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Hello and happy New Year, everybody! Thanks for joining me for our first Guinness Pro12 inter-pro of 2015, Connacht vs Munster.
Here are the teams – thankfully, the internationals have returned so we don’t have a repeat of the Munster vs Leinster Stephen’s Day game.
Connacht: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Darragh Leader, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Danie Poolman, 10 Craig Ronaldson, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Eoin McKeon, 7 Willie Faloon, 6 John Muldoon (c), 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 Quinn Roux, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 JP Cooney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 George Naoupu, 21 John Cooney, 22 Miah Nikora, 23 Dave McSharry.
Munster: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Pat Howard, 12 JJ Hanrahan, 11 Ronan O’Mahony, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O’Donnell, 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 5 Paul O’Connell, 4 Billy Holland, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Duncan Casey, 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Kevin O’Byrne, 17 Eusebio Guinazu, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Donncha O’Callaghan, 20 Dave O’Callaghan, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Ivan Dineen.
It’s actually a big day for Mils Muliaina. After a couple of subdued performances, the calls for a back three of Leader, Healy and Poolman are getting louder.
If you are thinking of starting 2015 off with a punt, Connacht are 15/8, Munster are 2/5 and the draw is 16/1.
Munster are five point favourites.
Big day for Darragh Leader. He hasn’t played a whole lot on the wing this season so will be interesting to see how he goes. Zebo at fullback is also intriguing.
The mind games have started from Axel…
It looks like one of those games where you are much better off watching inside with a hot drink that exposing yourself to the elements.
The teams are out on the pitch and we are seconds away from kick-off at a wet Sportgrounds.
We are off!
Early pressure by Munster as a JJ Hanrahan grubber kick is carried into touch 5m out by Kieran Marmion.
But Connacht win a penalty after Paul O’Connell infringes at the ruck.
Scrum for Munster just outside the 22 in a central area after Marmion throws a forward pass.
Casey fumbles in midfield and Connacht have a scrum. Already it is evident that the conditions will dictate how this game is played. It always seems to be raining at The Sportsgrounds!
Connacht try to keep the ball in their own territory through a series of pick-and-drives but Peter O’Mahony earns a turnover penalty. Hanrahan will kick for goal.
Connacht 0-3 Munster
Keatley kicks Munster into the lead.
That was naive play by Connacht to try to play their way out like that. Ronaldson should have booted the ball high or down into the Munster half given the conditions.
TRY! Connacht 0-10 Munster
Munster get a 5m lineout and Peter O’Mahony drives over from the back of the maul. Keatley converts excellently from the corner.
It couldn’t have started any worse for the home side. They came from 10-0 down to beat Scarlets at home a few weeks back. Can they do it again here?
Connacht win the kick-off and move into the Munster 22 but Rodney Ah You comes in from the side and Munster can clear with a penalty.
Keatley has kicked brilliantly so far in horrible conditions. Could easily just be 5-0.
Connacht are trying to play their way out of their own territory again and once more, it backfires. Marmion tries to snipe but the ball bounces forward and hits Muliaina, making him offside. Keatley will kick for goal about 40m out to the left of the posts.
Connacht 0-13 Munster
Was there ever any doubt? Keatley splits the post. Connacht have been pretty dreadful so far. Unfortunately for them, it is probably their worst display of the season thus far.
Connacht putting a bit of pressure on Munster now. They are rumbling towards the 22.
But Munster poach the ball once more and Duncan Williams clears to his own 10m line.
Connacht opting to keep the ball in their own territory once more. Hopefully they have learned from the last few experiences…
Duncan Casey gets caught offside and Connacht have a penalty.
Ronaldson pumps his legs and makes a few yards in contact on halfway. Probably the first time Connacht have gotten over the gain line tonight.
Two former Connacht coaches, Michael Bradley and Eric Elwood, are watching from the stands.
Connacht have a lineout deep in Munster territory now.
Aki and Muldoon punch a few holes in the Munster defence and Connacht have some good possession in the 22.
But on the next phase CJ Stander shows great strength to strip the ball from Ah You in contact and now Connacht are back in their own half.
Stander is currently down receiving some treatment.
A nice grubber by Henshaw almost bounces nicely for Poolman on the left wing but Zebo comes across and knocks the ball into touch just inside the Munster half.
TRY! Connacht 7-13 Munster
A perfectly weighted chip by Ronaldson lands in the hands of Henshaw and he motors into the 22 before feeding Marmion who goes over under the posts. Great try.
The game has been crying out for a bit of magic and Connacht’s Ireland boys delivered it. If this is what 2015 has in store for us it is going to be one helluva year!
In the battle of the nicknames, Marms (Kieran Marion) leads Zeebs (Simon Zebo) after that wonderful score.
Connacht have a penalty on halfway after Paul O’Connell collapses a rampaging maul. All the momentum is with the home side at the moment.
The lineout is sloppy but Connacht gather and have possession 5m outside the Munster 22.
O’Connell makes up for his earlier moment of indiscipline by forcing a turnover penalty.
Now it is Munster on the attack and they are mauling their way into the Connacht 22.
The maul goes down but Munster have possession 5m out.
Zebo almost bursts through a gap but is taken high by Bundee Aki. Keatley will presumably extend Munster’s lead to nine.
Connacht 7-16 Munster
Keatley slots the easy kick.
Aki wins a turnover penalty in the Munster 22 and Connacht go to the corner with the last play of the half.
HT Connacht 7-16 Munster
Once again Ah You blows an opportunity, this time knocking the ball on. That is half time.
Looks at this conversion from Keatley earlier in the game. Talk about judging the wind!
We are off in the second half!
Connacht have a lineout just outside the Munster 22 now.
We are going to the video ref but it looks like Ronaldson has scored a try for Connacht.
TRY! Connacht 14-16 Munster
Robbie Henshaw exploded onto a soft pass from Ronaldson to blow through the Munster defence before feeding Aki. The centre barreled his way to within a yard of the line and Ronaldson was on hand to finish the move off a phase later.
Ronaldson picked up a knock when scoring and has been replaced by Miah Nikora.
Connacht win a penalty at the scrum and Nikora brings play deep into the Munster half. The wind is with Connacht now and it is howling.
Connacht have a scrum in midfield on the 10m line after a rake of bodies fall on the ball. It actually looked a little unlucky for Munster because O’Donnell was in a poaching position.
This is Henshaw’s best attacking display for some time. He is making the sort of breaks that all top centres make.
Disaster for Connacht! Aki offloads to Henshaw who makes ground once again and just when it looks like a try is coming, Nikora fumbles the ball! Had he held it, it was surely a try.
Ah You is off for Finlay Bealham. Was a day to forget for the Ireland international.
Munster have a scrum under their own posts after the Nikora knock on.
This tweet perfectly sums up Henshaw’s barnstorming display.
Munster pinch a Connacht attacking lineout and clear downfield. Despite having all the ball and territory in this half, Connacht are still behind. A little more calmness around the line and they would be on top.
Connacht have a penalty from in front of the posts just inside the 10m line after Duncan Williams is offside from a Keatley knock-on. Leader should give Connacht the lead for the first time here.
Actually Nikora is taking it.
Connacht 17-16 Munster
And he makes up for his earlier blunder by putting his team in front.
Also, George Naoupu is on for Eoin McKeon.
It is all falling apart for Munster now as Keatley kicks out on the full. Aki is exploding over the gain line regularly now too. Aki and Henshaw will definitely be the Irish centres at the home World Cup in 2023.
Quinn Roux just took off on a marauding run into the Munster 22 and Connacht are pushing for another score. Munster knock-on when trying to turn the ball over and the home side have a scrum 10m from the line.
20 minutes left and a strong wind at their back – Connacht should really be targeting a bonus point win here. They are regularly punching holes in the Munster rearguard and look very threatening.
TRY! Connacht 22-16 Munster
From the scrum, Marmion jinks and steps his way to within a yard of the line and Aly Muldowney powers over on the next phase. The bonus point is definitely on now.
And Leader nails the tough conversion to give Connacht a bit of breathing room.
Marms is getting a lot of love on Twitter for his exceptional display. Obviously Murray is the first choice nine for Ireland, but should Marmion be given a start in the 6 Nations?
Connacht have a lineout on the 22 now, and you can tell that confidence is coursing through their veins.
BOD thinks the ref has been a bit one-eyed.
Munster have a scrum on their own 10m line after a Connacht knock-on.
Munster win a penalty at the scrum and Keatley kicks to the corner.
Munster’s maul is rolling towards the Connacht line now.
Munster are picking-and-driving a few yards from the line. One metre out.
Munster have a 5m scrum after a pile of bodies fall on the ball.
Munster still driving at Connacht but the home side are doing well to hold them out.
Connacht have been defending their line non-stop for the last six minutes. Epic defence.
Munster get a penalty with a minute left and go to the corner.
FT Connacht 24-16 Munster
The ball spills loose from the ruck and Robbie Henshaw hammers it into touch to end the match.
So Connacht end their losing run and Munster leave with nothing – and that is a fair reflection of how the game went. Connacht recovered from a horrific opening 20 minutes that saw them trail 13-0 to completely boss the remainder of the game.
Henshaw and Marmion were electric and constantly broke through the Munster defence while the Aki/Henshaw partnership saw further signs of growth.
For Anthony Foley, he will be bitterly disappointed with his side’s second half display. Munster were shut out in the second half and despite hammering away at the Connacht line for seven or eight minutes at the end, they were unable to score.
