Munster Rugby crash out of URC after semi-final defeat to Glasgow ...

MUNSTER Rugby have crashed out of the URC after a 17-10 semi-final loss to Glasgow Warriors in front of 20,052 spectators at Thomond Park on Saturday evening. 

The province have lost their opportunity of winning back-to-back URC titles as Glasgow will now go on to play South African side Vodacom Bulls in the URC final on Saturday next, June 22. 

Sloppy passing and ill-discipline in the second-half of the game proved to be Munster's downfall as they never seemed to get ahead in the match. 

Munster started well as the wind played a factor in George Horne's clearing kick causing the Glasgow side to knock-on the ball gifting Munster their first scrum and attacking platform after two minutes of play. 

They were awarded a further penalty as prop Jamie Bhatti was unable to clear himself from the ruck with the home side voting to kick for posts. Uncharacteristically out-half Jack Crowley missed the sides first opportunity at points as the wind spun his kick to the right-hand side and wide. 

Glasgow Warriors came straight back after the re-start collecting fantastically in the air and created a good amount of phases, but Mike Haley did just enough to disrupt the ruck and get Munster the turn-over with seven minutes played. 

Munster were lucky to be awarded another penalty as Glasgow's discipline let them down as Crowley kicked into the corner. Fineen Wycherley did well to retain the ball from the line-out as they set up their attack. Nothing came from their first attempt in the corner as Munster went for the corner and the driving maul again. The Scottish side were found infringing on too many occasions with Richie Gray being shown a yellow card as a result. 

Crowley made no mistake with his second kick in front of the posts getting the first points of the game putting them 3-0 ahead after 12 minutes and also a man up. These three points would be Munster's only lead of the entire game. 

In a messy passage of play from both sides Munster Captain Tadhg Beirne lead from the front putting serious pressure on Glasgow winger Sebastian Cancelliere and ultimately ripping the ball in the tackle giving Munster another fantastic attacking platform five-meters from the try line. 

Glasgow remained strong in defence as Munster battled hard to get over the gain-line but an off the feet penalty awarded to the Scottish side took the pressure off them after 22 minutes of play. 

A horrific pass from Antoine Frisch to Alex Nankivell bounced off the New-Zealand native resulting in Glasgow's captain Kyle Steyn gathering the scrappy ball and sprinting from the half-way line to score their first try of the game. George Horne made no mistake with the conversion putting them 7-3 ahead. 

Munster made plenty of mistakes in the final 10 minutes of the first-half with Craig Casey coughing up another vital opportunity for points after knocking the ball on in the scrum and Mike Haley costing Munster a penalty gifting Glasgow the scrum and possession just inside their own half, but were unable to get any forward momentum. 

Referee Andrea Piardi was brought back by officials after a Glasgow shoulder charge on Frisch with Crowley belting the ball into the corner once again. Peter O'Mahony grabbed the ball out of the line-out as Crowley charged at the line, but coughed up the possession in yet another failed attack for the home side. 

Glasgow were shown another yellow as Matt Fagerson was sent to the sin-bin for a reckless tackle after 40 minutes of play gifting another attack to Munster who were unable to make any forward progression leaving it 7-3 at half-time to Glasgow. 

It was the Scottish side that continued their electric pace in the opening minutes of the second-half as they were given three penalties nearly one after the other only five meters from Munster's try line. They voted to kick for the corner on three occasions with Munster doing incredibly well to soak up the pressure and make sure they got no scores off their attack. 

Another silly mistake by Munster's out-half gifted Glasgow a shot at the posts but against the strong breeze Horne clipped the kick left and wide, easing the pressure on the home side once more. 

In a matter of three passes and a fabulous break from Huw Jones finding Sebastian Cancelliere alone on the wing Warriors were over for their second try of the evening, with Horne making no mistake with this kick pushing their lead out 14-3 after 52 minutes. 

Peter O'Mahony gave life back into the Thomond Park fans as a blocked down kick courtesy of RG Snyman set up a Munster attack with a huge run from Jeremy Loughman found Antoine Frisch right in corner with Crowley curling in the conversion to light up Munster leaving it 14-10 with 20 minutes left to play. 

Glasgow were awarded a number of penalties but to Munster's delight they did not capitalise on their possession. Scrappy passing by Munster resulted in a number of turnover balls in the closing minutes of the game with Glasgow more than happy to keep battling away at the home side's defence. 

Two penalties in-a-row from Munster and a shoulder to head tackle from Alex Nankivell saw him shown a yellow card with only seven minutes left to play. Horne booted home the penalty to keep them ahead, 17-10 after 74 minutes. 

In a last gasp attempt to level the game Munster looked to be on the front foot but another knock-on by the Limerick based team sealed their faith as Glasgow leave Thomond Park victorious on a scoreline 17-10. 

MUNSTER RUGBY: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell, Simon Zebo; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (C); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Jack O’Donoghue.

REPLACEMENTS: Diarmuid Barron for N Scannell (45 minutes), RG Snyman for F Wycherley (45 minutes), Oli Jager for S Archer (45 minutes), Gavin Coombes for J O'Donoghue (54 minutes), Conor Murray for C Casey (57 minutes), Seán O’Brien for S Zebo (61 minutes), John Ryan for J Loughman (65 minutes), Alex Kendellen for J Hodnett (72 minutes). 

GLASGOW WARRIORS: Josh McKay, Sebastian Cancelliere, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Steyn (C), Tom Jordan, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, Johnny Matthews, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Richie Gray, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey. 

REPLACEMENTS: Jamie Dobie for S Cancelliere (56 minutes) George Turner for J Matthews (56 minutes), Max Williamson for R Gray (56 minutes), Oli Kebble for J Bhatti (70 minutes)

REFEREE: Andrea Piardi (Italy)