We have reached the knockout stage of the 2013 / 2014 RaboDirect PRO12 season with the semi-finals to be played this weekend. The first game takes place in Glasgow tonight (Friday) and will see Glasgow Warriors, who finished in second spot on the log host third placed Munster. This is the first time that Glasgow Warriors have hosted a semi-final game in the PRO12.
The second game, to be played tomorrow (Saturday) will be an all Ireland affair with first placed Leinster hosting fourth placed Ulster. Johan Muller, in his last season at the club, will be captaining Ulster and will be hoping for a win to make it one more game before the curtain falls on what has been a very good time for him at the Belfast club.
Glasgow Warriors vs Munster:
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow, Friday 16 May 2014 (kick-off 19:35 BST, 20:35 SAST)
Glasgow Warriors
Peter Murchie; Sean Maitland, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Tommy Seymour; Finn Russell, Chris Cusiter; Ryan Grant, Dougie Hall, Jon Welsh, Jonny Gray, Al Kellock (capt), Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Josh Strauss.
Replacements: Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid, Geoff Cross, Tim Swinson, Leone Nakarawa, Niko Matawalu, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont.
Munster
Felix Jones; Keith Earls, Casey Laulala, James Downey, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Damien Varley – Capt, BJ Botha; Dave Foley, Paul O’Connell; CJ Stander, Sean Dougall, James Coughlan.
Replacements: Quentin MacDonald, James Cronin, John Ryan, Donncha O’Callaghan, Paddy Butler, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Andrew Conway.
Referee: Marius Mitrea
Assistant referees: Giuseppe Vivarini, Stefano Penne
TMO: Carlo Damasco
Final Score: Glasgow Warriors 16/15 Munster
Leinster vs Ulster:
RDS, Dublin, Saturday 17 May 2014 (kick-off 19:00 BST, 20:0 SA Time)
Leinster
R Kearney, F McFadden, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, D Kearney, J Gopperth, E Reddan, C Healy, S Cronin, M Moore, D Toner, Q Roux, R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Heaslip (capt).
Replacements: A Dundon, J McGrath, M Ross, L Cullen, S O’Brien, I Boss, I Madigan, Z Kirchner.
Ulster
C Gilroy, T Bowe, J Payne, D Cave, A Trimble, P Jackson, R Pienaar, C Black, R Best, R Lutton, J Muller (capt), I Henderson, R Diack, C Henry, R Wilson.
Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, A Macklin, D Tuohy, S Doyle, P Marshall, J McKinney, L Marshall.
Referee: Leighton Hodges
Assistant Referees: Ian Davies, Neil Paterson
TMO: Gareth Simmonds
GO GLASGOW, GO ULSTER!!!
Game about to kick off, BJ Botha and CJ Stander starting for Munster. Stadium is ROCKING!!!
Surprised to see JJ Hanrahan is only on the bench for Munster, rate him very highly – he has made the switch from wing to flyhalf very well.
They are observing a minutes silence for The Hawick Hardman Hugh MacCleod who passed away on Monday night.
Wow cracker of a start to the game, both teams playing expansively at high tempo, no score yet after 5 min
Casey Laulala getting some treatment but he is back on again for Munster.
Munster launch high kick as they got free kick from a scrum
Penalty to Munster, Glasgow holding on or entering from side. Kicked out from near Munster 10m line to near Glasgow tryline
Munster looking dangerous
Munster claiming the try but its up to TMO, looks like hooker burrowed over but lets see
In the meantime Andrew Conway on for injured Lualala
Interesting ref and TMO talking Italian
Try given, crowd not happy looked marginal, maybe a bit short but its what TMO says that matters
Glasgow Warriors 0/7 Munster – 11th min
Ref having a word with captains just before restart, was a bit of the off the ball scuffle between Munster wing and Glasgow inside centre while the try was being ‘scored’
Great driving run by Josh Strauss and Glasgow get a penalty think for a high tackle on Strauss by BJ Botha
Glasgow Warriors 0 / 7 Munster as Finn Russell hooks it right from straight in front from about 7m inside Munster half, had more than enough distance on it.
Penalty due to Glasgow and they get it just outside Munster 22, must go to posts
Glasgow Warriors 3/7 Munster as Russell slots the penalty – 18th min
18th min, first time hearing CJ Stander’s name
Stander quite involved in the play now
Good kick by Munster takes play to 5m from Glasgow line, but Glasgow throw
Finally a scrum for Glasgow as Munster knock on, WOW some big hits going in as play is relentlessly going back and forth, Ryan Grant being taken off with bleeding nose but commentators also say he has sore knee.. Reid on in his place.
BJ Botha getting right eye treated
Munster looking dangerous again on the attack
Close, great defence by Glasgow, surely that is not a try but TMO time again
Zebo thinks he has scored, but we need another angle
Commentator Ed Kalman thinks it may have been knocked on
Josh Strauss replaced by Nakarawa , may have taken a knock in defence in the build up to the ‘try’ they are checking, Strauss gets HUGE applause, a real crowd favourite in Glasgow
Yip Ed Kalman was right its ruled no try as Munster knocked on
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