2014 Pro12 Grand Final

The 2014 Pro12 Grand Final was the final match of the 2013–14 Pro12 season. The 2013–14 season was the third with RaboDirect as title sponsor and the fifth ever League Grand Final. The final was between defending champions Leinster and the Glasgow Warriors.[1][2] Leinster won the game 34–12.[3][4][5][6]

2014 Pro12 Grand Final
The Glasgow Warriors warming up in Dublin
Event2013–14 Pro12
Date31 May 2014
VenueRDS Arena, Dublin
Man of the MatchSeán Cronin
RefereeNigel Owens (WRU)
Attendance19,200
WeatherSunny
2013
2015

A hamstring injury forced Brian O'Driscoll off after eight minutes in his 186th and final appearance for Leinster before retiring from rugby.[7][8][9]

Route to the final

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2014 Playoffs

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The semi-finals followed a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system with the games being played at the home ground of the higher placed teams.[10]

16 May 2014
19:35
Glasgow Warriors  16–15  Munster
Try: Reid 46' c
Con: Russell (1/1)
Pen: Russell (3/4) 17', 36', 39'
Report[11]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)

17 May 2014
19:00
Leinster  13–9  Ulster
Try: Madigan 72' c
Con: Gopperth (1/1)
Pen: Gopperth (2/2) 58', 64'
Report[12]Pen: Jackson (3/3) 7', 40', 53'
RDS Arena
Attendance: 18,246
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)

Build-Up

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Leinster were favorites to win the game at 4/11 odds with Glasgow at 2/1 at Paddy Power. Glasgow had only won once in 19 games against Leinster. [13] Leinster were appearing in a fifth successive final while this is a first final for Glasgow. Brian O'Driscoll was making his final appearance as a professional rugby player in this game.[14][15][16]

The match was shown live on RTÉ Two and TG4 in Ireland, and live on BBC Alba and BBC Scotland in the UK.[17]

Match

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Details

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31 May 2014
18:15
Leinster  34–12  Glasgow Warriors
Try: Kirchner (2) 17' c, 74' c
Jennings 38' c
D'Arcy 76' c
Con: Gopperth (4/4)
Pen: Gopperth (2/3) 60', 65'
Report[18]Pen: Russell (4/4) 4', 13', 35', 40'
RDS Arena
Attendance: 19,200
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
FB 15   Rob Kearney   78'
RW 14   Fergus McFadden
OC 13   Brian O'Driscoll   9'
IC 12   Gordon D'Arcy
LW 11   Zane Kirchner
FH 10   Jimmy Gopperth
SH 9   Eoin Reddan   76'
N8 8   Jamie Heaslip (c)
OF 7   Shane Jennings   55'
BF 6   Rhys Ruddock
RL 5   Mike McCarthy   60'
LL 4   Devin Toner
TP 3   Mike Ross   50'
HK 2   Seán Cronin   78'
LP 1   Cian Healy   67'
Replacements:
HK 16   Aaron Dundon   78'
PR 17   Jack McGrath   67'
PR 18   Martin Moore   50'
LK 19   Leo Cullen   60'
FL 20   Seán O'Brien   55'
SH 21   Isaac Boss   76'
FH 22   Ian Madigan   9'
WG 23   Darragh Fanning   78'
Coach:
  Matt O'Connor
FB 15   Peter Murchie
RW 14   Sean Maitland
OC 13   Alex Dunbar   55'
IC 12   Peter Horne   39'   41'
LW 11   Tommy Seymour
FH 10   Finn Russell   67'
SH 9   Chris Cusiter   44'
N8 8   Josh Strauss
OF 7   Chris Fusaro   25'
BF 6   Rob Harley
RL 5   Alastair Kellock (c)   50'
LL 4   Jonny Gray
TP 3   Jon Welsh   55'
HK 2   Dougie Hall   24'
LP 1   Gordon Reid   45'
Replacements:
HK 16   Pat MacArthur   24'
PR 17   Ryan Grant   45'
PR 18   Moray Low   55'
LK 19   Tim Swinson   50'
FL 20   Leone Nakarawa   25'
SH 21   Nikola Matawalu   44'
FH 22   Ruaridh Jackson   39'   41'   67'
WG 23   Sean Lamont   55'
Coach:
  Gregor Townsend

Man of the Match:
  Seán Cronin (Leinster)

Touch judges:
Leighton Hodges (WRU)
Ian Davies (WRU)
Television match official:
Derek Bevan (WRU)

References

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  1. ^ "Leinster out to defend crown from bloodthirsty Warriors". ESPN. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  2. ^ "Analysis: Jackman on Leinster v Glasgow". RTE Sport. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  3. ^ "As it happened: Leinster 34 Glasgow 12". Irish Independent. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Leinster 34-12 Glasgow". RTE Sport. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  5. ^ "As it happened: Leinster v Glasgow Warriors, RaboDirect Pro12 Grand Final". The Score. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Leinster refusing to let their era end". Irish Independent. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  7. ^ "Pro12 final: Leinster 34-12 Glasgow Warriors". BBC Sport. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  8. ^ "Brian O'Driscoll a winner to the very end". Belfast Telegraph. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Leinster 34 - 12 Glasgow". ESPN. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  10. ^ "Competition Rules: Season 2011–2012 (Rule 3.6)". RaboDirect PRO12. Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Home". Guinness PRO14. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Home". Guinness PRO14. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Hungry crowd at RDS can lift Leinster to glory". Irish Independent. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Leinster v Glasgow Warriors". BBC Sport. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  15. ^ "Leinster boss Matt O'Connor make three changes for Pro12 decider". Irish Independent. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  16. ^ "Wary Heaslip conscious of history". Irish Examiner. 29 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  17. ^ "O'Driscoll in squad for final Leinster game". Irish Examiner. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
  18. ^ "Home". Guinness PRO14. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
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