Munster v Glasgow – Stats Roundup
Saturday's URC semi-final saw Glasgow Warriors pull off a remarkable win away to last season's champions, Munster.
Here are some of the best stats from a historic evening in Limerick.
Franco Smith
This was Franco Smith’s eighth knockout fixture with Glasgow – the most of any head coach in the club’s history.
He has also been in charge for five of the 13 single-leg knockout victories achieved by the Warriors, also the best return by any boss.
He joins Gregor Townsend and Dave Rennie as Glasgow coaches who have successfully negotiated a URC semi-final and is the only one of that trio to win away from home.
He is the only Glasgow Warriors’ head coach with two away victories versus Munster on his CV.
Glasgow away to Munster (and other Irish sides)
The Warriors have held the lead for 187 out of the 240 minutes played in their last three outings at Thomond Park and have only been behind on the scoreboard for 28 minutes during these fixtures.
Glasgow have faced Munster five times in knockout matches, winning four of them:
- Glasgow 18-14 Munster, Celtic Cup quarter-final 2003/04
- Glasgow 16-15 Munster, PRO12 semi-final 2013/14
- Glasgow 31-13 Munster, PRO12 final 2014/15
- Glasgow 5-14 Munster, URC quarter-final 2022/23
- Munster 10-17 Glasgow, URC semi-final 2023/24
This is the 21st time in 89 attempts that Glasgow have won away against one of the Irish provinces during the professional era.
- vs Connacht – Nine wins (and 3 draws) in 21 games
- vs Ulster – Five wins in 19 games
- vs Munster – Five wins in 20 games
- vs Leinster – Two wins (and 1 draw) in 29 games
Match stats
Glasgow’s forwards made 99 tackles and only missed four during the entire game. Their completion rate of 96.1% compared to 89.6% by the Munster starting pack and replacements.
In the backs, both teams made an almost identical number of carries – 56 for Munster and 57 for the Warriors. The home side made an awful lot more passes (178) whereas Glasgow were much more direct (103 passes) and that approach proved to be more productive
- Metres made: Munster 278 – 364 Glasgow
- Clean breaks: Munster 1-4 Glasgow
- Defenders beaten: Munster 10 – 18 Glasgow
The visitors kicked the ball once for every five passes that they made while their hosts only did so on average every 13 passes.
George Horne kicked the ball 16 times, more than double anyone else on the pitch. His half back partner, Tom Jordan, only put boot to ball twice from open play – and one of those occasions was hoofing it out to end the game!
The players
A quick-fire stat for each of the players in Glasgow’s victorious matchday squad.
1. Jamie Bhatti
Just the second time in his last 37 appearances for Glasgow and Scotland that he has played 70 or more minutes.
2. Johnny Matthews
Now has seven lineout steals in the URC this season, ranking him in the top five among all players in the league for this stat.
3. Zander Fagerson
Thirteenth time he has played the full 80 minutes for Glasgow – more than any other prop at the club in the era of 23 man matchday squads.
4. Scott Cummings
Has played more minutes at Thomond Park than Munster’s RG Snyman (292 v 279).
5. Richie Gray
Twelve years, one month and six days had passed since his only previous appearance in a semi-final for Glasgow.
6. Matt Fagerson
His first ever yellow card against anyone other than Zebre (3/12/22 and 8/10/16).
7. Rory Darge
There are only four forwards in the URC who have broken more tackles than him (all South Africans and all of whom have made more appearances in the league this season)
8. Jack Dempsey
109 carries across his last six games in the number 8 jersey for Glasgow – the Warriors' top carrier among the forwards in every game he’s started in 2024.
9. George Horne
His second conversion brought up 100 points for the season. Missed a kick for the first time since January.
10. Tom Jordan
Turnovers won: Tom Jordan 3-2 Tadhg Beirne. There's a new breakdown king in town!
11. Kyle Steyn
He is just the 13th Glasgow Warriors’ player to score 25 tries during the professional era (360 players in total).
12/13. Huwipulotu
In the last six games where both parts of Huwipulotu have started for Glasgow they have either scored or assisted at least one try.
14. Sebastian Cancelliere
He’s bagged at least one try in 16 of the last 26 games he has played for Glasgow, the most of anyone in the current squad.
15. Josh McKay
He needs 70 metres in the final to overtake Aphelele Fassi, the only other player in the URC to manage more than 1,000 metres with ball in hand this season.
16. George Turner
Has never lost a game against Munster in his career.
17. Oli Kebble
Is one of four current Warriors who has won a match against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
18. Murphy Walker
Will need to wait to make his first knockout appearance for Glasgow after going unused.
19. Max Williamson
Aged 22 has an away win versus Munster that it has taken Richie Gray until age 34 to achieve.
20. Euan Ferrie
Matt Fagerson was the 11th different player Ferrie has replaced in his 15 sub appearances.
21. Henco Venter
Played just 23 minutes but only three forwards (from either side) made more carries than he did.
22. Jamie Dobie
A scrum-half by trade, 44% of his game time this season has been on the wing.
23. Ross Thompson
Has played 50 times for Glasgow but has never taken to the pitch in a game against Munster.
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