2007–08 Munster Rugby season

The 2007–08 Munster Rugby season was Munster's seventh season competing in the Celtic League, alongside which they also competed in the Heineken Cup. It was Declan Kidney's third and final season as head coach, in his second spell at the province.

2007–08 Munster Rugby season

Ground(s)	Thomond Park (Capacity: 13,200) Musgrave Park (Capacity: 8,500)
Coach(es)	Declan Kidney
Captain(s)	Paul O'Connell
League(s)	Celtic League
2007–08	3rd
← 2006–07 2008–09 →

2007–08 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 Jerry Flannery Hooker   Ireland Frankie Sheahan Hooker   Ireland Tony Buckley Prop   Ireland John Hayes Prop   Ireland Marcus Horan Prop   Ireland Darragh Hurley Prop   Ireland Federico Pucciariello Prop   Italy Tim Ryan Prop   Ireland Billy Holland Lock   Ireland Mark Melbourne Lock   Ireland Donncha O'Callaghan Lock   Ireland Paul O'Connell (c) Lock   Ireland Mick O'Driscoll Lock   Ireland Donnacha Ryan Lock   Ireland James Coughlan Back row   Ireland Anthony Foley Back row   Ireland Denis Leamy Back row   Ireland John O'Sullivan Back row   Ireland Alan Quinlan Back row   Ireland Niall Ronan Back row   Ireland David Wallace Back row   Ireland

Player Position Union Gerry Hurley Scrum-half   Ireland Tomás O'Leary Scrum-half   Ireland Mike Prendergast Scrum-half   Ireland Peter Stringer Scrum-half   Ireland Jeremy Manning Fly-half   Ireland Ronan O'Gara Fly-half   Ireland Paul Warwick Fly-half   Australia John Kelly Centre   Ireland Kieran Lewis Centre   Ireland} Lifeimi Mafi Centre   New Zealand Barry Murphy Centre   Ireland Rua Tipoki Centre   New Zealand Brian Carney Wing   Ireland Ian Dowling Wing   Ireland Keith Earls Wing   Ireland Anthony Horgan Wing   Ireland Doug Howlett Wing   New Zealand Ciarán O'Boyle Wing   Ireland Denis Hurley Fullback   Ireland Shaun Payne* Fullback   South Africa

Pre-season

26 August 2007

United States XV	6–10	Munster
	Report^[1]

Toyota Park Attendance: 8,600

7 September 2007

Munster	15–5	Saracens
	Report^[2]

Musgrave Park

14 September 2007

Munster	36–7	Viadana
	Report^[3]

Musgrave Park

2007–08 Celtic League

Main article: 2008–09 Celtic League

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	Try bonus	Losing bonus	Pts
Leinster	18	13	1	4	428	283	+145	44	30	4	3	61
Cardiff Blues	18	12	0	6	395	315	+80	48	31	6	2	56
Munster	18	10	1	7	330	258	+72	33	26	2	4	48
Edinburgh	18	9	3	6	313	285	+28	35	29	3	3	48
Glasgow Warriors	18	10	1	7	340	349	−9	31	38	1	3	46
Llanelli Scarlets	18	7	0	11	403	362	+41	45	38	6	5	39
Ospreys	18	6	1	11	321	255	+66	24	24	2	9	37
Newport Gwent Dragons	18	7	1	10	282	394	−112	31	44	1	3	34
Ulster	18	6	1	11	278	407	−129	33	41	2	1	29
Connacht	18	5	1	12	214	396	−182	16	39	0	2	24
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

22 September 2007 19:30

Munster	26–16	Scarlets
	Report^[4]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 3,400 Referee: Peter Allan

28 September 2007 18:10

Newport Gwent Dragons	16–26	Munster
	Report^[5]

Rodney Parade Attendance: 4,537

5 October 2007 19:30

Munster	17–19	Cardiff Blues
	Report^[6]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 6,075 Referee: David Changleng

14 October 2007 16:10

Ospreys	16–3	Munster
	Report^[7]

Liberty Stadium Attendance: 7,740 Referee: Simon McDowell

26 October 2007 19:30

Glasgow Warriors	11–11	Munster
	Report^[8]

Firhill Stadium Attendance: 1,829 Referee: James Jones

3 November 2007 19:30

Munster	19–16	Edinburgh
	Report^[9]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,300 Referee: Tim Hayes

24 November 2007 19:30

Munster	45–19	Newport Gwent Dragons
	Report^[10]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,250 Referee: Rob Debney

30 November 2007 19:30

Munster	3–10	Leinster
	Report^[11]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 8,300 Referee: Wayne Barnes

27 December 2007 19:30

Munster	17–0	Connacht
	Report^[12]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 6,125 Referee: Colin Stanley

15 February 2008 19:30

Edinburgh	7–11	Munster
	Report^[13]

Murrayfield Attendance: 4,100 Referee: Tim Hayes

1 March 2008 17:30

Cardiff Blues	25–22	Munster
	Report^[14]

Cardiff Arms Park Attendance: 11,269 Referee: Peter Allan

22 March 2008 19:30

Munster	42–6	Ulster
	Report^[15]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 7,500 Referee: Alain Rolland

28 March 2008 19:30

Connacht	5–16	Munster
	Report^[16]

Galway Sportsgrounds Attendance: 5,368 Referee: Simon McDowell

12 April 2008 18:30

Leinster	21–12	Munster
	Report^[17]

RDS Arena Attendance: 18,500 Referee: Chris White

19 April 2008 19:35

Munster	9–8	Ospreys
	Report^[18]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 7,500

30 April 2008 19:30

Ulster	19–9	Munster
	Report^[19]

Ravenhill Attendance: 12,300 Referee: Alain Rolland

3 May 2008 14:45

Scarlets	23–24	Munster
	Report^[20]

Stradey Park Attendance: 7,020

10 May 2008 17:00

Munster	18–21	Glasgow Warriors
	Report^[21]

Musgrave Park Attendance: 5,360 Referee: James Jones

2007–08 Heineken Cup

Main article: 2007–08 Heineken Cup

Pool 5

Team	P	W	D	L	Tries for	Tries against	Try diff	Points for	Points against	Points diff	TB	LB	Pts
Munster (6)	6	4	0	2	13	7	6	148	95	53	1	2	19
Clermont	6	4	0	2	22	15	7	189	128	61	2	1	19
London Wasps	6	4	0	2	19	12	7	152	127	25	2	0	18
Llanelli Scarlets	6	0	0	6	8	28	−20	74	213	−139	0	0	0

10 November 2007 17:30

London Wasps	24–23	Munster
	Report^[22]

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 21,506

18 November 2007 16:00

Munster	36–13	Clermont
	Report^[23]

Thomond Park Attendance: 12,003 Referee: Nigel Owens

8 December 2007 17:30

Scarlets	16–29	Munster
	Report^[24]

Stradey Park Attendance: 10,365 Referee: Wayne Barnes

16 December 2007 13:00

Munster	22–13	Scarlets
	Report^[25]

Thomond Park Attendance: 13,200 Referee: Dave Pearson

13 January 2008 16:00

Clermont	26–19	Munster
	Report^[26]

Stade Marcel-Michelin Referee: Rob Debney

19 January 2008 17:35

Munster	19–3	London Wasps
	Report^[27]

Thomond Park Attendance: 12,257 Referee: Nigel Owens

Quarter-final

5 April 2008 17:30

Gloucester	3–16	Munster
	Report^[28]

Kingsholm Attendance: 16,500 Referee: Nigel Owens

Semi-final

27 April 2008 15:00

Saracens	16–18	Munster
	Report^[29]

Ricoh Arena Attendance: 30,325 Referee: Nigel Owens

Final

Main article: 2008 Heineken Cup Final

24 May 2008 17:00

Munster	16–13	Toulouse
	Report^[30]

Millennium Stadium Attendance: 74,500 Referee: Nigel Owens

References

1. "Final Score Toyota Park". Munster Rugby. 26 August 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
2. "No Joy at Musgrave Park For Gaffney". Munster Rugby. 7 September 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
3. "Munster Good Early Form Continues". Munster Rugby. 14 September 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
4. "Munster See Off Scarlets". Munster Rugby. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
5. "Dragons See It As A Must Win Tie". Munster Rugby. 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
6. "Errors Prove Costly". Munster Rugby. 8 October 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
7. "No Joy For Munster in Swansea". Munster Rugby. 14 October 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
8. "Munster and Warriors Finish Level in Glasgow". Munster Rugby. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
9. "Munster Snatch It At The Death". Munster Rugby. 3 October 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
10. "Munster Have It In Safe Keeping By Half Time". Munster Rugby. 24 November 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
11. "Munster Muscled Out In Musgrave". Munster Rugby. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
12. "Second Half Control Once Again The Key". Munster Rugby. 29 December 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
13. "How The Scots Saw It". Munster Rugby. 16 February 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
14. "Result From The Arms Park". Munster Rugby. 1 March 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
15. "Bonus Point Win for Munster at Musgrave Park". Munster Rugby. 22 March 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
16. "Howlett Try Seals It For Munster". Munster Rugby. 29 March 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
17. "Munster's Title Hopes Disappear". Munster Rugby. 13 April 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
18. "Munster Win It In Injury Time". Munster Rugby. 19 April 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
19. "Ulster Best In Ravenhill". Munster Rugby. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
20. "Munster Snatch It In Injury Time". Munster Rugby. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
21. "Munster lose in Musgrave". Munster Rugby. 10 May 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
22. "Munster Touched Off at The Ricoh". Munster Rugby. 10 November 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
23. "Bonus Point Win For Munster". Munster Rugby. 19 November 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
24. "Marvellous Munster Triumph in Stradey". Munster Rugby. 8 December 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
25. "22-13 win Puts Munster Top of Pool 5". Munster Rugby. 16 December 2007. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
26. "Vital Point for Munster". Munster Rugby. 13 January 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
27. "Wasps Stung By Munster Victory". Munster Rugby. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
28. "Munster Through To Their 7th Heineken Semi Final". Munster Rugby. 6 April 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
29. "Brave Munster Battle Through". Munster Rugby. 28 April 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
30. "Munster Champions of Europe". Munster Rugby. 24 May 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2019.

External links

• 2007–08 Munster Rugby season official site 27 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine