Wikipedia

2020–21 Munster Rugby season

The 2020–21 Munster Rugby season was Munster's twentieth season competing in the Pro14, alongside which they also competed in the European Rugby Champions Cup. It was Johann van Graan's fourth season as head coach.[2]

2020–21 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s)Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600)[1]
Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,008)
ChairmanGerry O'Shea
CEOIan Flanagan
PresidentSeán McCullough
Coach(es)Johann van Graan
Captain(s)Peter O'Mahony
Most appearances
Two players
Top scorerJJ Hanrahan (131)
Most triesGavin Coombes (15)
League(s)Pro14
2020–211st (Conf. B), Runners up
← 2019–20 2021–22 →

Events

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As in the 2019–20 Pro14 season, Munster spent the 2020–21 Pro14 season in Conference B, alongside Benetton, Cardiff Blues, Connacht, Edinburgh and Scarlets[3] South African side the Southern Kings were scheduled to participate in the conference, but they declared their withdrawal from rugby for the remainder of 2020 due to financial difficulties and travel restrictions enforced by the South African government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,[4] before the South African Rugby Union board placed the club into voluntary liquidation in September 2020.[5]

Due to the mid-season break during the 2019–20 season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020–21 season started later than usual.[6] The EPCR agreed a new format for the 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup in response to COVID-19: the top eight eligible teams from the Pro14, the Gallagher Premiership and Top 14 competed in a 24-team tournament divided into two pools of twelve teams, with each team playing four games in the pool stage - two at home and two away.[7]

Ahead of the season, there were no changes to Munster's coaching stuff, though CEO Ian Flanagan told journalists that, while it isn't a priority, the search for a fifth coach to join the team remained active.[8] Head of athletic performance Denis Logan returned home to the United States with his family at the end of October 2020,[9] with Ged McNamara, previously the lead athletic development coach for Munster's academy, promoted to replace Logan.[10] Elite player development manager Peter Malone left his academy role with the province in early 2021,[11] and former Munster player Andi Kyriacou returned to the province as an elite player development officer in April 2021.[12]

The big news in terms of player movements was the arrival of two of South Africa's 2019 Rugby World Cup-winning squad - centre Damian de Allende and lock RG Snyman. Irish-qualified fullback Matt Gallagher arrived from English club Saracens, while Hawaii-born prop Roman Salanoa made the move south from Leinster. Five academy players also graduated to the senior squad: prop Keynan Knox, hooker Diarmuid Barron, back-rower Jack O'Sullivan, centre Alex McHenry and winger Liam Coombes.[13]

Two players - fly-half Tyler Bleyendaal and prop Brian Scott - were forced to retire from rugby due to injury during the 2019–20 mid-season break, whilst prop Ciaran Parker, locks Darren O'Shea and Seán O'Connor, back-rowers Arno Botha and Conor Oliver and centre Sammy Arnold departed the province for new clubs.[14] Winger Alex Wootton also left the province on loan to Connacht for the 2020–21 season.[15]

On the academy front, three players joined year one of the programme: hooker Scott Buckley, back-rower Alex Kendellen and fly-half Jack Crowley. Jack Stafford and Alan Tynan completed their three years in the academy and were released by the province.[16] Lock Cian Hurley and winger Conor Phillips joined the academy in April 2021, whilst hooker Eoghan Clarke left to join English club Jersey Reds.[17]

Munster opened their 2020–21 Pro14 season with a 30–27 away win against Scarlets on 3 October 2020. Despite nine penalties from Scarlets fullback Leigh Halfpenny and a red card for captain Peter O'Mahony, tries from Jack O'Donoghue and Chris Farrell kept Munster within touching distance of the hosts, and a try from replacement hooker Kevin O'Byrne, converted by Ben Healy, levelled the score going into the final minutes of the game, before academy fly-half Healy scored a 50-metre penalty in the 81st minute to earn what had previously looked like an unlikely win for the province.[18]

The draw for the 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup was made on 28 October 2020, with Munster being drawn in pool B. The province faced English side Harlequins, where former Munster player and coach Jerry Flannery was a coach, and French side Clermont, who were, at the time, the only French side to have ever won a Champions Cup game in Thomond Park.[19]

Munster's Champions Cup campaign commenced with a 21–7 home win against Harlequins on 13 December 2020, in which Gavin Coombes, Damian de Allende and Josh Wycherley made their tournament debuts. Coombes scored one try, with the other being a penalty try, with JJ Hanrahan and Ben Healy adding nine points of the kicking tee between them.[20] Munster travelled away to Clermont for round two on 19 December 2020 and, despite trailing 28–9 to the home side at one point, fought back to earn a stunning 39–31 win at the Stade Marcel-Michelin. The tries for Munster came from Mike Haley, star-of-the-match CJ Stander and Kevin O'Byrne, with JJ Hanrahan scoring a perfect nine from nine off the kicking tee for the other 24 points.[21]

It was announced in December 2020 that the 2020–21 Pro14 season would conclude after 16 rounds, with the winners of each conference advancing straight to the final on 27 March 2021. Four South African Super Rugby teams - the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers - were then be introduced in the Rainbow Cup.[22]

In early January 2021, the EPCR took the decision to temporarily suspend rounds 3 and 4 of the 2020–21 Champions Cup, following a directive from authorities in France that French clubs should not participate in the scheduled matches in response to health risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

Munster's 20–17 win against Connacht in round 14 of the 2020–21 Pro14 on 5 March 2021 saw them become the first team to qualify for 2021 Pro14 Grand Final, as the victory gave them an unassailable 12 point lead at the top of conference B with two rounds remaining.[24] Munster were beaten 16–6 by arch-rivals Leinster in the 2021 Pro14 Grand Final on 27 March 2021.[25]

The Champions Cup resumed on the weekend of 2/3/4 April 2021 with the top eight teams from each pool at the time of suspension progressing to the round of 16, where Munster had home advantage thanks to their wins in the opening games against Harlequins and Clermont.[26] Munster were drawn against Toulouse.[27]

In an enthralling encounter at Thomond Park, Munster led 16–9 at half-time thanks to two tries from Keith Earls and two penalties from Joey Carbery, but Toulouse pulled level thanks to a converted try from Matthis Lebel. Gavin Coombes scored from close-range to give Munster the lead again, before Toulouse captain Julien Marchand responded with a try to level the scores again at 23–23. Substitute fly-half JJ Hanrahan scored a penalty to give Munster a 26–23 lead heading into the final 15 minutes of the match, but Toulouse's talismanic scrum-half Antoine Dupont scored two tries in 9 minutes to help the French club pull away on the scoreboard. A late consolation try from Gavin Coombes, his second of the match, in overtime meant the final score was 40–33 to Toulouse, who became just the second French club to win a European match at Thomond Park and advanced to an away quarter-final against Munster's pool opponents Clermont.[28]

Munster's Pro14 Rainbow Cup commenced with a 27–3 away win against Leinster on 24 April 2021,[29] which was followed by a 38–10 home win against Ulster on 7 May 2021,[30] before Munster's perfect start to the tournament was brought to a halt by a 24–20 home defeat against Connacht on 14 May 2021.[31] The province returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 31–27 win against Cardiff Blues on 28 May 2021,[32] however, Munster's hopes of reaching the final of the tournament were ended when northern pool leaders Benetton were awarded four match points after COVID-19 cases amongst their Welsh opponents Ospreys forced the cancellation of their scheduled fixture, giving the Italian team an unassailable lead at the top of the pool.[33] Munster's final game of the tournament, and the season, was a 54–11 away win against Zebre on 11 June 2021.[34]

Coaching and management staff

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Position Name Nationality
Head coach Johann van Graan   South Africa
Senior coach Stephen Larkham   Australia
Defence coach JP Ferreira   South Africa
Forwards coach Graham Rowntree   England
Team manager Niall O'Donovan   Ireland
Head of athletic performance Denis Logan (Until October 2020)[9]   United States
Head of athletic performance Ged McNamara (Since November 2020)   Ireland
Strength and conditioning coach Damien O'Donoghue   Ireland
Strength and conditioning coach Adam Sheehan   Ireland
Performance analyst George Murray   Ireland

Players

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For player movements before or during the 2020–21 season, see List of 2020–21 Pro14 transfers § Munster.

Senior squad

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Munster Rugby senior squad[a]

Props

Hookers

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centres

Back three

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
ST denotes a short-term signing.
L denotes a player on loan at the club.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[35]
  1. ^ Alex Wootton is contracted to Munster for the 2020–21 season, but is on a season-long loan at Connacht. Ulster academy prop Callum Reid joined Munster on a six-week loan as injury cover ahead of round 4 of the 2020–21 Pro14. Leinster sub-academy scrum-half Ben Murphy joined on a seven-week deal as cover ahead of round 5. Leinster academy scrum-half Paddy Patterson joined on a short-term contract at the end of January 2021. Darren Sweetnam joined La Rochelle as injury cover for three months in late March 2021.

Academy squad

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Munster Rugby academy squad

Props

Hookers

  •   Scott Buckley (1)
  •   Eoghan Clarke (3)

Locks

Back row

Scrum-halves

  • None

Fly-halves

Centres

  • None

Back three

(c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players, number in brackets indicates players stage in the three-year academy cycle.
* denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[36][37]

Player movements

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The 2020–21 season was unusual in that many of the players scheduled to join their new clubs during the summer pre-season ahead of the commencement of the new season were instead able to join during the mid-season break in the 2019–20 season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Below are the player movements originally scheduled for the 2020–21 season that instead took place in that mid-season break. Italics indicates players that transferred during the 2020–21 season.

Senior squad

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Academy squad

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2020–21 Pro14

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Main article: 2020–21 Pro14
2020–21 Pro14 table view · watch · edit · discuss
Conference A
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1   Leinster (CH) 16 14 0 2 576 285 +291 82 33 14 1 71
2   Ulster 16 14 0 2 469 263 +206 65 34 8 0 64
3   Ospreys 16 8 0 8 301 318 -17 34 39 1 3 36
4   Glasgow Warriors 16 6 0 10 335 377 -42 40 47 2 4 30
5   Dragons 16 6 0 10 215 394 -79 36 50 2 3 29
6   Zebre 16 4 0 12 237 508 -271 22 69 0 1 17
Conference B
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP PTS
1   Munster (RU) 16 14 0 2 413 250 +163 49 26 7 2 64
2   Connacht 16 8 0 8 396 353 +43 53 36 7 6 45
3   Scarlets 16 8 0 8 319 333 -14 36 38 3 4 39
4   Cardiff Blues 16 8 0 8 265 284 -19 30 32 3 1 36
5   Edinburgh 16 5 1 10 247 344 -97 29 43 1 4 29*
6   Benetton 16 0 1 15 252 415 -164 34 53 1 6 7*
* Cancelled fixture: Edinburgh awarded four match points.
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[52]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams that will compete in the Pro14 Final, and also earn a place in the 2021–22 European Champions Cup

Blue background indicates teams outside the play-off places that earn a place in the 2021–22 European Champions Cup
Plain background indicates teams that earn a place in the 2021–22 European Rugby Challenge Cup.
(CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (PO) Champions Cup play-off winners.

Round 1

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3 October 2020
15:00
(1 BP) Scarlets  27–30  Munster
Pen: Halfpenny (9/9) 16', 20', 25', 35', 45', 51', 55', 65', 70'Report
Report		Try: O'Donoghue 28' c
Farrell 67' c
O'Byrne 77' c
Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 28'
Healy (2/2) 69', 78'
Pen: Hanrahan (1/2) 48'
Healy (2/2) 72', 80+1'
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 0
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Round 2

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10 October 2020
19:35
Munster  25–23  Edinburgh (1 BP)
Try: Stander 76' c
Con: Healy (1/1) 77'
Pen: Healy (6/7) 3', 6', 19', 40', 53', 57'		Report
Report		Try: Bennett 12' c
Nel 29' c
Con: Van der Walt (2/2) 13', 30'
Pen: Van der Walt (2/2) 49', 73'
Bennett (1/1) 66'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Round 3

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26 October 2020
20:15
(1 BP) Munster  38–27  Cardiff Blues
Try: G. Coombes (2) 6' c, 26' c
O'Byrne 51' c
O'Donoghue 58' c
Hanrahan 67' c
Con: Healy (4/4) 7', 27', 52', 59'
Hanrahan (1/1) 68'
Pen: Healy (1/2) 40'		Report
Report		Try: Lee-Lo 1' c
Summerhill 54' c
Halaholo 62' c
Con: J. Evans (3/3) 2', 55', 63'
Pen: J. Evans (2/2) 16', 29'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Round 4

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1 November 2020
14:00
Dragons  16–28  Munster
Try: S. Davies 31' m
Screech 79' m
Pen: S. Davies (2/3) 2', 46'		Report
Report		Try: Gallagher (2) 13' m, 71' c
Nash 24' c
Con: Hanrahan (2/3) 25', 72'
Pen: Hanrahan (3/3) 7', 22', 51'
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU)

Round 5

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7 November 2020
14:00
Benetton  P–P  Munster
Stadio Monigo
  • Fixture postponed due to COVID-19 cases amongst the Benetton squad.[53]

Round 6

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15 November 2020
14:45
(1 BP) Munster  38–22  Ospreys
Try: G. Coombes (3) 13' c, 43' c, 53' c
Haley 18' c
O'Byrne 37'
Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 14'
R. Scannell (1/1) 19'
Healy (3/3) 38', 44', 54'
Pen: Healy (1/1) 23'		Report
Report		Try: L. Morgan 5' c
Lake 64' m
Penalty try 76'
Con: Myler (1/2) 7'
Pen: Myler (1/1) 33'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Round 7

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23 November 2020
20:15
Glasgow Warriors  13–27  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Bryce 13' m
Stewart 63' m
Pen: Thomson (1/1) 18'		Report
Report		Try: Holland 10' c
F. Wycherley 31' m
G. Coombes 68' c
Kleyn 77' m
Con: Healy (2/3) 12', 70'
Pen: Healy (1/3) 46'
Scotstoun Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)

Round 8

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30 November 2020
20:15
(1 BP) Munster  52–3  Zebre
Try: Goggin 7' c
De Allende 26' c
Penalty try 36'
Sweetnam 40' c
Hanrahan 43' c
S. French 56' c
Casey 78' m
Ahern 80+2' m
Con: Hanrahan (5/7) 8', 27', 40+1', 44', 58'		Report
Report		Pen: Pescetto (1/1) 13'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

Round 9

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26 December 2020
19:35
Munster  P–P  Leinster
Thomond Park
  • Fixture postponed due to delayed COVID-19 test results from Leinster.[54]

Round 10

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2 January 2021
17:15
Ulster  15–10  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Faddes 6' m
McIlroy 16' c
Con: Cooney (1/2) 17'
Pen: Cooney (1/1) 28'		Report
Report		Try: Sweetnam 80+2' c
Con: Crowley (1/1) 80+4'
Pen: Healy (1/2) 12'
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 0
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Round 11

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9 January 2021
19:35
(1 BP) Connacht  10–16  Munster
Try: Sullivan 78' c
Con: Carty (1/1) 78'
Pen: Carty (1/2) 40+1'		Report
Report		Try: Farrell 18' c
Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 10'
Pen: Hanrahan (3/3) 19', 42', 61'
The Sportsground
Attendance: 0
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Rescheduled round 9

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23 January 2021
19:35
(1 BP) Munster  10–13  Leinster
Try: Beirne 11' c
Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 11'
Pen: Hanrahan (1/3) 5'		Report
Report		Try: Larmour 69' c
Con: R. Byrne (1/1) 70'
Pen: Sexton (2/2) 25', 40+4'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Rescheduled round 5

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30 January 2021
17:00
(1 BP) Benetton  16–18  Munster
Try: Esposito 25' m
Sarto 71' m
Pen: Allan (2/2) 33', 40'		Report
Report		Try: Sweetnam 2' m
N. Scannell 9' c
Con: Healy (1/2) 10'
Pen: Healy (1/1) 54'
Drop: Hanrahan (1/1) 80+1'
Stadio Monigo
Attendance: 0
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Round 12

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20 February 2021
19:35
Edinburgh  10–22  Munster
Try: Mata 45' c
Con: Van der Walt (1/1) 46'
Pen: Van der Walt (1/1) 8'		Report
Report		Try: O'Donoghue 29' c
Casey 36' c
G. Coombes 55' m
Con: Hanrahan (2/3) 30', 36'
Pen: Hanrahan (1/1) 15'
Murrayfield
Attendance: 0
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Round 13

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26 February 2021
20:00
Cardiff Blues  11–20  Munster
Try: S. Davies 11' m
Pen: B. Thomas (2/4) 36', 52'		Report
Report		Try: Kleyn 54' c
N. Scannell 77' c
Con: Hanrahan (1/1) 55'
Carbery (1/1) 78'
Pen: Hanrahan (2/3) 27', 38'
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)

Round 14

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5 March 2021
19:35
Munster  20–17  Connacht (1 BP)
Try: J. Cronin 22' c
Haley 57' c
Con: Healy (1/1) 23'
Carbery (1/1) 58'
Pen: Healy (1/3) 43'
Carbery (1/1) 68'		Report
Report		Try: Healy 4' c
Boyle 62' c
Con: Carty (2/2) 5', 64'
Pen: Carty (1/1) 26'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Round 15

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12 March 2021
20:00
(1 BP) Munster  28–10  Scarlets
Try: G. Coombes 19' c
S. Daly 25' c
N. Scannell 40' c
O'Byrne 58' c
Con: Carbery (4/4) 20', 25', 40+1', 59'		Report
Report		Try: S. Evans 80+2'
Con: O'Brien (1/1) 80+2'
Pen: O'Brien (1/1) 24'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Seán Gallagher (IRFU)

Round 16

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19 March 2021
18:00
(1 BP) Munster  31–17  Benetton
Try: McHenry 39' c
Knox 46' c
Salanoa 58' c
Healy 73' c
Con: Hanrahan (3/3) 40', 47', 58'
Healy (1/1) 74'
Pen: Hanrahan (1/1) 26'		Report
Report		Try: Duvenage 22' c
Els 70' m
Pettinelli 78' m
Con: Allan (1/3) 23'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

Final

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Main article: 2021 Pro14 Grand Final
27 March 2021
17:00
Leinster  16–6  Munster
Try: Conan 46' c
Con: R. Byrne (1/1) 47'
Pen: R. Byrne (3/4) 3', 11', 68'		Report
Report		Pen: Carbery (2/3) 13', 40+1'
RDS
Attendance: 0
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Rainbow Cup

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Main article: Pro14 Rainbow Cup
Pro14 Rainbow Cup watch · edit · discuss
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1   Benetton 5 4 1 0 125 78 +47 14 10 2 0 22**
2   Munster 5 4 0 1 170 75 +95 23 8 3 1 20
3   Glasgow Warriors 5 4 0 1 121 117 +4 17 15 3 0 19
4   Leinster 5 3 0 2 124 87 +37 19 10 2 1 15
5   Cardiff Blues 5 3 0 2 124 123 +1 16 16 2 1 15
6   Connacht 5 3 0 2 109 133 –24 15 18 2 0 14
7   Scarlets 5 1 2 2 110 115 –5 13 15 2 1 13*
8   Ospreys 5 2 1 2 103 88 +15 14 11 2 1 11**
9   Edinburgh 5 1 1 3 126 140 –14 18 19 2 2 10
10   Ulster 5 1 1 3 85 116 –31 12 18 2 2 8*
11   Dragons 5 1 0 4 117 156 –39 14 22 2 1 7
12   Zebre 5 0 0 5 88 174 -86 10 23 0 3 3
* Cancelled fixture: Scarlets awarded four match points.
** Cancelled fixture: Benetton awarded four match points.
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[55]
  1. number of matches won;
  2. the difference between points for and points against;
  3. the number of tries scored;
  4. the most points scored;
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against;
  6. the fewest red cards received;
  7. the fewest yellow cards received.
Green background (row 1) is the play-off places and earn a place in the final against the 1st placed Rainbow Cup SA team.

Round 1

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24 April 2021
19:35
Leinster  3–27  Munster
Pen: Hawkshaw (1/2) 8'Report
Report		Try: Murray (2) 4' c, 61' c
Penalty try 71'
Con: Carbery (2/2) 5', 62'
Pen: Carbery (2/2) 36', 52'
RDS
Attendance: 0
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Round 2

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7 May 2021
20:15
(1 BP) Munster  38–10  Ulster
Try: R. Scannell (2) 10' c, 54' c
Murray 26' m
Haley 40' c
Hanrahan 58' c
Conway 78' m
Con: Hanrahan (4/5) 11', 40+1', 55', 59'		Report
Report		Try: Henderson 43' c
Con: Lowry (1/1) 45'
Pen: Lowry (1/1) 2'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Craig Evans (WRU)

Round 3

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14 May 2021
18:00
(1 BP) Munster  20–24  Connacht
Try: J.Cronin 6' c
Marshall 34' c
Con: Healy (2/2) 7', 35'
Pen: Healy (1/1) 51'
Carbery (1/1) 64'		Report
Report		Try: Arnold 8' c
C. Fitzgerald 26' c
Marmion 40' c
Con: C. Fitzgerald (3/3) 9', 27', 41'
Pen: C. Fitzgerald (1/1) 4'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Dan Jones (WRU)

Round 4

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28 May 2021
19:35
(1 BP) Munster  31–27  Cardiff Blues (1 BP)
Try: N. Scannell (2) 29' c, 37' c
F. Wycherley 33' c
Knox 74' c
Con: Carbery (4/4) 30', 34', 38', 75'
Pen: Carbery (1/1) 50'		Report
Report		Try: To. Williams (2) 2' c, 45' c
L. Williams 55' c
Con: J. Evans (3/3) 3', 46', 56'
Pen: J. Evans (2/2) 18', 69'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Round 5

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  • Round 5 was a bye-week for Munster.

Round 6

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11 June 2021
18:00
Zebre  11–54  Munster (1 BP)
Try: Mori 57' m
Pen: Canna (2/2) 21', 24'		Report
Report		Try: G. Coombes (4) 9' c, 35' c, 68' c, 80+5' m
Casey (2) 27' c, 40+1' c
N. Scannell 46' c
L. Coombes 60' c
Con: Carbery (6/6) 10', 28', 37', 40+3', 47', 62'
Flannery (1/1) 69'
Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup

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Main article: 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup

Munster were drawn in pool B for the 2020–21 European Rugby Champions Cup. Due to the changed competition format for the 2020–21 season, Munster played home-and-away fixtures against French side Clermont, who were the only French team to have ever won a Champions Cup game at Thomond Park at the time, and English side Harlequins, where former Munster player and coach Jerry Flannery was a coach.[19]

Pool B

Team
 P W D L PF PA Diff TF TA TB LB Pts
  Lyon 2 2 0 0 83 10 +73 12 1 1 0 10
  Racing 92 2 2 0 0 75 29 +46 11 4 2 0 10
  Toulouse 2 2 0 0 57 22 +35 8 3 2 0 10
  Munster 2 2 0 0 60 38 +22 5 5 0 0 8
  Clermont 2 1 0 1 82 77 +5 11 8 2 0 6
  Bristol Bears 2 1 0 1 65 69 -4 9 9 2 0 6
  Exeter Chiefs 2 1 0 1 42 28 +14 6 4 1 0 5
  Gloucester 2 1 0 1 48 89 -41 6 12 1 0 5
  Ulster 2 0 0 2 56 67 -11 7 9 1 2 3
  Connacht 2 0 0 2 40 53 -13 5 8 0 1 1
  Harlequins 2 0 0 2 14 70 -56 2 9 0 0 0
  Glasgow Warriors 2 0 0 2 0 70 -70 0 10 0 0 0

[56]

Key to colours
     Top 8 of each pool, advance to last 16.
     Teams 5–8 in pool advance to 2020–21 European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Round 1

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13 December 2020
17:30
Munster  21–7  Harlequins
Try: Penalty try 49'
G. Coombes 69' m
Pen: Hanrahan (2/3) 12', 37'
Healy (1/1) 62'		Report
Report		Try: Murley 55' c
Con: Smith (1/1) 56'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (FFR)

Round 2

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19 December 2020
17:30
(1 BP) Clermont  31–39  Munster
Try: Raka 0' c
Penalty try 6'
Penaud 14' c
Fourcade 23' c
Con: Lopez (3/3) 1', 15', 25'
Pen: Lopez (1/1) 60'		Report
Report		Try: Haley 28' c
Stander 69' c
O'Byrne 77' c
Con: Hanrahan (3/3) 29', 71', 77'
Pen: Hanrahan (6/6) 4', 8', 19', 43', 52', 57'
Stade Marcel-Michelin
Attendance: 0
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

Round 3

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16 January 2021
17:30
Munster  Cancelled  Clermont
Thomond Park

Round 4

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23 January 2021
18:30
Harlequins  Cancelled  Munster
The Stoop

Last 16

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3 April 2021
15:00
Munster  33–40  Toulouse
Try: Earls (2) 24' m, 27' m
G. Coombes (2) 50' c, 80' c
Con: Carbery (1/3) 51'
Casey (1/1) 80'
Pen: Carbery (2/2) 14', 40+1'
Hanrahan (1/1) 65'		Report
Report		Try: Lebel 42' c
Marchand 54' c
Dupont (2) 67' c, 76' c
Con: Ntamack (4/4) 43', 55', 68', 77'
Pen: Ntamack (4/6) 3', 16', 30', 75'
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU)

2020–21 Munster A season

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Friendlies

19 September 2020
14:00
Connacht Eagles  19–22  Munster A
Report
The Sportsground
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
26 September 2020
15:00
Munster A  40–12  Connacht Eagles
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 200
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)
12 December 2020
16:30
Ulster A  22–10  Munster A
Report
Kingspan Stadium
Attendance: 0
18 December 2020
17:00
Munster A  34–25  Leinster A
Report
Thomond Park
Attendance: 0
27 February 2021
12:30
Munster A  29–22  Ulster A
Report
Energia Park
Attendance: 0

Interpro Challenge Match

13 February 2021
13:00
Connacht Eagles  7–16  Munster A
Report
The Sportsground
Attendance: 0
Referee: Seán Gallagher (IRFU)
6 March 2021
12:00
Connacht Eagles  24–24  Munster A
Report
The Sportsground
Attendance: 0
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

Annual Ireland U20 Challenge Match

4 June 2021
13:00
Munster A  35–19  Ireland U20
Report
IRFU High Performance Centre, Dublin
Attendance: 0

References

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  1. ^ Thomond Park's official capacity is 25,600 but can be expanded up to 26,276 with temporary seating.
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