# 2013–14 Munster Rugby season

The 2013–14 Munster Rugby season was Munster's thirteenth season competing in the Pro12 alongside which they also competed in the Heineken Cup for the nineteenth time. It was Rob Penney's second and final season as head coach.

## Coaching & management staff 2013–14

The Munster Coaching and Management staff for the 2013–14 season.
| Position | Name | Nationality |
| Head coach | Rob Penney | New Zealand |
| Team manager | Niall O'Donovan | Ireland |
| Forwards Coach | Anthony Foley | Ireland |
| Backs Coach | Simon Mannix | New Zealand |
| Skills Coach | Ian Costello | Ireland |
| Head of Fitness | Adam Trypas | Australia |
| Strength & conditioning coach | Aidan O'Connell | Ireland |
| Conditioning Assistant | Will Douglas | Wales |
| Strength & Rehab Coach | Aled Walters | Wales |
| Head of physiotherapy | Anthony Coole | South Africa |
| Physiotherapist | Colm Fuller | Ireland |
| Rehab physiotherapist | Colm Oakley | Ireland |
| Performance analyst | George Murray | Ireland |
| Asst. Performance Analyst | Elliot Corcoran | Ireland |
| Kit Manager | Jack Kiely | Ireland |
| Operations manager | Bryan Murphy | Ireland |

## Senior playing squad 2013–14

The Munster Senior Squad for the 2013–2014 season. 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 |
| Niall Scannell | Hooker | Ireland |
| Mike Sherry | Hooker | Ireland |
| Damien Varley | Hooker | Ireland |
| Stephen Archer | Prop | Ireland |
| BJ Botha | Prop | South Africa |
| Alan Cotter | Prop | Ireland |
| James Cronin | Prop | Ireland |
| Dave Kilcoyne | Prop | Ireland |
| John Ryan | Prop | Ireland |
| Dave Foley | Lock | Ireland |
| Billy Holland | Lock | Ireland |
| Ian Nagle | Lock | Ireland |
| Donncha O'Callaghan | Lock | Ireland |
| Paul O'Connell | Lock | Ireland |
| Donnacha Ryan | Lock | Ireland |
| Sean Dougall | Flanker | Ireland |
| Dave O'Callaghan | Flanker | Ireland |
| Tommy O'Donnell | Flanker | Ireland |
| Barry O'Mahony | Flanker | Ireland |
| Peter O'Mahony | Flanker | Ireland |
| Niall Ronan | Flanker | Ireland |
| CJ Stander | Flanker | South Africa |
| Paddy Butler | Number 8 | Ireland |
| James Coughlan | Number 8 | Ireland |
| Player | Position | Union |
| Gerry Hurley | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Conor Murray | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Cathal Sheridan | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| Duncan Williams | Scrum-half | Ireland |
| JJ Hanrahan | Fly-half | Ireland |
| Ian Keatley | Fly-half | Ireland |
| Cian Bohane | Centre | Ireland |
| Ivan Dineen | Centre | Ireland |
| James Downey | Centre | Ireland |
| Keith Earls | Centre | Ireland |
| Casey Laulala | Centre | New Zealand |
| Andrew Conway | Wing | Ireland |
| Johne Murphy | Wing | Ireland |
| Luke O'Dea | Wing | Ireland |
| Ronan O'Mahony | Wing | Ireland |
| Gerhard van den Heever | Wing | South Africa |
| Simon Zebo | Wing | Ireland |
| Denis Hurley | Fullback | Ireland |
| Felix Jones | Fullback | Ireland |
Internationally capped players in bold. Players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality. *

### Senior players in (season 2013/14)

* Niall Scannell promoted from Academy
* Duncan Casey promoted from Academy
* James Cronin promoted from Academy
* Gerry Hurley
* Cian Bohane promoted from Academy
* Andrew Conway from Leinster
* Ronan O'Mahony promoted from Academy
* Gerhard van den Heever from Western Province/Stormers

### Senior players out (season 2013/14)

* Seán Henry to Connacht
* Marcus Horan Retiring
* Wian du Preez to Free State Cheetahs
* Christy Condon to released
* Peter Stringer to Bath
* Scott Deasy to released
* Ronan O'Gara Retiring
* Danny Barnes to Newcastle Falcons
* Doug Howlett Retiring due to injury
* Seán Scanlon to Rotherham

## 2013–14 Pro12

Munster reached the semi-finals of the Pro 12 and faced the Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium on 16 May.
Glasgow won the match 16–15 to reach the final against Leinster who defeated Ulster 13-9 the day after.
* 7 September 2013 19:15
| (1 BP) Munster | 34–23 | Edinburgh |
| Try: Hurley 13' m Coughlan 15' c Cronin 32' c Dineen 53' m Hanrahan 68' c Con: Keatley (2/4) Hanrahan (1/1) Pen: Keatley (1/2) 22' | Report | Try: De Luca 50' c Jones 70' c Con: Francis (1/1) Leonard (1/1) Pen: Francis (2/4) 11', 26' Leonard (1/1) 62' |
* Musgrave Park Attendance: 6,810 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
* 13 September 2013 19:30
| Zebre | 21–43 | Munster (1 BP) |
| Try: Orquera 22' m Manici 39' c Con: Orquera (1/2) Pen: Orquera (3/3) 19', 36', 64' | Report | Try: Butler 46' c Stander (2) 58' c, 66' c Keatley 75' c Con: Hanrahan (3/3) Keatley (1/1) Pen: Hanrahan (5/5) 5', 15', 32', 45', 51' |
* Stadio XXV Aprile Attendance: 2,550 Referee: Andrew McMenemy (SRU)
* 20 September 2013 20:30
| Benetton Treviso | 29–19 | Munster |
| Try: Nitoglia (2) 49' c, 61' c Con: Berquist (2/2) Pen: Berquist (5/5) 13', 17', 37', 59', 65' | Report | Try: Earls 7' m penalty try 28' c Archer 46' c Con: Keatley (2/3) |
* Stadio Comunale di Monigo Attendance: 4,528 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
* 28 September 2013 18:45
| Munster | 23–9 | Newport Gwent Dragons |
| Try: Cronin 35' c O'Mahony 51' c Con: Hanrahan (2/2) Pen: Hanrahan (3/4) 7', 19', 62' | Report | Pen: Burton (3/3) 10', 20', 46' |
* Musgrave Park Attendance: 6,248 Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU)
* 5 October 2013 18:45
| Munster | 19–15 | Leinster (1 BP) |
| Try: Earls 33' c Con: Keatley (1/1) Pen: Keatley (4/6) 30', 43', 57', 63' | Report | Pen: Madigan (4/5) 3', 24', 53', 55' McFadden (1/1) 40' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 20,646 Referee: Romain Poite (FFR)
* 25 October 2013 19:35
| (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors | 6–13 | Munster |
| Pen: Weir (2/3) 3', 25' | Report | Try: Hanrahan 44' c Con: Hanrahan (1/1) Pen: Hanrahan (2/2) 21', 47' |
* Scotstoun Stadium Attendance: 5,726 Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)
* 2 November 2013 19:15
| Munster | 12–6 | Ospreys (1 BP) |
| Pen: Keatley (3/5) 5', 22', 56' Hanrahan (1/1) 68' | Report | Pen: Morgan (2/3) 26', 80' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 14,216 Referee: Giuseppe Vivarini (FIR)
* 23 November 2013 18:30
| Cardiff Blues | 10–31 | Munster (1 BP) |
| Try: Dacey 49' c Con: Humberstone (1/1) Pen: Humberstone (1/2) 13' | Report | Try: Jones 17' c Varley 27' c Cronin 31' c Conway 43' c Con: Hanrahan (4/4) Pen: Hanrahan (1/1) 38' |
* Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 6,122 Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)
* 29 November 2013 19:15
| (1 BP) Newport Gwent Dragons | 14–18 | Munster |
| Try: Pewtner 43' m Pen: Tovey (2/4) 11', 40' Drop: Tovey (1/1) 70' | Report | Pen: Keatley (6/7) 25', 52', 61', 67', 73', 76' |
* Rodney Parade Attendance: 7,118 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
* 21 December 2013 19:15
| Munster | 16–10 | Scarlets (1 BP) |
| Try: R. O'Mahony 80' c Con: Hanrahan (1/1) Pen: Hanrahan (3/5) 23', 47', 57' | Report | Try: Barclay 42' c Con: A. Thomas (1/1) Pen: A. Thomas (1/2) 14' |
* Musgrave Park Attendance: 7,867 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
* 27 December 2013 19:15
| Munster | 22–16 | Connacht (1 BP) |
| Try: Hanrahan 20' c Con: Hanrahan (1/1) Pen: Hanrahan (5/5) 9', 29', 44', 50', 76' | Report | Try: Heffernan 80' c Con: Parks (1/1) Pen: Parks (3/3) 13', 16', 61' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 18,870 Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU)
* 3 January 2014 19:05
| Ulster | 29–19 | Munster |
| Try: Payne 6' c Cave 37' c Con: Pienaar (2/2) Pen: Pienaar (5/6) 4', 18', 62', 71', 80' | Report | Try: Dineen 40' m Kilcoyne 48' c Coughlan 66' c Con: Keatley (2/3) |
* Ravenhill Stadium Attendance: 13,945 Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU)
* 8 February 2014 19:15
| (1 BP) Munster | 54–13 | Cardiff Blues |
| Try: Kilcoyne 10' c penalty try 60' c Zebo 64' c van den Heever 66' c Conway 78' c Stander 80' c Con: Hanrahan (6/6) Pen: Hanrahan (4/4) 4', 22', 27', 40' | Report | Try: O. Williams 13' c Con: G. Davies (1/1) Pen: G. Davies (2/2) 8', 31' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 13,821 Referee: Giuseppe Vivarini (FIR)
* 15 February 2014 18:45
| (1 BP) Munster | 36–8 | Zebre |
| Try: Zebo (2) 26' c, 34' m Slattery (2) 62' c, 79' c O'Donnell 70' c Con: Hanrahan (1/2) Keatley (3/3) Pen: Hanrahan (1/1) 15' | Report | Try: D'Apice 12' m Pen: Palazzani (1/1) 44' |
* Musgrave Park Attendance: 7,330 Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU)
* 23 February 2014 16:00
| Ospreys | 11–25 | Munster |
| Try: Beck 39' m Pen: Davies (2/4) 18', 68' | Report | Try: Dougall 6' c Zebo 46' m Downey 71' c Con: Keatley (1/2) Hanrahan (1/1) Pen: Keatley (2/2) 16', 26' |
* Liberty Stadium Attendance: 5,766 Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU)
* 1 March 2014 18:30
| Scarlets | 18–13 | Munster (1 BP) |
| Try: G. Davies 27' m Barclay 51' c Con: A. Thomas (1/1) Pen: Barkley (1/1) 13' A. Thomas (1/1) 50' | Report | Try: van den Heever 36' c Con: Keatley (1/1) Pen: Keatley (2/3) 15', 40' |
* Parc y Scarlets Attendance: 6,487 Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU)
* 22 March 2014 19:15
| Munster | 14–3 | Benetton Treviso |
| Try: Earls 37' c Downey 55' c Con: Hanrahan (2/2) | Report | Pen: Berquist (1/3) 3' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 13,946 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
* 29 March 2014 19:00
| Leinster | 22–18 | Munster (1 BP) |
| Try: O'Driscoll 57' c Con: Madigan (1/1) Pen: Madigan (5/6) 25', 38', 46', 51', 79' | Report | Pen: Keatley (6/6) 4', 9', 22', 30', 64', 77' |
* Aviva Stadium Attendance: 51,700 Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU)
* 12 April 2014 18:30
| Munster | 5–22 | Glasgow Warriors |
| Try: Stander 18' m | Report | Try: Gray 4' c Maitland 25' m Strauss 36' c Con: Weir (2/3) Pen: Weir (1/1) 9' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 13,946 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
* 19 April 2014 18:15
| Connacht | 23–32 | Munster (1 BP) |
| Try: Healy 20' m McKeon 53' m Poolman 78' c Con: Parks (1/1) Pen: Nikora (2/2) 15', 63' | Report | Try: Conway 17' c van den Heever 34' c D. Hurley 38' c Butler 72' m Con: Keatley (3/4) Pen: Keatley (2/2) 26', 30' |
* Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 6,227 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
* 3 May 2014 17:00
| Edinburgh | 12–55 | Munster (1 BP) |
| Try: Bezuidenhout 9' m Nel 22' c Con: Laidlaw (1/2) | Report | Try: Conway 16' c D. Hurley 40' c Varley 49' c penalty try (2) 55' c, 73' c Williams 66' c O'Donnell 80' c Con: Hanrahan (5/5) Murray (2/2) Pen: Hanrahan (2/2) 15', 27' |
* Meggetland Attendance: 3,782 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)
* 10 May 2014 18:30
| (1 BP) Munster | 17–19 | Ulster |
| Try: Williams 14' c Dougall 49' c Con: Keatley (2/2) Pen: Keatley (1/1) 11' | Report | Try: Heaney 17' c Con: McKinney (1/1) Pen: McKinney (4/4) 36', 47', 53', 65' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 16,436 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
* 16 May 2014 (Semi-Final) 19:35
| Glasgow Warriors | 16–15 | Munster |
| Try: Reid 46' c Con: Russell (1/1) Pen: Russell (3/4) 17', 36', 39' | Report | Try: Varley 9' c Dougall 51' m Con: Keatley (1/2) Pen: Keatley (1/1) 66' |
* Scotstoun Stadium Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)

## 2013–14 Heineken Cup

On 19 January, Munster secured a home quarter-final in the knock-out stages of the 2013–14 Heineken Cup after a 38–6 win against Edinburgh at Thomond Park. They faced Toulouse in the quarter-finals on 5 April. Munster scored six tries to beat Toulouse 43-23 and reach the semi-finals. A Keith Earls's try put Munster into a 10-point lead before two Luke McAlister penalties made it 13–9 at half time. Tries from Dave Kilcoyne and CJ Stander looked to have sealed the victory before Toulouse relied with a try from Hosea Gear. Further tries from Casey Laulala, Simon Zebo and Paul O'Connell made it a comfortable win in the end for Munster. CJ Stander, who replaced the injured Peter O'Mahony in the first half was named Man of the Match.
On 27 April in the semi-final against Toulon at the Stade Vélodrome, Munster lost 24–16. Munster came from 18–9 down at half-time to score the game's only try through Simon Zebo who went over in the corner. Jonny Wilkinson scored 21 points for Toulon.
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| Munster (4) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 161 | 77 | +84 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 23 |
| Gloucester (7C) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 113 | 114 | −1 | 13 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| Edinburgh | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 104 | 141 | −37 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Perpignan | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 112 | 158 | −46 | 10 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Source : www.ercrugby.com Points breakdown: *4 points for a win *2 points for a draw *1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less *1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match |||||||||||||
* 12 October 2013 13:35
| Edinburgh | 29–23 | Munster (1 BP) |
| Try: Scott 5' c T. Visser 68' c Con: Laidlaw (2/2) Pen: Laidlaw (5/6) 11', 21', 28', 33', 75' | Report | Try: Laulala 19' c Sherry 25' c Con: Keatley (2/2) Pen: Keatley (3/3) 15', 52', 64' |
* Murrayfield Attendance: 7,024 Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)
* 19 October 2013 18:00
| Munster | 26–10 | Gloucester |
| Try: Varley 33' c Murphy 66' c Con: Keatley (2/2) Pen: Keatley (4/5) 3', 9', 12', 65' | Report | Try: Sharples 15' c Con: Bentley (1/1) Pen: Bentley (1/2) 38' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 23,510 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (FFR)
* 8 December 2013 12:45
| (1 BP) Munster | 36–8 | Perpignan |
| Try: Dougall 2' c Kilcoyne 25' m Earls 34' c penalty try 65' c Coughlan 77' c Con: Keatley (2/3) Hanrahan (2/2) Pen: Keatley (1/1) 10' | Report | Try: Michel 80' m Pen: Hook (1/2) 44' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 23,615 Referee: Greg Garner (RFU)
* 14 December 2013 16:40
| (1 BP) Perpignan | 17–18 | Munster |
| Try: Benvenuti 77' m Pen: Allan (4/7) 6', 18', 24', 63' | Report | Try: penalty try 48' c Hanrahan 80' m Con: Keatley (1/2) Pen: Keatley (2/4) 15', 67' |
* Stade Aimé Giral Attendance: 11,824 Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)
* 11 January 2014 18:00
| Gloucester | 7–20 | Munster |
| Try: Sharples 39' c Con: F. Burns (1/1) | Report | Try: Earls 32' c P. O'Mahony 60' c Con: Keatley (2/2) Pen: Keatley (2/3) 21', 69' |
* Kingsholm Attendance: 16,121 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)
* 19 January 2014 12:45
| (1 BP) Munster | 38–6 | Edinburgh |
| Try: Coughlan 7' m Murphy 21' c Murray 43' c P. O'Mahony 56' c Zebo 65' m Jones 75' c Con: Keatley (4/6) | Report | Pen: Laidlaw (2/3) 6', 27' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 25,600 Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

### Quarter-final

* 5 April 2014 13:30
| Munster | 47–23 | Toulouse |
| Try: Earls 4' c Kilcoyne 41' c Stander 45' c Laulala 63' m Zebo 73' m O'Connell 79' c Con: Keatley (4/6) Pen: Keatley (3/4) 15', 22', 61' | Report | Try: Gear 53' c Tekori 71' c Con: Beauxis (2/2) Pen: McAlister (3/3) 7', 29', 33' |
* Thomond Park Attendance: 26,200 Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

### Semi-final

* 27 April 2014 16:30
| Toulon | 24–16 | Munster |
| Pen: Wilkinson (7/8) 5', 18', 26', 35', 39', 64', 79' Drop: Wilkinson (1/2) 30' | Report | Try: Zebo 52' c Con: Keatley (1/1) Pen: Keatley (3/4) 7', 29', 33' |
* Stade Vélodrome Attendance: 37,043 Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

## Related

2013–14 Connacht Rugby season