Evening, all. Welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Munster v Ulster in Round 14 of the URC.
A massive game for both sides, but Ulster’s team selection would indicate it’s more massive for Munster than it is for them.
Gavan Casey here and I’ll bring you live updates from this evening’s encounter at Thomond Park.
Let’s go!
25 Apr
5:08PM
Teams
A reminder of how the sides line out. Sam Groves-White is your man in the middle at Thomond.
Munster Rugby: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Andrew Smith; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Michael Ala’alatoa, Edwin Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, Dan Kelly, Alex Kendellen
Ulster Rugby: Michael Lowry (C); Ben Moxham, Ben Carson, Ethan McIlroy, Aitzol Arenzana-King; Jake Flannery, Conor McKee; Eric O’Sullivan, James McCormick, Bryan O’Connor; Harry Sheridan, Charlie Irvine; James McKillop, Tom Brigg, Lorcan McLoughlin.
Replacements: John Andrew, Callum Reid, Tom McAllister, Joe Hopes, Marcus Rea, David Shanahan, James Humphreys, Jonny Scott
Openside Tom Brigg is sent to the bin for Ulster for deliberately knocking on an Alex Nankivell offload, and the hosts capitalise from the resulting lineout.
Hodnett crashes over. Hanrahan’s conversion is wide, but Munster have begun to motor, it seems.
Good half of rugby. Ulster giving as good as they’re getting despite their wholesale changes.
All to play for in the second half!
25 Apr
6:38PM
Second half
44′ – MUN 12-7 ULS: Tom Farrell going off injured — which means Munster will have to play a forward in their backline due to their 6-2 bench split.
John Hodnett to the wing, it looks like!
25 Apr
6:39PM
46′ – MUN 12-7 ULS: Michael Alalatoa on for Oli Jager, who’s off for a HIA. Ah, that’s gutting for Jager, given his recent history. Hopefully he’s okay.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
12 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Munster 41-14 Ulster, URC
Evening, all. Welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Munster v Ulster in Round 14 of the URC.
A massive game for both sides, but Ulster’s team selection would indicate it’s more massive for Munster than it is for them.
Gavan Casey here and I’ll bring you live updates from this evening’s encounter at Thomond Park.
Let’s go!
A reminder of how the sides line out. Sam Groves-White is your man in the middle at Thomond.
Munster Rugby: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Andrew Smith; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Tom Ahern, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Michael Ala’alatoa, Edwin Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, Dan Kelly, Alex Kendellen
Ulster Rugby: Michael Lowry (C); Ben Moxham, Ben Carson, Ethan McIlroy, Aitzol Arenzana-King; Jake Flannery, Conor McKee; Eric O’Sullivan, James McCormick, Bryan O’Connor; Harry Sheridan, Charlie Irvine; James McKillop, Tom Brigg, Lorcan McLoughlin.
Replacements: John Andrew, Callum Reid, Tom McAllister, Joe Hopes, Marcus Rea, David Shanahan, James Humphreys, Jonny Scott
All smiles…
1′ – MUN 0-0 ULS: Former Munster man Jake Flannery gets us underway at Thomond.
2′ – MUN 0-0 ULS: Wow! Ulster go very close but Shane Daly holds up James McKillop over the line.
Brilliant start by the visitors.
6′ – MUN 0-0 ULS: Edwin Edogbo on for Jean Kleyn, who had a clash of heads with Ben Carson.
Kleyn off for a HIA.
7′ – MUN 0-0 ULS: Eric O’Sullivan wins a scrum pen on Oli Jager! Big celebrations from Ulster on halfway.
13′ – TRY FOR ULSTER! AITZOL KING!
What a finish by the first-team debutant in the right-hand corner.
Great team move by Ulster in the Munster 22′ — and they deserved that score.
Jake Flannery converts from the right-hand touchline!
The men from the north lead in Limerick.
17′ – MUN 0-7 ULS: Jean Kleyn, back on after passing his HIA, is replaced immediately by Edwin Edogbo once more.
22′ – MUN 0-7 ULS: Munster have been shocking so far. Ulster containing them with ease. By far the better side to this point.
24′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! JOHN HODNETT!
Openside Tom Brigg is sent to the bin for Ulster for deliberately knocking on an Alex Nankivell offload, and the hosts capitalise from the resulting lineout.
Hodnett crashes over. Hanrahan’s conversion is wide, but Munster have begun to motor, it seems.
29′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! HODNETT AGAIN!
Excellent score by the hosts as Hodnett crashes over from close range with help from Edogbo and others.
Hanrahan converts, and Munster have the lead.
39′ – MUN 12-7 ULS: Oooft. Mike Lowry very close to a score for Ulster but the offload just goes askew.
Even enough game here as we approach the break. Not a great deal to write home about — just a solid contest.
Good half of rugby. Ulster giving as good as they’re getting despite their wholesale changes.
All to play for in the second half!
44′ – MUN 12-7 ULS: Tom Farrell going off injured — which means Munster will have to play a forward in their backline due to their 6-2 bench split.
John Hodnett to the wing, it looks like!
46′ – MUN 12-7 ULS: Michael Alalatoa on for Oli Jager, who’s off for a HIA. Ah, that’s gutting for Jager, given his recent history. Hopefully he’s okay.
47′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! ALEX KENDELLEN!
Daylight between the sides as the back row finishes a fine team move! Lovely attacking rugby by Munster.
Hanrahan misses again from the tee, but Munster have a double-digit lead against this inexperienced Ulster side.
Could be curtains.
52′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! KENDELLEN AGAIN!
Munster in the groove, and Hanrahan converts. Game over, ball bursht.
56′ – TRY FOR MUNSTER! HAT-TRICK FOR HODNETT!
Munster turning on the style, what a score after a brilliant offload by Craig Casey.
And Hodnett takes his third. Super try by the hosts.
Hanrahan off the mark with the afters, but it won’t matter.
They’re rolling…
65′ – Try for Ulster! John Andrew (I think).
Ulster build the case to chase a bonus point, or two, as they maul Munster over from close range.
Really excellent score by the whole pack. Munster got a shunt on the initial maul but Ulster just outflanked them and overpowered them.
Flannery converts on his old ground.
69′ – Try for Munster! Hodnett with his fourth!
Munster respond straight away and the back row from West Cork finishes down the left.
Hanrahan — not his day from the tee — is off the mark again.
71′ – Try for Munster! Kendellen gets his hat-trick!
Wow, four tries for Hodnett and now three for Kendellen.
Lovely football skills to fly-hack through the loose ball and he dives on it to score.
Hanrahan converts. Munster in party mode against this reshuffled Ulster side.
Job done for Munster against a weakened Ulster side in Limerick.
They’re well set for the play-offs now.
Thanks for joining us — catch you for the next one!
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
As it happened Liveblog Rugby