2020 Pro14 Grand Final

2020 Pro14 Grand Final
Event2019–20 Pro14
Date12 September 2020
VenueAviva Stadium, Dublin
Man of the MatchIreland Josh van der Flier
RefereeAndrew Brace (IRFU)
Attendance0[a]

The 2020 Pro14 Grand Final was the final match of the 2019–20 Pro14 season. The 2019–20 season was the sixth with Guinness as the title sponsor, the eleventh with a grand final and the third season with 14 teams, following the admission of two Italian teams. The match was planned to be held at Cardiff City Stadium,[1] however, on 19 March 2020, Celtic Rugby DAC cancelled the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3] The re-arranged match took place on 12 September 2020 at the Aviva Stadium between defending champions Leinster and Ulster.[4][5] Leinster won the match 27–5 to defend their title and complete a hat-trick of title wins.[6]

Route to the final

The top two sides from each of the two conferences met in the semi-finals, with the higher placed team having home advantage. Teams placed second and third in opposite conferences would have met in the two quarter-finals, but this was scrapped this year.[3] The play-offs took place immediately following the final round of derby fixtures.

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
4 September 2020
 
 
Ireland Leinster (A1)13
 
12 September 2020
 
Ireland Munster (B2)3
 
Ireland Leinster27
 
5 September 2020
 
Ireland Ulster5
 
Scotland Edinburgh (B1)19
 
 
Ireland Ulster (A2)22
 

Semi-finals

4 September 2020
19:35
Leinster Ireland13–3Ireland Munster
Try: R. Kelleher 27' c
Con: Sexton (1/1) 28'
Pen: Sexton (2/3) 40', 67'
ReportPen: Hanrahan (1/3) 5'
Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 0[a]
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
5 September 2020
19:35
Edinburgh Scotland19–22Ireland Ulster
Try: McInally 14' m
Graham 46' c
Dean 57' c
Con: Van der Walt (2/3) 47', 59'
ReportTry: Lyttle 54' c
Herring 62' m
Andrew 75' c
Con: Burns (1/2) 55'
Madigan (1/1) 76'
Pen: Madigan (1/1) 80'
Murrayfield Stadium
Attendance: 0[a]
Referee: Frank Murphy (IRFU)

Pre-match

The match was televised free-to-air by TG4 in the Republic of Ireland, and on BBC in Northern Ireland. It was also shown on Eir Sport.[7]

Final

Details

12 September 2020
19:35
Leinster Ireland27–5Ireland Ulster
Try: Lowe 12' c
Henshaw 45' c
Doris 71' c
Con: R. Byrne (2/2) 14', 47'
Sexton (1/1) 72'
Pen: R. Byrne (2/2) 26', 44'
ReportTry: Hume 3' m
Aviva Stadium
Attendance: 0[a]
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Leinster
Ulster
FB15Ireland Jordan Larmour
RW14Ireland Hugo Keenan
OC13Ireland Garry Ringrose (c)downward-facing red arrow 67'
IC12Ireland Robbie Henshaw
LW11Ireland James Lowe
FH10Ireland Ross Byrnedownward-facing red arrow 59'
SH9Ireland Jamison Gibson-Parkdownward-facing red arrow 59'
N88Ireland Jack Conan
OF7Ireland Josh van der Flierdownward-facing red arrow 72'
BF6Ireland Caelan Doris
RL5Ireland James Ryandownward-facing red arrow 62'
LL4Ireland Devin Toner
TP3Ireland Andrew Porterdownward-facing red arrow 62'
HK2Ireland Rónan Kelleherdownward-facing red arrow 59'
LP1Ireland Cian Healydownward-facing red arrow 52'
Substitutions:
HK16Ireland James Tracyupward-facing green arrow 59'
PR17Ireland Ed Byrneupward-facing green arrow 52'
PR18Ireland Michael Bentupward-facing green arrow 62'
LK19Australia Scott Fardyupward-facing green arrow 62'
FL20Ireland Will Connorsupward-facing green arrow 72'
SH21Ireland Luke McGrathupward-facing green arrow 59'
FH22Ireland Johnny Sextonupward-facing green arrow 59'
CE23Ireland Rory O'Loughlinupward-facing green arrow 67'
Coach:
Ireland Leo Cullen
FB15Ireland Michael Lowry
RW14Ireland Rob Lyttle
OC13Ireland James Hume
IC12Ireland Stuart McCloskey
LW11Ireland Jacob Stockdale
FH10Ireland Billy Burnsdownward-facing red arrow 54'
SH9New Zealand Alby Mathewsondownward-facing red arrow 47'
N88South Africa Marcell Coetzeedownward-facing red arrow 47'
OF7Ireland Sean Reidy
BF6Ireland Matty Readownward-facing red arrow 55'
RL5Ireland Iain Henderson (c)downward-facing red arrow 47'
LL4Ireland Alan O'Connor
TP3Ireland Tom O'Tooledownward-facing red arrow 55'
HK2Ireland Rob Herringdownward-facing red arrow 20'upward-facing green arrow 34'downward-facing red arrow 72'
LP1Ireland Eric O'Sullivandownward-facing red arrow 47'
Substitutions:
HK16Ireland John Andrewupward-facing green arrow 20'downward-facing red arrow 34'upward-facing green arrow 72'
PR17Ireland Jack McGrathupward-facing green arrow 47'
PR18Ireland Marty Mooreupward-facing green arrow 55'
LK19Australia Sam Carterupward-facing green arrow 47'
BR20Ireland Jordi Murphyupward-facing green arrow 55'
SH21Ireland John Cooneyupward-facing green arrow 47'
FH22Ireland Ian Madiganupward-facing green arrow 54'
BR23Ireland Nick Timoneyupward-facing green arrow 47'
Coach:
England Dan McFarland

Man of the Match:
Ireland Josh van der Flier

Assistant referees:
George Clancy (IRFU)
Frank Murphy (IRFU)
Television match official:
Brian MacNiece (IRFU)

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 This game was played behind closed doors due to COVID-19 restrictions.

References

  1. ↑ "Warburton: Cardiff Will Be 'Electric' For 2020 Guinness PRO14 Final". GuinnessPro14. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  2. ↑ "Coronavirus: Pro14 final cancelled due to coronavirus". BBC Sport. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Pro14 to return in August with derbies". BBC Sport. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "Pro14 semi-final: Leinster 13-3 Munster - reigning champions book final place". BBC Sport. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Edinburgh 19-22 Ulster: Richard Cockerill says hosts 'got what we deserved'". BBC Sport. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. ↑ "Leinster recover from slow start to land their third PRO14 title in a row". The42. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  7. ↑ "Leinster v Ulster: Kick-off time, TV details, team news and more". The Irish Times. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.