Good evening rugby fans and welcome along to our live coverage of the eagerly-anticipated interpro clash between Connacht and Munster from Galway.
Pat Lam’s side find themselves in third before kick-off but have the chance to close the gap on leaders Leinster again if they can complete the double of the southern province.
For Munster, they make the trip out west knowing a big performance is needed to get their Champions Cup hopes back on track after defeat to Leinster last time out.
It has all the ingredients to be another classic, so stay with us as we build up to kick-off which is at 7.15pm.
It’s an absolutely cracking evening in Galway and conditions are ideal.
Here are how the teams line-up for this Saturday teatime encounter. Plenty of big names on show and both XVs are brimming with international pedigree.
Connacht:
15. Robbie Henshaw
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Bundee Aki
12. Peter Robb
11. Matt Healy
10. Shane O’Leary
9. Kieran Marmion
1. Denis Buckley
2. Tom McCartney
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Aly Muldowney
6. Sean O’Brien
7. Eoin McKeon
8. John Muldoon (captain)
Replacements:
16. Jason Harris-Wright
17. Ronan Loughney
18. JP Cooney
19. Andrew Browne
20. James Connolly
21. John Cooney
22. Jack Carty
23. Fionn Carr
Munster:
15. Simon Zebo
14. Darren Sweetnam
13. Francis Saili
12. Rory Scannell
11. Keith Earls
10. Johnny Holland
9. Conor Murray
1. James Cronin
2. Mike Sherry
3. Stephen Archer
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Billy Holland
6. CJ Stander (captain)
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. Jack O’Donoghue
Replacements:
16. Niall Scannell
17. Dave Kilcoyne
18. John Ryan
19. Robin Copeland
20. Jordan Coghlan
21. Tomás O’Leary
22. Ian Keatley
23. Andrew Conway
A little over half an hour until kick-off at the Sportsground. The atmosphere is building nicely for a game which has been sold-out since Tuesday.
Which way do you see this one going? Can Connacht’s incredible season continue or will Munster spoil the party out west?
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail ryan@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
The scene is set. If you’re near a TV, the game is live on TG4 and Sky Sports 5 with coverage beginning at the top of the hour.
To pass the time before we get underway, you can read Murray Kinsella’s preview here or catch up with how Ulster fared in Italy this afternoon as they faced Zebre.
This is how the Pro12 table currently looks.
After their bonus-point win last night, Leinster lead the way but Glasgow’s victory over Scarlets earlier sees them move up to second.
Connacht are in third but have the chance to regain that second home semi-final berth while Munster are lying outside the Champions Cup places presently.
Here come Munster, greeted by a healthy travelling support. Their side shows three changes to the one which were defeated by Leinster at the Aviva Stadium last time out.
And the 7,000 fans crammed inside the Sportsground raise the decibel levels as John Muldoon leads out his side. We’re just moments away from kick-off.
Kick-off! The home side get us underway.
Munster work the ball through the hands and eventually win a penalty. The clearing kick finds Henshaw but he’s pinged by the referee for holding on and Holland knocks it into the Connacht half.
Ryan collects the line-out and Munster have a good platform in these early stages. The visitors seeing all the possession at a sun-bathed Sportsground.
First chance for Connacht to spread it wide. It goes through the hands and Niyi Adeolokun infuses pace into the attack as he looks to scythe through. Munster just have enough cover on the far side to haul him down.
A strong Connacht scrum sees them win the penalty and O’Leary finds a good touch to get his side into opposition territory for the first time.
Fast start in Galway and Munster have had the better of it. Zebo runs a great line to break through midfield but he just can’t get the offload away as Eoin McKeon got back.
The visitors recycle possession but it breaks down on the far side with a forward pass. Encouraging signs for the visitors early on.
Bundee Aki is hit hard in midfield but Connacht keep hold of possession. Adeolokun once again charges towards a gap and after going through the phases, the hosts are rewarded with a penalty.
CJ Stander is the man penalised by the referee for hands in the ruck and O’Leary has the chance to open the scoring.
Straight from the kick-off, O’Leary is nearly made to pay as Murray comes through to make the charge down and but for the pace of Adeolokun that would have been an instant reply from Munster.
PENALTY! Connacht 3-0 Munster (O’Leary)
Sweetly struck by the out-half and it dissects the posts. First blood to Lam’s men.
TRY! Connacht 3-7 Munster (Zebo)
Outstanding from Munster. Holland makes the initial break and his offload to Zebo is perfect for the Ireland international to take in his stride and hold off the challenges to touch down.
Holland adds the extras and Munster lead.
The Sportsground stunned into silence. That was vintage Munster as they attacked from deep and cut through the Connacht defence. They really look to be in the mood tonight and have already penetrated the hosts’ rearguard more than once.
Lovely offload from Saili sets Earls free on this near touchline. The winger attempts to kick and chase over Muldoon but his kick doesn’t have enough on it and he’s penalised for tackling the Connacht captain without the ball.
But O’Leary, who is just showing his inexperience, kicks the ball dead and Munster are given a reprieve with a scrum inside their own half.
After a couple of resets, Connacht put the Munster set-piece under immense pressure and they win the penalty. That’s woken up the crowd again.
Ultan Dillane looks to force his way through.
Munster concede their fifth penalty and it’s right in-front of the posts, giving O’Leary the opportunity to reduce the deficit.
PENALTY! Connacht 6-7 Munster (O’Leary)
And he makes no mistake from 18 metres out.
Connacht again look to work it out from their own 22 and they’re caught. O’Learly’s pass to Bundee Aki isn’t great and the centre knocks it on under pressure from Saili.
Scrum Munster five metres out.
Ben Whitehouse stops the clock to have a work with the front-rows It’s been a bit messy at scrum time so far.
Jack O’Donoghue collects from the foot of the scrum and charges towards the line. He’s stopped just short as Connacht scramble to get bodies behind the ball. Munster go through the phases and inch their way closer until Zebo looks cross-field for Earls.
His kick is perfect but Earls can’t ground it as he knock-on in contact. We’re going back for a Munster penalty, however.
TRY! Connacht 6-14 Munster (Sherry)
This time, they’re over! From the line-out, the pack drive towards the line and it’s Sherry who applies the finishing touch in the corner. Holland lands a brilliant conversion from the touchline.
What a chance! Bundee Aki carves through the red wall with an incisive run and he has Marmion on his left shoulder. If he makes the pass, the scrum-half has a free run in under the posts but Marmion knocks it on and the chance is gone.
Connacht’s turn to apply some pressure. Dillane uses his immense power to get over the gain line but Munster are holding firm.
And Saili relieves the pressure with an invaluable turnover metres out from his own line. Murray’s clearing kick is gathered by Healy and he breaks through a couple of tackles but is then penalised for holding on.
Breathless stuff in Galway.
Zebo celebrates his try.
The referee lost patience with the Munster scrum and Cronin was the victim. They’ll finish the half with 14 but are standing firm in the face of more Connacht pressure. The hosts throwing it around looking for a way through.
Yellow card for James Cronin, who looks perplexed as he leaves the field. The referee penalised Munster at the scrum again and decided enough was enough.
Real chance for Connacht to reduce the deficit before half-time.
Connacht need t remain patient with their numerical advantage but they just haven’t clicked in an attacking sense now with their final execution letting them down.
Healy looks as dangerous as ever with ball in hand but there’s a wall of red shirts refusing to budge.
TRY! Connacht 13-14 Munster (Adeolokun)
Out of nothing, Connacht conjure a special try. Aki with the initial injection of pace and he breaks the gain line. Finlay Bealham then shows great hands with a slick offload to Adeolokun who sprints clear to touch down.
Incredible stuff from Aki. He runs from one 22 to the other and Connacht win the penalty for a high-tackle on Marmion.
The hosts have showed admirable resolve and they’ve turned the complexion of this game around in an instant.
Brilliant break from Aki on that occasion and Munster were scrambling to prevent more damage being inflicted before the break. We’re into the final minute of the half.
That man Aki picks up possession at the back of the scrum and Connacht set the ball rolling again. The crowd are urging them on as they look to finish the first period with a bang.
Superb hands from Bealham as he holds onto the pass and it looks like a certain try but Billy Holland makes a last-ditch intervention – but the referee pulls the card out for an infringement and Munster are down to 13.
TRY! Connacht 20-14 Munster (penalty try)
And the referee goes under the posts as the rolling maul is hauled down.
Half-time! Connacht 20-14 Munster
A breathtaking 40 minutes of rugby.
The ten minutes before half-time may prove to be the defining period in this game. Connacht turned the tables and scored 14 points to take a six-point advantage into the second-half.
Both teams are back out and we’re ready to resume.
And we’re back underway! Holland resumes and we’ve got a huge 40 minutes of Pro12 rugby ahead for both sides.
Munster, down to 13 men, have started on the front foot with the words of Foley no doubt ringing in their ears.
Marmion eventually puts boot to ball but Munster are still in the ascendancy with a line-out deep in Connacht territory. They’re back to 14 men as Cronin returns.
To their credit, Munster have responded well but they just can’t force their way through the Connacht defence. Saili is bundled into touch on the far side and it’s a chance for the hosts to clear their lines.
Bundee Aki is currently down receiving treatment. He has been exceptional all evening.
Connacht are rock solid and force the handling error. From the scrum, O’Leary throws it wide again and it pays dividends as Aki is tackled high. You’ve got to admire their approach.
Saili is exposed in the tackle and Henshaw forces the turnover. Brilliant defensive effort from Connacht.
Connacht release the pressure with a period of possession of their own. Healy looks to use his pace out wide but when he comes in-field, the home side are pinged for a knock-on.
Munster are back to their full compliment but their indiscipline continues. Holland, moments after returning to the action, gives away another penalty.
TRY! Connacht 25-14 Munster (Adeolokun)
Connacht have a third! It’s a bit scrappy but Marmion is on the loop and Henshaw chips it through. Munster are all over the place defensively and it flicks off Zebo’s boot, onto Adeolokun’s thigh and the winger collects to bundle his way over.
The referee goes upstairs and after a bit of deliberation, has conclusive video evidence to verify that it wasn’t a knock-on and he awards the try.
The bonus point is a real possibility for Lam’s men as Munster continue to give away penalties.
Connacht are under pressure as they look to pass their way out of trouble. O’Leary’s pass isn’t the best but Saili comes in high and gives the referee no option but to award the penalty.
This game is slipping away from the southern province as Foley looks on.
Jack O’Donoghue is gingerly making his way off as Connacht set the ball rolling again.
Can Connacht finish it off and seal a bonus point win?
Just about sums up Munster’s evening. Rory Scannell has Earls in space outside him but his pass is awful and sails into touch.
This is how the table currently stands. If Connacht go on to see this win out, they will find themselves one point behind Leinster with two games remaining – and a fourth try would see them move level with Leo Cullen’s men.
Munster knocking on the door. They’re metres from the line and need a score here if they are to harbour any hopes of working their way back into the contest.
Bundee Aki is not leaving the pitch if it’s the last thing he does.
Munster think they’ve scored as Saili leaps over the line but replays show he’s actually knocked it on. The visitors had returned to the halfway line thinking it would be awarded but that was an easy call for the TMO.
Incredible from Aki. Minutes after lying stricken on the turf, he bursts through again as Connacht run it from under their own posts. Once again, however, he just can’t find the final pass and the move breaks down.
Amazing pictures of Adeolokun’s second try.
Just after scoring that try, Bealham is being helped off. Looks like he took a bang to his jaw and the medical team aren’t taking any chances.
The Fields of Athenry rings around the Sportsground as Connacht close in on their first ever double over Munster.
TRY! Connacht 32-14 Munster (Bealham)
Dillane powers through, is hauled down just short and Munster are all sucked in. The visitors are scrambling and can’t stop Bealham dart over from close range. O’Leary adds the extras.
Anyone care to guess what Mr O’Driscoll is referring to? Answers on a post card…
Ryan takes a hefty bang to the head and there is a lot of concern for the Munster man. The good news is that he’s able to make his way off himself but he looks very groggy.
Huge roar as Bundee Aki makes his way off. Stellar performance from the centre.
Connacht looking for more as they sniff blood but the move breaks down with an unforced handling error. Just seven minutes remaining in Galway.
The game just petering out now. Connacht keeping possession and looking to keep Munster out.
The terrace is in full cry now as the minutes tick down. Another memorable night in Galway.
Ian Keatley’s kick has just about summed up Munster’s evening. The replacement out-half looks for touch deep into Connacht territory but his radar is off and it goes dead.
PENALTY! Connacht 35-14 Munster (O’Leary)
The out-half seals the win with another three points.
Full-time! Connacht 35-14 Munster
Thanks for joining us this evening, full report and reaction to follow.
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