2013 Pro12 Grand Final

The 2013 Pro12 Grand Final was the final match of the 2012–13 Pro12 season. The 2012–13 season was the second with RaboDirect as title sponsor and the fourth ever League Grand Final. Leinster won the game 24–18 against Ulster.[1][2]

2013 Pro12 Grand Final

Event	2012–13 Pro12
Ulster Leinster 18 24
Date	25 May 2013
Venue	RDS Arena, Dublin
Man of the Match	Shane Jennings
Referee	John Lacey (IRFU)
Attendance	19,200
Weather	Sunny

The win for Leinster ended a run of three successive league final losses.[3] A Shane Jennings try in the first half helped Leinster to a 16-6 half-time lead, with Jamie Heaslip getting the second try in the second half.[4][5]

It was Jonathan Sexton's final match for Leinster before joining Racing Métro, and also coach Joe Schmidt's last match before taking over as head coach of the Irish rugby team.[6][7]

Route to the final

2013 Playoffs

The semi-finals were played on the weekend of 10/11 May 2013; these followed a 1 v 4, 2 v 3 system with the games being played at the home ground of the higher placed teams.[8]

10 May 2013 19:45

Ulster	28–17	Scarlets
Try: Bowe 25' c Diack 34' m Court 43' c Con: Pienaar (2/3) Pen: Pienaar (3/4) 7', 40', 63'	Report	Try: G. Davies 61' c Timani 79' c Con: O. Williams (2/2) Pen: O. Williams (1/2) 5'

Ravenhill Attendance: 10,700 Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU)

---

11 May 2013 19:35

Leinster	17–15	Glasgow Warriors
Try: Heaslip 27' m Pen: J. Sexton (4/6) 12', 32', 63', 70'	Report	Try: Matawalu 15' c Bennett 75' m Con: Hogg (1/2) Pen: Hogg (1/1) 25'

Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 13,235 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (FFR)

Match

Details

25 May 2013 16:45

Ulster	18–24	Leinster
Pen: Pienaar (6/6) 24', 36', 47', 51', 56', 69'	Report	Try: Jennings 3' c Heaslip 63' m Con: J. Sexton (1/2) Pen: J. Sexton (4/5) 8', 34', 40', 45'

Royal Dublin Society Attendance: 19,200 Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)

FB 15 Jared Payne RW 14 Andrew Trimble OC 13 Darren Cave IC 12 Stuart Olding  64' LW 11 Tommy Bowe FH 10 Paddy Jackson SH 9 Ruan Pienaar N8 8 Nick Williams OF 7 Chris Henry BF 6 Robbie Diack 44' to 54'  64' RL 5 Dan Tuohy LL 4 Johann Muller (c) TP 3 John Afoa HK 2 Rory Best LP 1 Tom Court  73' Replacements: HK 16 Rob Herring PR 17 Callum Black  73' PR 18 Declan Fitzpatrick LK 19 Iain Henderson  64' FL 20 Mike McComish SH 21 Paul Marshall CE 22 Mike Allen  64' FB 23 Peter Nelson Coach: Mark Anscombe

FB 15 Isa Nacewa 47' to 57' RW 14 Fergus McFadden OC 13 Brian O'Driscoll IC 12 Ian Madigan LW 11 Andrew Conway FH 10 Jonathan Sexton SH 9 Isaac Boss N8 8 Jamie Heaslip OF 7 Shane Jennings BF 6 Kevin McLaughlin RL 5 Devin Toner  73' LL 4 Leo Cullen (c) TP 3 Mike Ross  75' HK 2 Richardt Strauss  29'  40' LP 1 Cian Healy  77' Replacements: HK 16 Seán Cronin  29'  40' PR 17 Jack McGrath  77' PR 18 Jamie Hagan  75' LK 19 Quinn Roux  73' FL 20 Rhys Ruddock SH 21 John Cooney CE 22 Andrew Goodman WG 23 David Kearney Coach: Josef Schmidt

Man of the Match: Shane Jennings (Leinster) Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland) Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) Television match official: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)

References

1. "As it happened: Ulster v Leinster, RaboDirect Pro12 Grand Final". The Score. 25 May 2013. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
2. "Jamie Heaslip gives Leinster RaboDirect Pro12 title win over Ulster". Guardian. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
3. "Leinster says goodbye to its stars with 24-18 win over Ulster". Irish Mirror. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
4. "Ulster 18-24 Leinster". BBC Sport. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
5. "LEINSTER 24 V 18 ULSTER". Leinster Rugby. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
6. "Leinster defeat Ulster 24-18 to claim the RaboDirect PRO12 title". RTE Sport. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
7. "As it happened: Leinster claim Rabodirect Pro12 crown". Irish Independent. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
8. "Competition Rules: Season 2011–2012 (Rule 3.6)". RaboDirect PRO12. Retrieved 29 December 2012.

External links

• Coverage at ESPN