Hello, everyone, and welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Munster v Leinster in the URC.

Hope you’ve had a wonderful Christmas so far. Here’s a staple of the Irish festive sporting calendar: Munster and Leinster in Limerick. It’s Gavan Casey with you here, and if you can’t make it to the telly or to Thomond Park, I’ll bring you a blow-by-blow account — or near enough — in this liveblog.

Munster, who defeated Leinster at Croke Park in October, are seeking to do their first double over the eastern province in 11 years.

Leinster, who have come back from double-digit deficits to defeat Leicester and Ulster in recent weeks, will be locked in for this one.

Strap in — it should be fun!

Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

Captains Caelan Doris and Tadhg Beirne at the coin toss apologising for what they’re about to do to each other on the pitch.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

A reminder of your teams in Limerick.

Following their bonus-point defeat of Ospreys in Bridgend last weekend, Tadhg Beirne, Thaakir Abrahams, Craig Casey, Michael Milne, Lee Barron, Edwin Edogbo and Tom Ahern all come into Clayton McMillan’s starting XV.

There are two further positional changes as Shane Daly switches to fullback and Jack O’Donoghue moves from blindside to openside flanker.

Doris returns for Leinster, while Andrew Porter starts for the first time since October having recovered from an arm injury.

Harry Byrne starts at 10 for Leinster, with Sam Prendergast not included in the matchday 23.

Harry Byrne warming up at Thomond Park. Andrew Conan / INPHO Andrew Conan / INPHO / INPHO

Munster: 

• 15. Shane Daly
• 14. Calvin Nash
• 13. Tom Farrell
• 12. Alex Nankivell
• 11. Thaakir Abrahams
• 10. Jack Crowley
• 9. Craig Casey

• 1. Michael Milne
• 2. Lee Barron
• 3. Michael Ala’alatoa
• 4. Edwin Edogbo
• 5. Tom Ahern
• 6. Tadhg Beirne (capt)
• 7. Jack O’Donoghue
• 8. Gavin Coombes

Replacements:

• 16. Diarmuid Barron
• 17. Jeremy Loughman
• 18. John Ryan
• 19. Jean Kleyn
• 20. Fineen Wycherley
• 21. Paddy Patterson
• 22. Dan Kelly
• 23. John Hodnett

Leinster:

• 15.  Ciarán Frawley
• 14. Tommy O’Brien
• 13. Rieko Ioane
• 12. Robbie Henshaw
• 11. James Lowe
• 10. Harry Byrne
• 9. Jamison Gibson-Park

• 1. Andrew Porter
• 2. Rónan Kelleher
• 3. Thomas Clarkson
• 4. Joe McCarthy
• 5. James Ryan
• 6. Max Deegan
• 7. Josh van der Flier
• 8. Caelan Doris – capt

Replacements:

• 16. John McKee
• 17. Paddy McCarthy
• 18. Tadhg Furlong
• 19. Diarmuid Mangan
• 20. Scott Penny
• 21. Fintan Gunne
• 22. Charlie Tector
• 23. Andrew Osborne

Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU)

How are you feeling, Munster and Leinster fans?

Calvin Nash has been ruled out with sickness. Mike Haley comes back into the starting side at fullback, with Shane Daly shifting to the wing.

Thomond is rocking as the sides return to the dressing rooms before kick-off.

‘Zombie’ rings out at Thomond, the sparklers go off, and Munster enter the field to a rapturous reception.

The place is heaving.

Peter Martin takes charge of only his 10th URC game today. Best of luck, fella!

1′ – MUN 0-0 LEIN: Jack Crowley gets us underway — and Leinster immediately win a penalty in their own 22′ as Lee Barron fails to roll away at the breakdown.

Harry Byrne line-kicks Leinster up to halfway.

2′ – MUN 0-0 LEIN: Munster concede two more penalty advantages near halfway — one for Edwin Edogbo trying to pull down a maul, the other for a deliberate knock-on by Thaakir Abrahams. Byrne gives Leinster a lineout about 10-15m from Munster’s line.

Big chance for the visitors. They win the lineout, and Munster concede another pen advantage!

5′ – MUN 0-0 LEIN: Sensational defensive set by Munster and they turn over Leinster with a choke tackle.

I’m really not sure where the Leinster advantage went? Unless it was a knock-on advantage that I missed as opposed to a pen advantage — I was typing at the time, so apologies!

But referee Martin called advantage over and Leinster’s quick, powerful, dangerous-looking attack is eventually thwarted.

Scrum for Munster just outside their own 5′.

6′ – MUN 0-0 LEIN: Munster concede a pen on the scrum — huge chance for Leinster again with a five-metre lineout!

6′ – TRYYYYY FOR LEINSTER! JOSH VAN DER FLIER!

Leinster lead as the former World Player of the Year breaks off the spinning maul and eases over near the right-hand corner. Leinster celebrate wildly. They’re bang up for this one!

And Harry Byrne converts from the right-hand side, too.

What a start for the visitors at Thomond.

9′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Alex Nankivell wins a jackal pen in Leinster’s half and Leinster concede a further 10 as Jamison Gibson-Park refuses to let go of the ball.

Munster’s maul from the five-metre lineout, however, is sacked legally by Leinster — and the men in blue celebrate again as they win the scrum!

12′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Max Deegan is penalised for a high, if not especially dangerous, hit on Thaakir Abrahams, who was slipping to the ground.

Crowley, though, misses touch with an awful kick. Munster can’t afford errors like those today.

An ironic cheer goes up from the pockets of blue at Thomond.

15′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Shane Daly with a rib-tickler on Ciarán Frawley, and Munster turn over Leinster at the ensuing ruck.

Daly chips down the right and Gibson-Park eventually clears to touch as far as his own 22′.

16′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Already loads of needle in this one. It’s great stuff. Outstanding defensive set by Leinster this time in their own territory, and they turn Munster over on the ground. Cue big celebrations once more.

19′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Lineout steal by Tom Ahern but Crowley’s up-and-under goes way too far and Ciarán Frawley calls the mark. Poor start kicking from hand by the Munster 10.

20′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Andrew Porter concedes a pen on halfway for a tip tackle on Tom Farrell. Munster now attacking between the Leinster 10′ and 22′ — they get a scrum after a knock-on by the tackling Tom Clarkson as he tried to stop Michael Milne.

24′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Leinster botch a lineout inside their own 22′ but Munster spill forward as Tom Farrell’s pass drops at Mike Haley’s shoelaces.

Munster’s attacking detail has been just a little bit off so far. They’ve had a fair bit of territory since Leinster’s opening score, but no true chances.

26′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Leinster demolishing Munster at the scrum, predictably.

Michael Alaalatoa having a tough outing against Porter and his former side so far. He’s not being dominated, but he’s getting penalised!

28′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Craig Casey goes quickly with a tap pen inside his own half and bounces Harry Byrne after a break.

Tadhg Beirne then passes a ball off a Leinster foot at the base of a ruck — but referee Martin pings Jack O’Donoghue for pinning Robbie Henshaw to the ground.

A totally fair call by Martin. O’Donoghue had him pinned WWE-style. Well handled by the young ref.

29′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Tadhg Beirne wins a jackal pen in Munster’s 22′ — he was involved in an attempted choke tackle and then timed his poach perfectly after the ref had called ‘tackle’.

32′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Leinster scrum on halfway after Mike Haley spilt an awkward contestable under pressure from James Lowe — and they away side will win a penalty.

33′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Leinster attacking now in Munster’s 22 for only the third time in the half after Alaalatoa was penalised at scrum-time again.

Tadhg Beirne and Munster not happy with Martin’s interpretation of the Samoan’s battle with Porter so far.

34′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Munster survive and exit through Casey, who can clear only to about 15m from the Munster line.

Munster defence has been rock-solid aside from the only try of the game by Van der Flier, in fairness.

34′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Charlie Tector on for Robbie Henshaw, who seemed to have some kind of hand injury.

36′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Edogbo rips one off Leinster on the ground deep inside his own 22′. Porter is then pinged for not rolling away and Munster escape with a lineout on their own 10′.

Munster have one last attack — and a break by Haley into the Leinster 22′ — called back for a forward pass in the build up.

Ohhhh, I don’t know about that one! Definitely on the margin, and the crowd feel seriously aggrieved as referee Peter Martin sounds his whistle.

That takes us to the break.

It’s been an absorbing contest. Leinster struck extremely early through Josh van der Flier. Munster have had more of the ball and more territory since that score — the only one of the game so far — but Leinster are keeping them at arm’s length.

The visitors’ scrum is well on top and giving them further reprieve.

But Munster won’t feel too dissuaded by those 40 minutes overall.

Catch you in 15!

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

41′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN:Harry Byrne gets us back in action at Thomond Park!

45′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Incredible poach by Tom Ahern to deny Leinster deep inside the Munster 22′. He adds that turnover to an earlier stolen lineout.

Great defence by Munster, with Leinster dominating possession and territory to start this second half.

It’s the kind of game where you’d feel a two-score advantage for Leinster would be too much for Munster to come back from — it’s just that tight and intense that any team with a cushion would probably be able to manage it out.

47′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: On halfway, Alaatoa gets a pen back on Porter in the scrum and Thomond goes nuts.

Munster with the attacking platform from the lineout on Leinster’s 22′.

50′ – MUN 0-7 LEIN: Jean Kleyn in for Edogbo for Munster. Paddy McCarthy in for Porter on the Leinster side of things. Tadhg Furlong also on for Clarkson.

52′ – MUN 0-10 LEIN:Leinster are gifted an easy three points with Munster done for a side entry at the maul on their own 22′. Kleyn penalised. It’s a poor call by referee Peter Martin, truth be told.

Harry Byrne capitalises — and just given the pattern of the game, it’ll be a long way back for Munster from here.

54′ – MUN 3-10 LEIN: Munster respond immediately through Crowley as Leinster infringe in the ruck shortly after the restart.

Back to a one-score game within seconds!

59′ – MUN 3-13 LEIN: A bizarre offside by Munster as Shane Daly slips and kicks back a speculative chip through by Lowe, only for Tom Farrell to try to play the ball about 10 yards upfield.

Ref has no option but to give the pen, and Harry Byrne has no option but to slot the three from close range.

Clayton McMillan will be furious with that concession of points. The kind of mistake a team only makes when they’re under serious pressure, to be fair.

61′ – MUN 3-13 LEIN: Leinster concede another breakdown pen just inside their own half and Jack Crowley moves Munster into the Leinster 22′, where the hosts will have a lineout.

67′ – MUN 3-13 LEIN: Exceptional defensive stand by Leinster as Munster finally work their way to the 5′.

The visitors force a knock-on by Jack O’Donoghue and pop the balloon in Thomond. Massive celebrations from those in blue. James Lowe appears to give it bit to the crowd as well.

A brilliant passage.

72′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! DAN KELLY! GAME ON!

Munster with a sustained, thousand-phase attack which appeared to be going nowhere — but eventually they find a chink in Leinster’s armour and Crowley feeds Kelly, who takes it home!

Crowley’s conversion from the right, however, drifts wide. So Munster still need another try.

73′ – MUN 8-13 LEIN: Leinster pinged for offside in the Munster 22′ — and Crowley wallops Munster up between the Leinster 10′ and 22′ where they’ll have a lineout.

75′ – MUN 8-13 LEIN: Caelan Doris wins a MASSIVE turnover in Leinster’s half — and Harry Byrne drills the ball downfield.

It dribbles into Munster’s in-goal area where Crowley dots it down for a goal-line drop-out.

Tadhg Beirne, meanwhile, is down with an injury back in Leinster’s half. I think it’s a head injury.

76′ – MUN 8-13 LEIN: Nankivell does exactly as Doris did and wins a HUGE turnover deep in Munster’s half, this one rewarded with a penalty.

Munster lineout on the Leinster 10′.

77′ – MUN 8-13 LEIN: Leinster blow Munster off their own ball and boot it 50 yards downfield. That’s been the difference between the sides, ultimately. Leinster have just had too much power up front and in defence, and they’ve suffocated Munster at vital junctures in the game.

80′ – MUN 8-13 LEIN: Munster run a scrum play out of their 22′ into Leinster’s half — and they win a penalty as Lowe tackles Dan Kelly high!

One last roll of the dice for Munster: they have the lineout deep in Leinster’s half.

83′ – MUN 8-13 LEIN: Munster well into the Leinster 22′!

83′ – MUN 8-13 LEIN: A ball goes loose from a Munster hand — somehow — and Leinster win it on the ground.

They’ve done it!

Just looking at the replay of that final play, Crowley is hit as he stalls on the ball, and he spills it backwards. He was furious at full-time, claiming to referee Peter Martin that he couldn’t pass the ball to Alex Nankivell as the Kiwi was taken out off the ball.

He’s right that he couldn’t pass it to Nankivell, and there was contact, but it was a bit more of a rugby collision than Nankivell being taken off the ball. It would have been a very harsh pen on Leinster.

That said, Munster will probably argue the toss on plenty of the officiating today, particularly around the attacking breakdown from their perspective.

So, Leinster get the job done and gain their revenge on Munster after an intense, compelling 80 minutes at Thomond Park.

Murray Kinsella will have a full match report and reaction, so keep your eye on The 42 for that.

He and I will also discuss the game with Bernard Jackman on Monday’s Rugby Weekly Extra podcast for The 42 subscribers. Give it a whirl if you fancy!

Thanks for now, and happy Christmas!

Andrew Conan / INPHO Andrew Conan / INPHO / INPHO