Welcome along to live coverage of Munster’s Champions Cup opener at home to Racing 92 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
It promises to be an emotional occasion on Leeside as the southern province marks the 10-year anniversary of the legendary Anthony Foley.
On the field, Clayton McMillan’s side will seek to build upon their unbeaten record at the home of Cork GAA and get their European campaign off on the right footing.
Kick-off on the way shortly!
Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
3 hrs ago
8:03PM
A moment’s silence at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for Lions player Hyron Andrews, whose passing shocked the rugby world yesterday.
And now the two captains tonight exchange number eight jerseys, which have been retired for this game in tribute to Axel Foley.
The Fields of Athenry rings around The Páirc.
3 hrs ago
8:04PM
Kick-off
1′ – MUN 0-0 R92: Antoine Gibert gets us underway.
3 hrs ago
8:06PM
Here are your two lineups, by the way (and your referee is Karl Dickson of England):
Munster: Ben O’Connor; Shay McCarthy, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Seán O’Brien; Charlie O’Shea, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Marnus van der Merwe, Jack Aungier; Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Seán Edogbo, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Max Clein, Josh Wycherley, Kieran Brookes, Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Jack O’Donoghue.
Racing 92: Geronimo Prisciantelli; Wilfried Hulleu, Vinaya Habosi, Joey Manu, Sione Tupou; Antoine Gibert, Antoine Latrasse; Edouard Jabea Njocke, Diego Escobar, Gia Kharaishvili; Thomas Lainault, Jordan Joseph; Lekima Tagitagivalu, Nicolas Martins, Maxime Baudonne (capt)
Replacements: Yanis Basse, Lehopoame Leota, Demba Bamba, Nathan Hughes, Soumaila Camara, Maxime Machenaud, Sam James, Arthur Roche
3′ – MUN 0-3 R92: Racing carve Munster open after a seriously impressive midfield maul, at which Munster infringe.
Munster scramble them into touch inside their own 22′, but Dickson brings it back for the pen and Gibert slots the opening points of the game.
Electrifying start by the visitors in Cork!
3 hrs ago
8:09PM
5′ MUN 0-3 R92: Munster string together a wonderful attack of their own and, as it begins to slow down, European Cup debutant Charlie O’Shea dinks a lovely ball over the top of the Racing defence from inside their 22′.
One of the Racing defenders carries it back over the line — five-metre scrum for Munster!
5′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! MUNSTER 7-3 R92: BRIAN GLEESON! HOW FITTING?
Munster’s number eight, wearing 24, crashes over off first phase! It’s a terrific finish, so powerful.
And O’Shea splits the posts from out right. Munster are off the mark!
2 hrs ago
8:12PM
8′ – MUN 7-3 R92: Fans on their feet applauding as the clock hits eight minutes, another nod to Axel.
A huge roar of ‘Munster! Munster!’ begins to reverberate around the ground.
2 hrs ago
8:14PM
10′ – MUN 7-3 R92: Munster win a scrum penalty in their own half but their ensuing lineout attack ends with a forward pass out to Seán O’Brien — I’m not sure who threw it, sorry.
But Dan Kelly then wins a big jackal penalty inside his own half!
13′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! MUN 14-3 R92: OH SHAY MCCARTHY! TAKE A BOW!
It’s a wonderful solo finish from the Racing 10-metre line! McCarthy gathers a ball that bobbled backwards off O’Shea’s hand and breaks the line, eventually steamrolling Gibert to finish in the left-hand corner.
What a try! What a start by Munster!
And O’Shea, again, nails his lines from the left-hand touchline!
2 hrs ago
8:22PM
19′ – MUN 14-3 R92: Racing with a couple of moments that should settle them: Maxime Baudonne wins a big jackal penalty in his own 22′ and, from the ensuing lineout, the visitors again roll Munster back a mile, winning a penalty.
The French side now have an attacking lineout in the Munster 22′.
2 hrs ago
8:23PM
20′ – MUN 14-3 R92: Munster defend this Racing assault with ease and force a knock-on. Scrum, red ball, on the home 22′.
2 hrs ago
8:26PM
22′ MUN 14-3 R92: Munster this time repel a Racing maul near their own 22′ and force another knock-on.
They’re bang up for this — but one suspects they’ll need to beat the will out of a Racing team that can become very, very dangerous when their tails are up.
2 hrs ago
8:29PM
24′ – MUN 14-3 R92: Charlie O’Shea makes a poor knock-on from a big Gibert up-and-under, and then gets pinged — harshly — for holding on the ground.
Racing now attacking in the Munster 22′ with a new penalty advantage.
26′ – MUN 14-6 R92: Gibert slots a pen after that latest Munster infringement.
2 hrs ago
8:44PM
37′ – MUN 14-6 R92: Munster respond to a long period of aerial pressure by Racing with their first attack in a while.
Charlie O’Shea, who had been targeted in the air and fielded one monster after two weaker efforts, makes the line-break into the Racing half and finds Alex Nankivell with a wonderful, floating pass.
Racing eventually repel their hosts but that little O’Shea salvo got the crowd going again.
40′ – MUN 14-6 R92: Seán O’Brien makes an interception inside his own half and Munster’s transition ends with a clever kick over the top by O’Shea, which is gathered by Gibert — but he’s immediately smashed by Nankivell, and Munster then win the jackal penalty in Racing’s 22′.
They go to the line but, for the second time, the lineout throw just goes clean through the hands of its target — this time Seán Edogbo, having previously happened to Tadhg Beirne.
It’s a knock-on and the clock is red. That’ll take us to the half.
Nick Elliott / INPHO
Nick Elliott / INPHO / INPHO
Munster the better side, certainly, but they’ll feel they should have a bigger advantage. Racing looking toothless so far but finding some success in the air, and they’re only a score away from being right in this contest. One would suspect they’ll have a purple patch at some point.
A fascinating second half awaits at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
44′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! MUN 21-6 R92: TADHG BEIRNE! THAT WAS OLD-SCHOOL MUNSTER!
Beirne finishes after Munster continuously punch Racing in the mouth, making incremental gains off nearly every phase. Seán Edogbo with a couple of huge carries in the build-up — he’s been superb.
O’Shea converts from centre-right — three from three from the tee.
61′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! MUN 28-18 R92: FINEEN WYCHERLEY WITH A BIG SCORE!
Some big carries, including by Coombes, as Munster bang their way to the Racing 5′. Craig Casey orchestrates it from there, with Wycherley running the perfect line and crossing the whitewash unopposed. Páirc Uí Chaoimh erupts!
And JJ Hanrahan, off the bench like Coombes and Wycherley, converts.
67′ – TRY FOR RACING! MUN 28-25 R92: It’s an insane try by Joey Manu!
Racing transition from deep and offload their way into a yard of space down the right — and there’s no catching Manu who dives over in the corner.
Gibert converts from the right-hand touchline and Racing, again, are right back in it!
1 hr ago
9:40PM
Yellow card for Racing, Arthur Roche
73′ – MUN 28-25 R92: The Racing replacement back is binned for taking Ben O’Connor out in the air, and Munster are now camped on the Racing 5′ as they try to bury this game.
Big, big chance for the hosts, and The Páirc is hopping!
1 hr ago
9:41PM
75′ – MUN 28-25 R92: Wow, Racing repel Munster as they hold them up over the line from the five-metre lineout maul!
Goal-line drop-out, and this one is still very much alive!
1 hr ago
9:44PM
77′ – MUN 28-25 R92: Munster bash away again at the Racing 22′, and they win a penalty for a tackle without the ball.
They go to the corner and will have another five-metre lineout, or close enough!
79′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! MUN 33-25 R92: CRAIG CASEY SEALS IT!
The maul drags Munster towards the line and Casey dives over to put a full stop on this engaging contest. The scrum-half sticks up eight fingers and points towards Axel Foley in the sky.
JJ Hanrahan’s kick trails wide, but Munster are about to open their Champions Cup account with a win!
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As it happened: Munster v Racing 92, Champions Cup
Welcome along to live coverage of Munster’s Champions Cup opener at home to Racing 92 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
It promises to be an emotional occasion on Leeside as the southern province marks the 10-year anniversary of the legendary Anthony Foley.
On the field, Clayton McMillan’s side will seek to build upon their unbeaten record at the home of Cork GAA and get their European campaign off on the right footing.
Kick-off on the way shortly!
A moment’s silence at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for Lions player Hyron Andrews, whose passing shocked the rugby world yesterday.
And now the two captains tonight exchange number eight jerseys, which have been retired for this game in tribute to Axel Foley.
The Fields of Athenry rings around The Páirc.
1′ – MUN 0-0 R92: Antoine Gibert gets us underway.
Here are your two lineups, by the way (and your referee is Karl Dickson of England):
Munster: Ben O’Connor; Shay McCarthy, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Seán O’Brien; Charlie O’Shea, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Marnus van der Merwe, Jack Aungier; Tom Ahern, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Seán Edogbo, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Max Clein, Josh Wycherley, Kieran Brookes, Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Jack O’Donoghue.
Racing 92: Geronimo Prisciantelli; Wilfried Hulleu, Vinaya Habosi, Joey Manu, Sione Tupou; Antoine Gibert, Antoine Latrasse; Edouard Jabea Njocke, Diego Escobar, Gia Kharaishvili; Thomas Lainault, Jordan Joseph; Lekima Tagitagivalu, Nicolas Martins, Maxime Baudonne (capt)
Replacements: Yanis Basse, Lehopoame Leota, Demba Bamba, Nathan Hughes, Soumaila Camara, Maxime Machenaud, Sam James, Arthur Roche
3′ – MUN 0-3 R92: Racing carve Munster open after a seriously impressive midfield maul, at which Munster infringe.
Munster scramble them into touch inside their own 22′, but Dickson brings it back for the pen and Gibert slots the opening points of the game.
Electrifying start by the visitors in Cork!
5′ MUN 0-3 R92: Munster string together a wonderful attack of their own and, as it begins to slow down, European Cup debutant Charlie O’Shea dinks a lovely ball over the top of the Racing defence from inside their 22′.
One of the Racing defenders carries it back over the line — five-metre scrum for Munster!
The Páirc is rocking.
5′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! MUNSTER 7-3 R92: BRIAN GLEESON! HOW FITTING?
Munster’s number eight, wearing 24, crashes over off first phase! It’s a terrific finish, so powerful.
And O’Shea splits the posts from out right. Munster are off the mark!
8′ – MUN 7-3 R92: Fans on their feet applauding as the clock hits eight minutes, another nod to Axel.
A huge roar of ‘Munster! Munster!’ begins to reverberate around the ground.
10′ – MUN 7-3 R92: Munster win a scrum penalty in their own half but their ensuing lineout attack ends with a forward pass out to Seán O’Brien — I’m not sure who threw it, sorry.
But Dan Kelly then wins a big jackal penalty inside his own half!
13′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! MUN 14-3 R92: OH SHAY MCCARTHY! TAKE A BOW!
It’s a wonderful solo finish from the Racing 10-metre line! McCarthy gathers a ball that bobbled backwards off O’Shea’s hand and breaks the line, eventually steamrolling Gibert to finish in the left-hand corner.
What a try! What a start by Munster!
And O’Shea, again, nails his lines from the left-hand touchline!
19′ – MUN 14-3 R92: Racing with a couple of moments that should settle them: Maxime Baudonne wins a big jackal penalty in his own 22′ and, from the ensuing lineout, the visitors again roll Munster back a mile, winning a penalty.
The French side now have an attacking lineout in the Munster 22′.
20′ – MUN 14-3 R92: Munster defend this Racing assault with ease and force a knock-on. Scrum, red ball, on the home 22′.
22′ MUN 14-3 R92: Munster this time repel a Racing maul near their own 22′ and force another knock-on.
They’re bang up for this — but one suspects they’ll need to beat the will out of a Racing team that can become very, very dangerous when their tails are up.
24′ – MUN 14-3 R92: Charlie O’Shea makes a poor knock-on from a big Gibert up-and-under, and then gets pinged — harshly — for holding on the ground.
Racing now attacking in the Munster 22′ with a new penalty advantage.
26′ – MUN 14-6 R92: Gibert slots a pen after that latest Munster infringement.
37′ – MUN 14-6 R92: Munster respond to a long period of aerial pressure by Racing with their first attack in a while.
Charlie O’Shea, who had been targeted in the air and fielded one monster after two weaker efforts, makes the line-break into the Racing half and finds Alex Nankivell with a wonderful, floating pass.
Racing eventually repel their hosts but that little O’Shea salvo got the crowd going again.
40′ – MUN 14-6 R92: Seán O’Brien makes an interception inside his own half and Munster’s transition ends with a clever kick over the top by O’Shea, which is gathered by Gibert — but he’s immediately smashed by Nankivell, and Munster then win the jackal penalty in Racing’s 22′.
They go to the line but, for the second time, the lineout throw just goes clean through the hands of its target — this time Seán Edogbo, having previously happened to Tadhg Beirne.
It’s a knock-on and the clock is red. That’ll take us to the half.
Munster the better side, certainly, but they’ll feel they should have a bigger advantage. Racing looking toothless so far but finding some success in the air, and they’re only a score away from being right in this contest. One would suspect they’ll have a purple patch at some point.
A fascinating second half awaits at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
41′ – MUN 14-6 R92: Charlie O’Shea gets us back underway at The Páirc.
44′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! MUN 21-6 R92: TADHG BEIRNE! THAT WAS OLD-SCHOOL MUNSTER!
Beirne finishes after Munster continuously punch Racing in the mouth, making incremental gains off nearly every phase. Seán Edogbo with a couple of huge carries in the build-up — he’s been superb.
O’Shea converts from centre-right — three from three from the tee.
Great start to the second half by Munster.
47′ – TRY FOR RACING! MUN 21-11 R92: Wilfried Hulleu with a try from nothing!
Off a loose ball from a Racing lineout just outside the Munster 22′, the winger slaloms past Brian Gleeson and darts to the right-hand corner.
That’s what they can do.
Gibert’s conversion trails wide. But Racing haven’t gone away.
53′ – MUN 21-11 R92: Racing have woken up in a big way and they’re knocking on the door once more.
53′ – TRY FOR RACING! MUN 21-18 R92: Racing maul Munster over from five metres! It’s Maxime Machenaud at the bottom of the maul, ha!
Worrying times for Munster. Racing move to within three as Gibert converts.
61′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! MUN 28-18 R92: FINEEN WYCHERLEY WITH A BIG SCORE!
Some big carries, including by Coombes, as Munster bang their way to the Racing 5′. Craig Casey orchestrates it from there, with Wycherley running the perfect line and crossing the whitewash unopposed. Páirc Uí Chaoimh erupts!
And JJ Hanrahan, off the bench like Coombes and Wycherley, converts.
67′ – TRY FOR RACING! MUN 28-25 R92: It’s an insane try by Joey Manu!
Racing transition from deep and offload their way into a yard of space down the right — and there’s no catching Manu who dives over in the corner.
Gibert converts from the right-hand touchline and Racing, again, are right back in it!
73′ – MUN 28-25 R92: The Racing replacement back is binned for taking Ben O’Connor out in the air, and Munster are now camped on the Racing 5′ as they try to bury this game.
Big, big chance for the hosts, and The Páirc is hopping!
75′ – MUN 28-25 R92: Wow, Racing repel Munster as they hold them up over the line from the five-metre lineout maul!
Goal-line drop-out, and this one is still very much alive!
77′ – MUN 28-25 R92: Munster bash away again at the Racing 22′, and they win a penalty for a tackle without the ball.
They go to the corner and will have another five-metre lineout, or close enough!
79′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! MUN 33-25 R92: CRAIG CASEY SEALS IT!
The maul drags Munster towards the line and Casey dives over to put a full stop on this engaging contest. The scrum-half sticks up eight fingers and points towards Axel Foley in the sky.
JJ Hanrahan’s kick trails wide, but Munster are about to open their Champions Cup account with a win!
Job done.
Munster persevere and gain a hard-fought victory at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Thanks for joining us for live updates — enjoy the rest of the weekend and catch you next time!
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