    Report[80]Try: Zebo 62' m
    Marshall 75' c
    Conway 80' c
    Con: Hanrahan (2/3) 76', 80'+1
    Pen: Keatley (1/1) 16'
    Stade Chaban-Delmas
    Attendance: 24,574
    Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)
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