Munster v Ulster LIVE coverage of the vital URC clash at Thomond Park
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the URC derby clash between Munster and Ulster at Thomond Park.
There's more than just interpro pride at stake tonight as both provinces are in desperate need of a victory to keep their hopes alive of making the top eight play-offs. Finishing outside of the play-off places will guarantee no Champions Cup rugby for next season, a dire prospect for both provinces.
Both sides are currently outside the cut mark with two regular season fixtures to go and, while Munster are in a stronger position as they are ninth in the table to Ulster's 12th, there are only three points separating the sides.
A win for the Reds would set up a barnstorming collision with Benetton, who are in eighth, in Cork next Friday night - a potential winner takes all scenario.
Ulster finish up with a trip to Edinburgh, who could also be fighting to get into the play-offs, so it's all to play for and it should ensure a tense but entertaining showdown in Limerick.
Richie Murphy's visitors come into this game on the back of a three-match losing streak - the Champions Cup quarter-final against Bordeaux, who have advanced to the final, followed by the URC games against Leinster and the Sharks, which was a damaging three-point defeat in Belfast almost a fortnight ago.
Munster, meanwhile, felt they were hitting their straps with their gutsy European victory in La Rochelle but they have also lost their last three fixtures - also to Bordeaux, in the Champions Cup last eight, and then that controversial narrow home defeat to the Bulls followed by the away loss at Cardiff.
With key men back on both sides - Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett and Stephen Archer for Munster, Iain Henderson, Rob Baloucoune and Michael Lowry for Ulster - expect it to be a typically close derby affair at Thomond Park with five precious points at stake at the business end of the season.
Both provinces will have a firm idea of what is needed from their respective last hurrahs - if anything - by mid afternoon on Sunday, but they will be feeling a lot better about themselves if they win this one.
Stay with us for the build-up followed by a blow by blow account of this high-stakes meeting.
Munster: Thaakir Abrahams; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Michael Milne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (C); Peter O'Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Seán O'Brien, Alex Kendellen.
Ulster: Michael Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Jack Stockdale, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak, Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Scott Wilson, Iain Henderson (CAPT), Cormac Izuchukwu, Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, James McNabney.
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Callum Reid, Tom O'Toole, Alan O'Connor, David McCann, Dave Shanahan, Stewart Moore, Werner Kok.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Luke McGrath's 'relief' at ending Leinster's trophy drought
As the rain that Jake White had prayed for poured down and news of an injury to Jamison Gibson-Park also started to filter through, it was a nervous morning for many Leinster supporters on Saturday ahead of the BKT United Rugby Championship grand final. They needn't have worried too much. The rain that many feared would play into the Bulls' strengths at the scrum ultimately worked in Leinster's favour as they destroyed the South African pack, while Gibson-Park's absence was never really felt as they raced out to a 19-0 lead, and cruised home 32-7. Luke McGrath had been drafted into the starting team late on Thursday after Gibson-Park failed to get through the training week, and the 32-year-old looked controlled and assured as he dictated Leinster's attack which ripped through the Bulls for three tries in the opening quarter. In particular, McGrath was a central character to the second of those scores. There looked to be nothing on when he shaped to box-kick on 13 minutes, but instead of launching a contestable kick to the sky, he delicately chipped the ball into the empty space between the Bull's front and back lines of defence, which Jordie Barrett (below) latched onto superbly for a wonderful try. But rather than being a pre-rehearsed move, the Leinster scrum-half revealed the try was born from some quick thinking by Barrett. "He [Barrett] actually said it to me a few minutes before that, when I hit a box-kick, he just said it [the chip] could be on, and 'just listen for me,'" McGrath said of his role in the try. "But when he said it, it was quite late and I just thought, 'hopefully he gets to that ball' and look, he did, and it was a relief to see him go over the line." Playing a significant part of the final was a just reward for McGrath, who has played 22 times this season across URC and Champions Cup. A veteran of more than 230 Leinster appearances, the former Ireland international has been a big part of Leinster through both their good days and bad, winning five trophies in four seasons between 2018 and 2021, before enduring a four-year wait for silverware. "It's amazing. It's more relief than anything that we got it done. The lads are so happy and the staff are so happy. "I kind of knew during the week that there was a good possibility [I would be starting], just with Jamo's hamstring or whatever, so he gave me the nod that there was a bit of a possibility that I could do it. "But I got told on Thursday, basically after training, that I would be starting. So nervous enough, obviously, but unbelievably excited and obviously it was an unbelievable day out there and one that I'll never forget. "I thought we were really good as a team in the first half, we built that score and that allowed us to build into the second half a bit. "I thought we were really clinical. The lads up front were brilliant in the scrum, the scrum penalties just kept the momentum going and it was a long time coming, so it's all that bit sweeter now." After their official trophy lift out on the pitch, Leinster's players headed to the Hogan Stand (above) to raise the trophy a second time in a nod to their home for the day. This was Leinster's fifth win from five games at Croke Park, with four of those coming in the last 13 months, and McGrath says they're getting used to playing at their rented home. "It's unbelievably special, obviously we've played here three or four times now but every time we come here it's just a bit more [special], the players even feel it coming out, there's proper history here and it's incredible to play in front of a crowd like that today. "And just doing the walk with that trophy, I've been to a few Dublin matches here over the years growing up and to do that walk with the trophy is pretty special, it's one that we'll never forget. "We've lost finals in the last few years and it was really tricky, but all week we just spoke about the performance, we didn't speak much about the result. We said if we put in a performance that we can be proud of the result would look after itself. "It was obviously really tough conditions out there with the rain and the set piece was so important, and that's where the lads were brilliant."
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Javier Mascherano praises Messi as penalty save from Inter Miami's Oscar Ustari secures draw at Club World Cup opener
The 37-year-old was unable to inspire his side to victory against the Egyptian champions at the Hard Rock Stadium as FIFA's revamped tournament still awaits its first goal. Goalkeeper Oscar Ustari saved a penalty in the first half from Al Ahly forward Trezeguet whilst his opposite number Mohamed El Shenawy denied Messi in stoppage time at the end of the game, turning the former Barcelona star's effort against the bar. "It's admirable how much love Messi has for the game," said Mascherano. "After all the matches he's played, he's still here, giving his all. Of course, we wanted to win, but I'm happy with the team's performance today. "Clearly, when we find Leo in positions and get the ball to him in the best way, that's where we have the most options." Miami co-owner Sir David Beckham was given an ovation by home supporters following his knighthood which was confirmed this week. The presence of the former England captain failed to provide the spark for his side in what was arguably their most winnable match of the group stage, ahead of meetings with Porto and Brazilian side Palmeiras. "We take it game by game," said Mascherano. "We know that the level will clearly rise in the next game because they're a European opponent, but we have to stay with the feeling that it's 11 against 11. "Anything can happen in football."
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Inside Leinster's boozy celebrations as stars dance on team bus while leaving Croke Park as URC champs
LEINSTER'S players got to bask in a job well done as they partied into the evening following their victory over Bulls in the URC Grand Final. The Blues Advertisement 7 Players got to don eyewear to protest themselves from all over the champagne that was being sprayed around the dressing room Credit: @joetmmcc 7 French international Rabah Slimani captioned this snap with Andrew Porter 'Champions mon frere' Credit: @slim_rab 7 He then led them in a French sing-song on the team bus Credit: @slim_rab 7 They partied into the night at the RDS Credit: @leinsterrugby A forward-inspired victory was largely done in the first half as Jack Conan, Jordie Barrett and Josh van der Flier scored before rookie Fintan Gunne's late try. The crowd of 46,127 - a record attendance for an Irish final in the competition - showed the public interest, as did the smiles of Would everyone of a Leinster persuasion prefer a Champions Cup? Absolutely. But after four years of hurt, and seeing and hearing the pleasure the Leinster-haters out there take from it, it was a win that was savouried. Advertisement Read More On Irish Sport And it was also never in doubt the way they tackled the game and tackled the Bulls, with player of the match Ryan Baird leading by example. Afterwards Cullen insisted his players now deserve to be written up as winners after being written off as failures. After three Champions Cup final losses, it bothered Cullen that his men were being called failures, which is why winning this one mattered so much. He said: 'You get told the losers of the finals are failures. When you get to the last two, I think you should celebrate both. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union "We've been on the flip side in the past, that the team were failures and I personally don't think that was the case.' But Baird admitted that the final losses of the past had put pressure on Leinster this week. 'Pierre loving retirement' - Peter O'Mahony's wife teases Ireland legend as kids run amok in cute snap He said: 'I found it toughest this week. I felt the pressure. I think a lot of us did. 'But we kept coming back to what got us here, moment by moment, inch by inch, and every time I saw someone else make a tackle, it gave me energy to make another one myself. Advertisement 'It's been a long time coming to win a trophy with this team in front of a full stadium. Last time we did, it was during Covid.' Captain Conan put it down to the team fronting up on the evening. 7 This triumph will act as a welcome tonic to wash out the pain from their Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton 7 Youngster Fintan Gunne got a helping hand in this funny snap Credit: @leinsterrugby Advertisement 7 They had an extra bit of fun by doing a second trophy lift atop the Hogan Stand in true GAA fashion He said: 'It's putting your head where you wouldn't put a shovel. Ultimately, it's a physical game, it's what we teed ourselves up for all week.' Bulls coach Jake White admitted his side ran into a Leinster side that produced their best rugby of the season in the first half. White said: 'We were never going to win that game once they got that 14-0 start. Advertisement 'We got the 40 minutes the Leinster supporters were waiting for the whole season. It was like watching a horror movie, and you hope the ending will be different. 'This was Test-level rugby. Leinster normally have 23 internationals, today they were short, they only had 22. They are a phenomenal team. That is probably the best Leinster team ever.'
