2008–09 Munster Rugby season

The 2008–09 Munster Rugby season was Munster's eighth season competing in the Celtic League, alongside which they also competed in the Heineken Cup. It was Tony McGahan's first season as Director of Rugby.

2008–09 Munster Rugby season
Ground(s)Thomond Park (Capacity: 25,600)
Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,500)
Coach(es)Tony McGahan
Captain(s)Paul O'Connell
League(s)Celtic League
2008–091st, Champions
← 2007–08 2009–10 →

2008–09 squad

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Denis Fogarty Hooker Ireland Ireland
Jerry Flannery Hooker Ireland Ireland
Frankie Sheahan Hooker Ireland Ireland
Tony Buckley Prop Ireland Ireland
John Hayes Prop Ireland Ireland
Marcus Horan Prop Ireland Ireland
Darragh Hurley Prop Ireland Ireland
Federico Pucciariello Prop Italy Italy
Tim Ryan Prop Ireland Ireland
Billy Holland Lock Ireland Ireland
Mark Melbourne Lock Ireland Ireland
Donncha O'Callaghan Lock Ireland Ireland
Paul O'Connell (c) Lock Ireland Ireland
Mick O'Driscoll Lock Ireland Ireland
Donnacha Ryan Lock Ireland Ireland
James Coughlan Back row Ireland Ireland
Denis Leamy Back row Ireland Ireland
Tommy O'Donnell Back row Ireland Ireland
John O'Sullivan Back row Ireland Ireland
Alan Quinlan Back row Ireland Ireland
Niall Ronan Back row Ireland Ireland
David Wallace Back row Ireland Ireland
Nick Williams Back row New Zealand New Zealand
Player Position Union
Gerry Hurley Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Tomás O'Leary Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Mike Prendergast Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Peter Stringer Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Duncan Williams Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Jeremy Manning Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Ronan O'Gara Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Paul Warwick Fly-half Australia Australia
Tom Gleeson Centre Ireland Ireland
Kieran Lewis Centre Ireland Ireland
Lifeimi Mafi Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Barry Murphy Centre Ireland Ireland
Rua Tipoki Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Ian Dowling Wing Ireland Ireland
Keith Earls Wing Ireland Ireland
Anthony Horgan Wing Ireland Ireland
Doug Howlett Wing New Zealand New Zealand
Ciarán O'Boyle Wing Ireland Ireland
Denis Hurley Fullback Ireland Ireland

Pre-season
23 August 2008
United States XV United States22–46Ireland Munster
Report[1]
Rentschler Field
Attendance: 8,350
29 August 2008
Munster Ireland35–14England London Irish
Report[2]
Musgrave Park
18 November 2008
19:30
Munster Ireland16–18New Zealand New Zealand
Report[3]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,000
Referee: Romain Poite

2008–09 Celtic League
Main article: 2008–09 Celtic League
Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA Try bonus Losing bonus Pts
1Ireland Munster 181404405257+14849236163
2Scotland Edinburgh 181107416296+12040306555
3Ireland Leinster 181116401270+13138204252
4Wales Ospreys 181107397319+7839283552
5Wales Scarlets 18909376395−1941463140
6Wales Cardiff Blues 18819322361−3931362238
7Scotland Glasgow Warriors 187011349375−2636414537
8Ireland Ulster 187011298331−3330332636
9Wales Newport Gwent Dragons 187011305429−12426391433
10Ireland Connacht 184014224460−23620541320
Under the standard bonus point system, points are awarded as follows:
  • 4 points for a win
  • 2 points for a draw
  • 1 bonus point for scoring 4 tries (or more) (Try bonus)
  • 1 bonus point for losing by 7 points (or fewer) (Losing bonus)
Source: RaboDirect PRO12
5 September 2008
19:30
Edinburgh Scotland15–20Ireland Munster
Report[4]
Murrayfield
Attendance: 5,443
Referee: James Jones
14 September 2008
18:00
Munster Ireland50–6Wales Newport Gwent Dragons
Report[5]
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
Referee: Nigel Owens
20 September 2008
19:30
Munster Ireland28–20Wales Cardiff Blues
Report[6]
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
Referee: Peter Allan
28 September 2008
19:00
Leinster Ireland0–18Ireland Munster
Report[7]
RDS Arena
Attendance: 18,500
Referee: Simon McDowell
4 October 2008
19:00
Munster Ireland25–17Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Report[8]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 22,885
Referee: Andrew Small
25 October 2008
19:30
Ulster Ireland22–6Ireland Munster
Report[9]
Ravenhill
Attendance: 10,058
Referee: Alain Rolland
28 November 2008
19:05
Scarlets Wales16–18Ireland Munster
Report[10]
Parc y Scarlets
Attendance: 8,435
Referee: James Jones
28 December 2008
18:00
Connacht Ireland12–6Ireland Munster
Report[11]
Galway Sportsgrounds
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Alain Rolland
3 January 2009
19:30
Munster Ireland11–37Ireland Ulster
Report[12]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 25,623
Referee: Alan Lewis
9 January 2009
19:05
Ospreys Wales21–25Ireland Munster
Report[13]
Liberty Stadium
Attendance: 9,003
Referee: Andy Macpherson
21 February 2009
19:30
Munster Ireland28–14Scotland Edinburgh
Report[14]
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
Referee: Nigel Owens
7 March 2009
17:30
Newport Gwent Dragons Wales9–20Ireland Munster
Report[15]
Rodney Parade
Attendance: 6,865
Referee: Alan Lewis
27 March 2009
19:45
Glasgow Warriors Scotland13–26Ireland Munster
Report[16]
Firhill Stadium
Attendance: 3,615
Referee: Tim Hayes
4 April 2009
19:30
Munster Ireland22–5Ireland Leinster
Report[17]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,043
Referee: Christophe Berdos
18 April 2009
19:30
Munster Ireland25–10Ireland Connacht
Report[18]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,043
Referee: James Jones
24 April 2009
19:35
Munster Ireland29–10Wales Scarlets
Report[19]
Musgrave Park
Attendance: 8,685
10 May 2009
16:35
Cardiff Blues Wales20–12Ireland Munster
Report[20]
Cardiff Arms Park
Attendance: 7,428
Referee: Peter Allan
15 May 2009
19:45
Munster Ireland36–10Wales Ospreys
Report[21]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,043
Referee: Peter Allan

2008–09 Heineken Cup
Main article: 2008–09 Heineken Cup

Pool 1
Team P W D L Tries for Tries against Try diff Points for Points against Points diff TB LB Pts
Ireland Munster (2) 65011861216198632123
England Sale 630314113136115212115
France Clermont 63031413113712981013
France Montauban 6105521−1681173−92026
10 October 2008
20:00
Munster Ireland19–17France Montauban
Report[22]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 23,500
Referee: Wayne Barnes
19 October 2008
13:00
Sale Sharks England16–24Ireland Munster
Report[23]
Edgeley Park
Attendance: 10,928
Referee: Christophe Berdos
7 December 2008
16:00
Clermont France25–19Ireland Munster
Report[24]
Stade Marcel-Michelin
Attendance: 15,355
Referee: Wayne Barnes
13 December 2008
15:30
Ireland Munster23–13France Clermont
Report[25]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 25,623
Referee: Chris White
16 January 2009
20:00
Munster Ireland37–14England Sale Sharks
Report[26]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,043
Referee: Nigel Owens
25 January 2009
14:00
Montauban France13–39Ireland Munster
Report[27]
Stade Sapiac
Attendance: 7,223
Referee: Dave Pearson

Quarter-final
12 April 2009
13:00
Munster Ireland43–9Wales Ospreys
Report[28]
Thomond Park
Attendance: 26,043
Referee: Wayne Barnes

Semi-final
2 May 2009
17:30
Munster Ireland6–25Ireland Leinster
Report[29]
Croke Park
Attendance: 82,208
Referee: Nigel Owens

References
  1. "Munster Retain the Setanta Cup". Munster Rugby. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  2. "Irish Find Munster Too Hot To Handle". Munster Rugby. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. "Oh So Close". Munster Rugby. 20 November 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  4. "Munster Win in Murrayfield". Munster Rugby. 5 September 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  5. "Bonus Point Win For Munster". Munster Rugby. 14 September 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  6. "Superb Comeback Gives Munster Bonus Point Win". Munster Rugby. 20 September 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  7. "Munster Hold The Whip Hand At The RDS". Munster Rugby. 28 September 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  8. "Winning Start on Return To Thomond". Munster Rugby. 4 October 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  9. "Unbeaten Record Goes in Ravenhill". Munster Rugby. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  10. "No Stroll in the Parc for Munster". Munster Rugby. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  11. "Defeat For Munster in Galway". Munster Rugby. 28 December 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  12. "Ulster In Control". Munster Rugby. 4 January 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  13. "Munster Win a Thriller". Munster Rugby. 9 January 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  14. "Bonus Point Musgrave Park Win For Munster". Munster Rugby. 22 February 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  15. "Gutsy Win Sends Munster Back To The Top". Munster Rugby. 7 March 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  16. "Hat Trick For Ronan As Munster Sweep To Victory". Munster Rugby. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  17. "Top Spot For Munster". Munster Rugby. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  18. "Thomond Win". Munster Rugby. 18 April 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  19. "Injury Mars Munster Victory". Munster Rugby. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  20. "No Consolation in Cardiff". Munster Rugby. 10 May 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  21. "Munster End In Style". Munster Rugby. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  22. "Munster Edge Their Heineken Opener". Munster Rugby. 10 October 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  23. "Munster Win in Edgeley Park". Munster Rugby. 19 October 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  24. "Losing Point For Munster". Munster Rugby. 7 December 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  25. "Late Thomond Triumph". Munster Rugby. 13 December 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  26. "Quarter Final Qualification Secured". Munster Rugby. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  27. "Bonus Point Win in Montauban". Munster Rugby. 26 January 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  28. "Heineken Cup Semi Secured". Munster Rugby. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  29. "Munster's Heineken Journey Ends". Munster Rugby. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
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