Good evening, and welcome along to our live coverage of this evening’s second URC semi-final between Leinster and Munster.
Stormers overcame Connacht earlier, but which other Irish province will be joining the defending champions in the 2022/23 decider?
There’s both a URC final spot and bragging rights on the line at the Aviva Stadium.
Kick-off is 5.30pm, with the game live on RTÉ 2, but we’ll do our best to keep you up to date right here.
Here’s a reminder of the teams:
Leinster
- 15. Jimmy O’Brien
- 14. Tommy O’Brien
- 13. Robbie Henshaw
- 12. Charlie Ngatai
- 11. Dave Kearney
- 10. Harry Byrne
- 9. Luke McGrath (captain)
- 1. Michael Milne
- 2. Rónan Kelleher
- 3. Michael Ala’alatoa
- 4. Ryan Baird
- 5. Jason Jenkins
- 6. Max Deegan
- 7. Will Connors
- 8. Jack Conan
Replacements
- 16. John McKee
- 17. Cian Healy
- 18. Thomas Clarkson
- 19. Joe McCarthy
- 20. Josh van der Flier
- 21. Nick McCarthy
- 22. Ciarán Frawley
- 23. Liam Turner
Munster
- 15. Mike Haley
- 14. Keith Earls
- 13. Antoine Frisch
- 12. Jack Crowley
- 11. Shane Daly
- 10. Ben Healy
- 9. Craig Casey
- 1. Jeremy Loughman
- 2. Diarmuid Barron
- 3. Stephen Archer;
- 4. Jean Kleyn
- 5. Tadhg Beirne
- 6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
- 7. John Hodnett
- 8. Gavin Coombes
Replacements
- 16. Niall Scannell
- 17. Josh Wycherley
- 18. Roman Salanoa
- 19. Fineen Wycherley
- 20. Jack O’Donoghue
- 21. Neil Cronin
- 22. Rory Scannell
- 23. Alex Kendellen
Referee: Frank Murphy.
“Be brave and have a go,” is Graham Rowntree’s message to his Munster side.
Both himself and Leo Cullen were feeling positive ahead of kick-off in their pre-match interviews with RTÉ.
Leinster are favourites for this one. Who will come out on top and advance to the 2022/23 URC final?
Poll Results:
Leinster 0-0 Munster
Harry Byrne gets us underway at the Aviva Stadium.
1 min: Leinster 0-0 Munster
Will Connors is down receiving treatment. Concerning scenes early on.
1 min: Leinster 0-0 Munster
Big break in play for medical attention, Connors is brought off on the cart to a huge ovation. It seems Diarmuid Barron’s arm caught him on the chin. Awful to see him forced off, another unfortunate blow. Josh van der Flier comes in.
2 mins: Leinster 3-0 Munster
A Byrne penalty opens the scoring after that unfortunate incident. He kicked it well after the lengthy wait.
5 mins: Leinster 3-0 Munster
Penalties at both ends as the sides look to settle: Van Der Flier wins the first, then Barron. Both opt to kick down the line. Nice tempo early on, with Munster looking to keep the ball alive.
8 mins: Leinster 3-0 Munster
Munster put themselves in a nice attacking position, after Jack Crowley kicks right to the corner off the back of a penalty conceded by Ronan Kelleher. They move through the phases from the line-out, but JVDF steps up with a huge turnover. Jack McGrath clears.
10 mins: Leinster 3-3 Munster
All square after a big Healy penalty. He opts for the posts on this occasion, after his earlier statement, with Jack Conan the penalised party.
13 mins: Leinster 3-3 Munster
Leinster are enjoying the upper hand once more, a huge Keith Earls tackle — and another off the ball — stems their flow but it’s looking pretty ominous.
15 mins: Leinster 3-3 Munster
Munster eventually clear their lines, Craig Casey with a big kick. The Leinster line-out isn’t straight, so we go to the scrum.
18 mins: Leinster 3-3 Munster
A bit of over and back, kick tennis if you like, comes to an end with a line-out for Munster inside their own half. It’s all good, a big Garryowen kick comes after and a Leinster player — I can’t quite make out who — leaps to take it brilliantly.
Ryan Baird has gone over for a Leinster try, but referee Frank Murphy is heading to the TMO.
20 mins: Leinster 3-3 Munster
NO TRY. Tommy O’Brien is adjudged to have knocked on as himself and Peter O’Mahony looked to fetch before Baird collected the loose ball on halfway and went all the way. Would have been an incredible try, could be a huge moment in the game.
22 mins: Leinster 3-3 Munster
Breathless stuff straight after as Healy and Casey almost break the line but Van der Flier again makes his impact felt. Munster are heaping the pressure on here.
“Absorbing stuff,” says Murray Kinsella of this parish on RTÉ, but he stresses the need for Munster to exit better. This one is right in the balance, as Kelleher’s off-the-ball tackle hands the southern province a penalty right before the posts.
23 mins: Munster 6-3 Leinster
Healy nails it, as Munster move into the lead.
28 mins: Munster 6-3 Leinster
Battle of the 10s as Healy plays with fire in the backfield, but gets away from O’Brien. Jeremy Loughman forces a Leinster knock-on just outside their 22, epitomising the brilliance of the Munster defence so far this evening. That gives them the attacking platform they need, as they go on the hunt and stretch Leinster.
30 mins: Munster 6-3 Leinster
Munster penalty close to the posts, and Healy opts for the corner again showing their intent. They have the momentum, it’s worth a try. Somehow, someway, they lost the ball in the rolling maul and Leinster can breathe a sigh of relief.
32 mins: Munster 6-3 Leinster
It was Max Deegan with that crucial steal. Meanwhile, Rory Scannell has replaced Ben Healy as a blood sub. Earlier, Casey was strapped up, so some injury concerns for Munster.
Speaking to RTÉ, attack coach Mike Prendergast calls for “calmness” when they enter the 22. That was the latest of their wasted opportunities.
35 mins: Munster 6-3 Leinster
My word! In an almost identical position from another line-out maul, Munster somehow lose the ball again. So close to the try line. Kelleher was the man to intercept on this occasion. They’re creating chances, but really need to convert.
TRY! Leinster 8-6 Munster (Jenkins 38)
39 mins: Leinster 10-6 Munster
What a response from Leinster, who were under serious pressure there. Jason Jenkins crashes over, after his side moved through the gears and showed Munster exactly how to be clinical in the opposition 22. Byrne adds the extras, and that’s all we have time for in the first half.
Half time: Leinster 10-6 Munster
What a contest at the Aviva Stadium. So disappointing for Munster to trail at the break, but Leinster know exactly how to take their opportunities and that’s the difference at the end of the day.
Here’s that all-important try:
Half-time: Leinster 10-6 Munster - A cruel end to the first half as Jason Jenkins scores the opening try, despite Munster looking the more threatening side.
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) May 13, 2023
📺 Watch on @RTE2 & https://t.co/OIsnQ76QnT
📱 Follow https://t.co/hgXAq6EXEg
📻 Listen https://t.co/CIxLsTSL49 pic.twitter.com/bdyzFNxgBZ
Second half: Leinster 10-6 Munster
Jack Crowley gets us going again.
42 mins: Leinster 10-6 Munster
Munster start with intent, Peter O’Mahony with a huge break but a poor Casey pass derails them. They soon get going again, Coombes with a brilliant line break, but they can’t make another attack stick. Ciarán Frawley is in for Jimmy O’Brien
44 mins: Leinster 10-6 Munster
Another big break in play for treatment. Munster are camped in the Leinster 22 and could really do with making inroads. All-out attack, but error-strewn at times.
45 mins: Leinster 10-6 Munster
Munster back themselves with a tap-and-go from a penalty metres away from the try line. Can they make it count?
Just beforehand, Fineen Wycherley came in for Jean Kleyn (HIA).
TRY! Munster 11-10 Leinster (Beirne 46)
TRY! Munster 13-10 Leinster
50 mins: Munster 13-10 Leinster
Leinster respond just as you’d expect them to, they smell blood but Beirne pops up with a big steal to turn them over. What a few minutes for him!
Some changes: Cian Healy is on for Milne for Leinster, with Munster introducing fresh legs through Roman Salanoa, Nialll Scannell and Jack O’Donoghue.
Murray Kinsella’s thoughts? “What a game of rugby, an absolute classic!”
53 mins: Munster 13-10 Leinster
Both sides are scrapping for absolutely everything, the next try surely key. Van der Flier and Beirne have been absolutely immense, leading the way for their respective sides on the turnover count. Munster are going for the jugular now…
56 mins: Munster 13-10 Leinster
Leinster concede their tenth penalty of the day — Baird is too slow to roll away. Posts or corner? Munster go for the corner once again. Another statement.
58 mins: Munster 13-10 Leinster
Munster patiently work through the phases and find themselves close, but Deegan steps up with another huge piece of defensive play. He strips the ball from Salanoa, and it’s another let-off for Leo Cullen’s men / another missed chance for Graham Rowntree’s.
Joe McCarthy replaces Jenkins.
60 mins: Munster 13-10 Leinster
Suddenly, Leinster are on the break. Tommy O’Brien is put through for a footrace, but Haley and Beirne put just enough pressure on and he knocks on. ‘Leinster, Leinster’ rings out around the ground. Is the momentum shifting slightly after a huge second-half showing from Munster thus far?
TRY! Leinster 15-13 Munster (McCarthy 63)
64 mins: Leinster 15-13 Munster (McCarthy 63)
Big, big swing. Leinster turn the screw through almost 20 phases, and replacement Joe McCarthy finishes. Frawley leaves the extra two points behind, but Leinster will be happy to be back on top. No doubt there’s a few more twists and turns in this.
68 mins: Leinster 15-13 Munster
What an incredible battle this is. Mistakes are creeping in as players tire with unforced knock-ons from both sides, Casey is cramping up.
Nick McCarthy replaces Luke McGrath.
Here’s a look at the latest try, is there another one in this game?
Leinster 15-13 Munster: Joe McCarthy bashes his way over a stubborn Munster defence to put Leinster back in front, but they can’t add the extras. #RTErugby
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) May 13, 2023
📺 Watch on @RTE2 & https://t.co/OIsnQ76QnT
📱 Follow https://t.co/4c446IqbvX
📻 Listen https://t.co/CIxLsTSL49 pic.twitter.com/xfabBayDX6
72 mins: Leinster 15-13 Munster
Scrum in the midfield after the first flashpoint of the day. It’s a messy one, Murphy calls it back to go again and boos ring out around Lansdowne Road.
73 mins: Leinster 15-13 Munster
Munster get away despite the Leinster pressure in the scrum. Keith Earls is released, but Robbie Henshaw steps up with a huge tackle to stop him in his tracks. Another scrum around the middle, Leinster win a penalty from it and Byrne goes for the corner.
76 mins: Leinster 15-13 Munster
Leinster win the line-out, but lose the ball later. Munster exit, a manic few moments ensue with big hits going in all over. This is right in the balance, but Munster have possession — just as they need.
DROP GOAL! Munster 16-15 Leinster (Crowley 78)
Wow!!!! Munster were patient and worked themselves into the perfect position, for Crowley to nail a drop goal and put them one point up. Just over a minute to go, scrum in the middle, this could be it…
Munster just have to keep the ball, Leinster doing everything for one more shot.
Full time: Munster 16-15 Leinster
Unbelievable scenes! Munster are in the URC final after a phenomenal last-gasp drop goal from Jack Crowley. What a game of rugby, with no shortage of twists and turns.
Ciarán Kennedy’s report will be on The 42 imminently, but that’s all from our liveblog. Thanks for reading, enjoy your evening.
