Glasgow Warriors stun Munster to reach URC Grand Final

Tries from Kyle Steyn and Sebastian Cancelliere, both converted by George Horne, saw Franco Smith's side into the final where they will face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria next Saturday. 

It didn't start well for the Warriors, who were behind inside a dozen minutes when Jack Crowley landed a penalty immediately after Glasgow lost Richie Gray to the sin-bin after a string of penalties. 

Almost completely against the run of play, Glasgow took the lead on 24 minutes when Steyn gathered a loose ball after a move between Munster's midfield broke down and the Glasgow skipper went in under the posts. George Horne added the extras. 

Glasgow lost Matt Fagerson to a second yellow card of the half, the flanker penalised for a high tackle on Peter O'Mahony, but Glasgow held on to lead at the break. 

Horne was off-target with a tricky penalty attempt on 50 minutes, but the Warriors stunned Thomond Park with a second try moments later, Cancelliere finishing Huw Jones break. 

Antoine Frisch hit back for Munster, the centre diving over after a break by prop Jeremy Loughman, and Crowley's conversion brought the home side to within four points.

Munster centre Alex Nankivell was sent off for making contact with the head of Horne while clearing out a ruck, and Glasgow managed to weather the hosts' late charge to clinch a famous win. 

The full-time whistle sparked jubilant scenes among the Warriors supporters in Limerick.

On a famous evening for Glasgow, here are five things we learned from Thomond Park. 

Fine margins so important in play-off matches

Jack Crowley picked up where Manie Libbok left off early on as the Munster fly-half missed a straightforward early penalty attempt. Glasgow almost went straight up the other end and punished that error. only for Mike Haley to stop Sione Tuipulotu. 

The home side were outstanding for the opening quarter, but when they did make an error as Alex Nankivell failed to hold Antoine Frisch's pass, Steyn pounced to put Glasgow ahead. 

Munster couldn't make their superiority count in the first half, and Glasgow were rejuvenated after the break and took both of their opportunities superbly. 

Keeping your discipline vital

Glasgow got on the wrong side of referee Andrea Piardi early on, making life even more difficult for the Warriors. Such was the penalty count in the hosts' favour, it was no real surprise when Richie Gray was sent to the sin-bin even with just 11 minutes on the clock. 

Matt Fagerson followed his Scotland colleague for a high tackle on Peter O'Mahony just before the break. 

Game management

Glasgow struggled to get a foothold in the opening quarter, but they didn't help their own cause. Down to 14 men, first George Horne tried an ambitious chip that nearly set Simon Zebo away for Munster, then Sebastian Cancelliere attempted to run from the shadows of his own posts, and lost the ball. 

When the Warriors stopped making those errors, they established a foothold in the game. 

After the break, Glasgow looked a different prospect entirely. They stressed Munster out wide, made inroads when they carried direct and stopped kicking the ball to their hosts at will. 

Glasgow's big players stood up 

In the face of adversity, Glasgow needed some monumental performances from their big-match players. 

Only a few weeks ago Sione Tuipulotu told us time was running out for some of the Scotland squad - and the Warriors - to win a trophy. He led by example here with an all-action display, while Zander Fagerson, Huw Jones and Horne all showed their international class.

By contrast, Munster's bench - which included double World Cup winning Springbok RG Snyman, Lions captain Conor Murray and more than 200 club appearances of John Ryan, but they could not add the impetus the hosts required.

Franco Smith trusts his squad

All season long, Franco Smith rotated his squad and gave opportunities to the likes of Max Williamson and Euan Ferrie. The introduction of the former, in place of British and Irish Lion Richie Gray just before the hour, demonstrated the Glasgow boss' faith in his players. So too the removal of Cancelliere for Jamie Dobie.

Giving those young players experience throughout the season has been a masterstroke by Smith, and ensured that when they were required to step up today, none of them were overawed by a partisan Thomond Park crowd.

Munster: Mike Haley; Shane Daly, Antoine Frisch, Alex Nankivell (O’Brien 46-57), Simon Zebo (O'Brien 61); Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (Murray 57); Jeremy Loughman (Ryan 66), Niall Scannell (Barron 45), Stephen Archer (Jager 45) Fineen Wycherley (Snyman 45), Tadhg Beirne (c); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett (Kendellen 72), Jack O’Donoghue (Coombes 54).

Tries: Frisch (56)

Conversions: 

Penalties: Crowley (12)

Red card: Nankivell (74)

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay, Sebastian Cancelliere (Dobie 57), Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Steyn (c), Tom Jordan, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti (Kebble 71), Johnny Matthews (Turner 57), Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Richie Gray (Williamson 57), Matt Fagerson (Ferrie 60-71), Rory Darge (Venter 57), Jack Dempsey

Replacements: Murphy Walker, Ross Thompson

Tries: Steyn (23), Cancelliere (50)

Conversions: Horne (24, 52)

Penalties: Horne (75)

Yellow cards: Gray (11), M. Fagerson (40)

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Attendance: 20,052

Player of the Match: Sione Tuipulotu