THERE’S WAS MUCH more than just provincial bragging rights on the line as Ulster welcome Munster to Kingspan Stadium.
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Good afternoon and welcome to The42′s live coverage of this crunch inter-provincial clash between Ulster and Anthony Foley’s Munster in Belfast.
After both sides crashed out of Europe at the first hurdle, they’ve quietly gone about their business in the Guinness Pro12 with Munster, currently sitting third, one point ahead of their opponents today by a single point.
It’s all set-up to be a cracking game of rugby.
Here’s a quick look at both teams with kick-off (2.40pm) fast approaching.
Craig Gilroy misses out for Ulster with a hamstring injury while Roger Wilson will become the province’s most capped Pro12 player as he makes his 132nd appearance this afternoon.
Ulster:
15. Louis Ludik
14. Tommy Bowe
13. Jared Payne
12. Darren Cave
11. Peter Nelson
10. Paddy Jackson
9. Ruan Pienaar
1. Callum Black
2. Rory Best
3. Wiehahn Herbst
4. Franco van der Merwe
5. Dan Tuohy
6. Iain Henderson
7. Chris Henry
8. Roger Wilson
Munster, meanwhile, have made three changes to their XV for today’s game with the destructive second row partnership of Donnacha Ryan and Paul O’Connell and exciting prospect.
Munster:
15. Felix Jones
14. Keith Earls
13. Andrew Smith
12. Denis Hurley
11. Simon Zebo
10. Ian Keatley
9. Conor Murray
1. Dave Kilcoyne
2. Eusebio Guinazu
3. Stephen Archer
4. Donnacha Ryan
5. Paul O’Connell
6. Peter O’Mahony (capt)
7. Tommy O’Donnell
8. CJ Stander
Capacity crowd of 18,000 expected in Ravenhill for what promises to be an intriguing battle.
After last night’s results, which included a win for Leinster over Treviso, the top half of the Pro12 table currently looks like this:
Ospreys’ 21-10 victory over Glasgow at the Liberty Stadium meant they moved to the summit but the winners of today’s fixture at Ravenhill are set to replace them.
Whilst we wait for kick-off, there is still time to read our match preview here.
As always, our man Murray Kinsella is in position as both teams go through their final preparations.
The sun is shining in Belfast and it looks like perfect conditions for rugby. How do you see this one going?
As Munster emerge from the dressing room, Jerry Flannery tells Sky Sports the visitors will need to start brightly in order to weather an inevitable Ulster storm. And here come the home side led by Rory Best.
Nigel Owens is today’s referee and Ian Keatley gets proceedings underway.
Munster have come storming out of the blocks as Paul O’Connell superbly gathers the kick-off and sets-up a platform for his side. A succession of phases follow but eventually Dave Kilcoyne knocks on and Ulster get the opportunity to clear.
Ulster find themselves under pressure in these opening exchanges. Munster look purposeful as they’ve camped themselves inside the hosts’ half for the first three minutes.
Early blow for Munster as Tommy O’Donnell limps off after just a couple of minutes. Jack O’Donoghue is his replacement.
PENALTY! Ulster 0-3 Munster (Keatley)
Munster have converted their bright start into points as Ian Keatley knocks over a straightforward penalty after Ulster were penalised at the breakdown.
Breathless start as it’s Ulster turn to throw the ball wide after Hurley spills possession in midfield. It doesn’t amount to anything but that’s livened the home fans.
Jackson’s delicate chip in behind the wall of red shirts is just over hit as Zebo scrambles back to dot down.
Payne, Ludik and Jackson have seen an incredible amount of ball already and Payne, in particular, has made 21 metres in the tackle.
Perfectly executed wraparound involving Jackson very nearly releases Tommy Bowe down the right but the Ireland winger overruns the pass. Since they’ve taken the lead, Munster have hardly had possession but have absorbed the pressure thus far.
Ulster are creating chances and a decoy run opens up another hole in the Munster defence but the visitors turn attack into defence after a knock-on and Zebo’s hack clear is chased down by Keith Earls, who out-sprints Best to the ball, but is unable to apply the finishing touch under pressure.
That was incredible defensive work from Best and then Iain Henderson to stop a certain try as Earls pounced on the loose ball.
For the first time, both sets of players have been able to catch their breath after a ferocious start. Ulster have been excellent but still trail as they’ve failed to turn promising positions into points.
Huge roar as Ulster win the penalty just as Munster looked to be putting the hosts under a bit of pressure in their own 22. Best, as usual, picks out Tuohy and Ulster go again.
Going back to that fiercely contested breakdown, there was a brilliant tackle from Louis Ludik to turn over O’Mahony and his team mates did the rest.
Again Ulster are left frustrated by a handling error. Jackson’s attempted offload to Darren Cave is spilled forward and groans go around Ravenhill.
Second enforced change for Munster as Zebo follows O’Donnell by trudging off with a knock. Ronan O’Mahony comes on as Munster win a penalty, which allows Keatley to bring play towards half-way.
Ulster were penalised for bringing down the scrum there and they’ll wonder how they still trail. But a succession of handling errors has cost Neil Doak’s side while Munster remain firm.
As we have a brief stoppage in play, what have you made of the first-half so far? Let us know in the comments section below.
Roger Wilson has now gone down the tunnel to be replaced by Robbie Diack. As the action resumes, Nigel Owens penalises Ulster for not driving straight and this is very kickable for Keatley.
PENALTY! Ulster 0-6 Munster (Keatley)
And he nails it. Fine kick from Keatley as Munster extend their advantage with just eight minutes remaining of an absorbing first period.
Ball swapping hands at regular intervals but it’s Munster who come out with it after a sloppy passage of play. Eventually, indiscipline from Chris Henry gives Keatley another shot at goal from 38m.
PENALTY! Ulster 0-9 Munster (Keatley)
No mistake from the out-half as he slots over his third penalty of the afternoon. It wasn’t the prettiest effort but it was between the sticks, nonetheless.
Meanwhile, Roger Wilson won’t be returning after that head injury assessment.
Ironic cheers from the home fans as Nigel Owens awards their side a penalty. Jackson has the chance to reduce the deficit and get Ulster on the board a couple of minutes before the interval.
PENALTY! Ulster 3-9 Munster (Jackson)
The white flags are blowing in the mind as Jackson converts from the tee to keep Ulster in touch with Munster as the clock strikes red.
TRY! Ulster 10-9 Munster (Bowe)
From the restart, Best steels in to poach Paul O’Connell’s knock down and it finds it’s way out to Bowe on the right wing and he cuts inside two tackles to touch down. Jackson adds the extras. What a turnaround!
Sensational flick from Iain Henderson to set Bowe away there and the winger did the rest. It is his sixth try of the Pro12 campaign and what a swing in momentum right on half-time.
What a sensational half of rugby. What did you make of that?
Still along way to go in this one, but here’s how the Pro12 table currently stands:
Jackson restarts and Ulster are on the front foot straight away as Cave pierces the Munster defence.
PENALTY! Ulster 13-9 Munster (Jackson)
Ulster win a free kick from the scrum and after opting for a reset, win a penalty after Munster were penalised for obstruction at the breakdown.
Pienaar thinks about taking it quickly but sensibly hands it to Jackson to extend Ulster’s lead.
Keatley’s quick thinking nearly catches Ulster off guard as Jones and O’Mahony exchange passes down the left but after going infield, Peter O’Mahony uncharacteristically fumbles and Ulster have the put in.
Nelson is unable to gather Jackson’s pass and possession is turned over again and Munster apply the pressure as they recycle possession through the forwards. The visitors are edging towards the try line and have an advantage.
PENALTY! Ulster 13-12 Munster (Keatley)
And Nigel Owens comes back to that penalty and Keatley has the simple task of slotting over from straight in front of the posts. Munster have responded positively to conceding two quick scores just before the break and then another moments after.
Couple of changes now for Ulster as Neil Doak turns to his bench. Stuart McCloskey replaces Darren Cave in midfield and a few minutes earlier, Herbst made way for Ross.
Instant impact by McCloskey as Munster make yards with a rolling maul but when the ball is thrown into midfield, the replacement uses his upper body strange to force the turnover and Ulster have a scrum just outside their own 22.
But Munster put the squeeze on and force the turnover and from the resulting scrum, the visitors earn the penalty after driving Ulster towards their own line.
PENALTY! Ulster 13-15 Munster (Keatley)
Bread and butter for Keatley as he takes his, and Munster’s, tally for the afternoon to 15 and the southern province now lead again. Twenty minutes left on the clock and Kingspan Stadium has gone quiet all of a sudden.
The complexion of this game has changed again. The ball is beginning to bounce in Munster’s favour again as Ronan O’Mahony makes a break down the left from the restart and after a kick and chase is unlucky to knock-on.
Another line break from Bowe has the crowd on their feet but he doesn’t look before offloading and nobody in white is there to accept the invitation to touch down under the posts.
The Ireland winger was too quick for his team mates there and Henry was unable to make the ground as the chance was wasted.
Paul Marshall comes on for Peter Nelson, who pulled up a few minutes ago after kicking clear. The crowd try and rally their side with a rendition of SUFTUM as Munster hold a narrow lead heading into the final quarter.
PENALTY! Ulster 13-18 Munster (Keatley)
Brilliant strike from Keatley as he gives Munster some breathing space with his sixth penalty of the afternoon. A little clench of the fist illustrates how crucial that could be. Just ten minutes remaining and the visitors’ lead is five.
PENALTY! Ulster 16-18 Munster (Jackson)
Instant reply from the hosts as Munster are caught offside. Jackson makes no mistake and the difference is back to two. Strap yourselves in for a big finish.
Ulster have a scrum inside their own half but they quickly turn defence into attack as Bowe races down the left and they’re now metres from the line. It was a lovely pass from Jackson to set Bowe away but Tuohy attempts to kick through and Munster get the chance to clear.
Jackson has been superb all afternoon but once again Ulster squander a promising position. Nigel Owens has gone to the TMO for an earlier incident involving Iain Henderson.
RED CARD! Iain Henderson
The officials adjudge Henderson of leading with the head as he attempted to clean out the ruck. Ravenhill is stunned into silence and that could be the season over for the flanker.
TRY! Ulster 16-23 Munster (Earls)
Clinical from Munster as Earls touches down in the corner to surely secure victory. Ulster are still reeling from Henderson’s dismissal and there is acres of space for Felix Jones to fire it wide for Earls to beat his man and run in. Keatley is unable to add the extras.
Ulster can still snatch a draw but time is running out and the 14 men are up against it. They have possession, however, as the clock edges towards 80 minutes.
Ulster earn the penalty at the breakdown and Jackson knows a losing bonus point isn’t enough as he kicks for the corner. This will be the final play of the game.
TRY! Ulster 21-23 Munster (Marshall)
Incredible! McCloskey powers through after the rolling maul before Payne is held up inches from the line. There is space out wide and eventually its fired out to Marshall who has the simple task of running over.
Extremely difficult conversion for Jackson, however.
CONVERSION! Ulster 23-23 Munster (Jackson)
What a kick! From just inside the touch line on the left wing, Jackson nails it and it was never anywhere but between the posts to snatch a draw for Ulster. Incredible game of rugby.
Drama throughout at Kingspan Stadium as Jackson holds his nerve right at the death to preserve Ulster’s unbeaten home record in the Pro12 this year.
Here’s how the Pro12 table stands after that result:
We’re off to catch our breath after that one. There will be plenty of reaction on the site throughout this evening from Murray Kinsella in Belfast.
