URC: Leinster 5 Munster 13
40 mins: Leinster probe, trying to find a gap in the wall of the 22, but nothing is given by Munster and they get a deserved turnover.
Half-time: Leinster 5 Munster 13
Big second half by Leinster needed to turn this around, Munster have been excellent and deserve to lead at half-time.
Here is the Munster try, well worth a watch:
There is an accusation that Coombes was grabbed in the groin area in a ruck but there is no video evidence so nothing is given by the TMO. Munster win a penalty after the scrum.
38 mins: Leinster are coming into the game now, making plenty of metres with their carries and sharper passes. Joe McCarthy though makes the error and takes his eye off the ball, although may not have expected the pass from Gibson-Park. Knock on and chance gone.
Try for Leinster! Magnificent pass by Jamison Gibson-Park from the scrum, gets the ball quickly and flings a wonderful long pass straight into Tommy O’Brien for an easy try. Carbery misses the conversion.
Leinster 5 Munster 13
34 mins: An unusual moment as the referee Andrew Brace gets stuck inbetween Leinster and Munster players and gets a big hit and is on the ground. Leinster had been threatening in attack and carried to within five metres.
31 mins: Penalty scored by Munster! Yet another turnover for Munster and O’Shea lands a kick from inside his own half. Fantastic kick even if it was with the wind behind.
Leinster 0 Munster 13
27 mins: Try for Munster! Just a brilliant try, Daly scores it after some wonderful back play. O’Shea with the good gamebreaking pass at first then Casey with the clever assist to Daly. O’Shea converts.
Leinster 0 Munster 10
26 mins: Ben O’Connor is put under pressure with the ball in behind and is forced into touch. From the lineout, Leinster only get a few phases before Coombes turns it over, can’t get through Munster at all so far.
21 mins: From the scrum, sharp play by Leinster and Tommy O’Brien is almost through but the ball comes loose and Casey clears but can’t get to touch. But Munster manage to turn the ball over.
18 mins: Big hits going in, Wycherley on Jimmy O’Brien in particular. Leinster win a scrum in Munster’s half after a knock on from Gibson-Park’s box-kick.
16 mins: Good defensive effort by Leinster to turn over Munster and Carbery kicks into Munster’s half for the first time really.
13 mins: Leinster haven’t really got going yet, summed up by Gibson-Park hitting it out in the full, a few moments after they were penalised in the scrum.
A minute’s applause for the Anthony Foley in the eighth minute, who died 10 years ago.
8 mins: Penalty scored by Munster! O’Shea scores as they opt for the posts, with Casey holding the ball still for him.
Leinster 0 Munster 3
6 mins: Munster go nowhere from the lineout and lose the ball, but then win a penalty off Kelleher. Better play from the lineout by Munster, some nice play by the backs and they win another penalty to get to the 22. But then Shay McCarthy carries to close the five-metre line. O’Shea tries a crossfield kick, doesn’t work but back for the penalty.
3 mins: Both teams testing the other with high balls in the blustery conditions, O’Shea kicks in behind and Keenan doesn’t have the best kick so Munster have a lineout from the 22.
Munster’s Christian Foley during warm-up ahead of the game. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
Kickoff is in a few minutes, should be an entertaining one.
It’s going to be wet and wild at the Aviva tonight, difficult conditions for flowing rugby, it could be a case of who makes the fewest mistakes. Dan Sheehan will have a new experience at number eight, while Joey Carbery is at outhalf against his former team. Gerry Thornley writes about Sheehan and the Springboks and French penchant for hybrid players, if this could be the start of something new for Leinster and Ireland:
[ Dan Sheehan’s versatility could be an asset ahead of World CupOpens in new window ]
Leinster’s Dan Sheehan, Referee Andrew Brace and Munster’s Tadhg Beirne during the coin toss ahead of the game. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho
From Nathan Johns: Watching Leinster’s victory over Clermont last weekend, a text was sent to a former analyst at a professional team.
“Light the beacons, Leinster have scored on transition.”
The exchange was in reference Sam Prendergast’s length of the field score, an audacious decision to counterattack from deep. Not playing with freedom while padding a lead, but running from their own 22 while trailing by a point away in France.
Something to watch out for tonight, you can read more here:
[ Fresh attacking ideas make Leinster v Munster an enticing prospectOpens in new window ]
In the earlier URC match today, Ulster were beaten by Bulls in South Africa but put in a second-half performance they could be proud of.
[ Ulster beaten by Bulls despite brave second-half fightbackOpens in new window ]
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the URC match between Leinster and Munster at the Aviva Stadium. Kick-off is at 6pm. The old rivals go up against each other once more after fine wins in the Champions Cup. Leinster will be big favourites but Munster always give it their best shot against them.
Here are the teams:
Leinster: Hugo Keenan, Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien, Joey Carbery, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Dan Sheehan (capt). Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Alex Usanov, Thomas Clarkson, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Caspar Gabriel, Charlie Tector.
Munster: Ben O’Connor, Shay McCarthy, Seán O’Brien, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly, Charlie O’Shea, Craig Casey; Josh Wycherley, Marnus van der Merwe, Kieran Brookes, Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt), Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Max Clein, Mark Donnelly, Michael Ala’alatoa, Seán Edogbo, Brian Gleeson, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Gordon Wood.
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)