Connacht host Munster in a huge interprovincial clash with a difference today.
The westerners have moved operations to Mayo's GAA heartland, MacHale Park, for the first time and that has piqued the interest of fans, with around 26,000 tickets selling out in no time.
Connacht's previous best crowd was just over 9,000 for their Champions Cup game back in 2011 and so it's all set up for a brilliant occasion and atmosphere.
For the teams, however, the focus is on winning the priceless four or five points on offer. Munster are in sixth place in the URC table and Connacht are 12th, but a home victory would see the westerners leapfrog their provincial rivals.
The race for the top eight play-offs is incredibly tight and neither side can afford slip-ups at this stage of the season. To add to the high stakes feel, both teams have their Ireland internationals back so it will be a tense but high quality affair.
With Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins on sick leave, Cullie Tucker is in the hot seat again, while Munster should be boosted following the flying visit from New Zealand by their incoming head coach Clayton McMillan earlier this week.
Connacht: Hansen, Mullins, Gavin, Aki, Treacy, Ioane, Blade; Duggan, Heffernan, Bealham, Joyce, Murray, Prendergast (captain), Hurley-Langton, Jansen. Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Buckley, Aungier, Murphy, Boyle, Devine, Hanrahan, Cordero.
Munster: O'Connor; Nash, Farrell, Nankivell, O'Brien, Crowley, Casey; Loughman, Barron, Jager, F Wycherley, Beirne (captain), Ahern, Hodnett, Coombes. Replacements : N Scannell, J Wycherley, Archer, Kleyn, Quinn, Murray, R Scannell, Kendellen.
Michael Scully
It was a dramatic finish
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) March 29, 2025Munster hold on!
A grandstand finish but Connacht just couldn't do enough to get the win pic.twitter.com/lDzUf10rKS
Michael Scully
Man of the match Jack Crowley
A magnificent effort from the Munster No.10 and here he speaks to TG4 after the important win for his side.
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 29, 2025#CONVMUN@connachtrugby - 24@Munsterrugby - 30
Laoch na hImeartha, Jack Crowley
Player of the match, Jack Crowley@URCOfficial @Pinergy @IrishRugby#BKTURC #Rugby pic.twitter.com/44tpCJ6xfj
Michael Scully
Munster win
Conor Murray takes the ball from the back of the ruck and Crowley kicks to touch to end the drama.
The Reds win 30-24, earning a vital five points in their bid for a home quarter-final in the play-offs.
Connacht will be devastated after coming so close to leapfrogging their rivals in the standings but their task of getting there has just been made even harder.
Michael Scully
Big steal!
Jean Kleyn marks his return with a big lineout steal seven metres from his own line. Huge moment. Munster have it with seconds remaining.
Michael Scully
Another referral to the TMO
This one could go against Munster.
And it does, Niall Scannell is yellow carded for a clearout on Aki, Munster are back to 13 men and Connacht have a penalty on halfway.
Hanrahan to kick
Michael Scully
Munster look to see it out now
The Reds have the ball around the half-way line and are happily taking it into contact. There's 90 seconds remaining.
Michael Scully
NO TRY!
Drama at MacHale Park as the try is disallowed and the scoreboard reverts back to 30-24. The decision was that it wasn't a neck roll but that it was a dangerous challenge.
That's burst the balloon for the majority of fans at MacHale Park.
Michael Scully
Official check!
Wait a second.....the referee is coming back to look at the screen with a potential crock roll by a Connacht player at the breakdown.
They're looking at Aki's challenge on Gavin Coombes.
KEY EVENT
Try Connacht!
Wow....irresistible stuff from the westerners and Munster have no answer as replacement hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin gets over.
77 minutes gone and the conversion to come.
Connacht trail by a point!!
Michael Scully
Penalty Connacht
The hosts are rampant all of a sudden as they break down the right flank. There's a knock-on but the referee brings the play back for a Connacht penalty on their own 10m line. Hanrahan kicks to touch but miscues it and Connacht have to attack from deep.
Michael Scully
Upright hit
Former Munster out-half Hanrahan is disappointed to hit the near post with his conversion attempt but the Reds are back within Connacht's reach.
KEY EVENT
Try Connacht!
Josh Ioane dives over to finish a scintilliating move by the westerners as the crowd rise in celebration. Jansen played a big role in that move, as did Hugh Gavin.
30-24 with the conversion from Hanrahan to come.
Seven minutes left!
Michael Scully
50:22
Magnificent kick by Mack Hansen brings Connacht right down into Munster's 22 with the lineout to come from Tierney-Martin.
Eight minutes left and Munster lead by 11 points.
Michael Scully
50:22
Crowley again! The Reds' No.10 has had a really good game and he produces another perfectly-placed kick down the line to keep the pressure on, but Connacht clear their lines this time. Munster have a lineout just inside Connacht's 10m line.
Tadhg Beirne is back on for the Reds.
Michael Scully
Penalty Munster
Another Crowley kick to touch inside Connacht's half keeps the pressure on. The Reds will look to stay in the home side's territory as they await the return of skipper Beirne from the sin-bin.
Michael Scully
Scrum Connacht
Crowley makes a break in the Connacht half and exchanges passes with Sean O'Brien, but Connacht scramble well in defence and earn a breakdown penalty inside their own 22.
Craig Casey and Alex Kendellen make way for Conor Murray - making his 200th appearance for the province - and Ruadhán Quinn. 67 minutes gone.
Michael Scully
No try
Munster claim they have scored but Alex Kendellen knocked the ball on over the try line and it's a drop out for Connacht.
KEY EVENT
Try Connacht!
Sean Jansen's second try of the game off the tap penalty.
JJ Hanrahan makes no mistake with the conversion and now it's 30-19 in Munster's favour. There's still time for the home side, especially with their opponents down to 13 for the next nine minutes or so.
We're in the 63rd minute.
Michael Scully
Penalty Connacht...and yellow for Munster
The visitors are down to 13 men now after a lovely attack by Connacht is stopped close to Munster's line, illegally so.
Connacht take a tap penalty, then have to take it again as Munster rush up too fast.
Michael Scully
Penalty Connacht
The westerners need to produce something special in the final 20 minutes. JJ Hanrahan takes over the kicking duties and he will look to find touch deep in Munster's 22.
Niall Scannell and Josh Wycherley are on for Barron and Jeremy Loughman for the Reds as Gavin Coombes is giving the OK to continue after treatment.
It's a good kick by Hanrahan and Connacht must seize this opportunity.
KEY EVENT
Try Munster!
That's the try bonus point secured for the 14-men Reds with Diarmuid Barron doing well to ground the ball despite being tackled by two defenders.
Crowley misses the conversion. Munster are now 30-12 ahead with the hour mark approaching.
Dylan Tierney-Martin is on for Connacht so that's all of the westerners' replacements used.
Michael Scully
Munster close to another try
The Reds think they've scored again and the officials are debating it, with the onfield decision no try as there was no clear rounding. The TMO will take a look.
Michael Scully
A look at the second half's two tries to date
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 29, 202544 nóim #CONVMUN@connachtrugby - 12@Munsterrugby - 18
Tús maith don dara leath ag na Connachtaigh le Caolin Blade ag aimsiú an úd
Great start to the second half for Connacht as Caolin Blade gets the try@URCOfficial @Pinergy @IrishRugby#BKTURC #Rugby pic.twitter.com/1rDkhJFB8h
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 29, 202550 nóim #CONVMUN@connachtrugby - 12@Munsterrugby - 25
Freagra ag na Muimhnigh an t-am seo le Jack Crowley ag aimsiú úd
Munster respond this time as Jack Crowley gets a try under the posts@URCOfficial @Pinergy @IrishRugby#BKTURC #Rugby pic.twitter.com/nemjBPW4Fl
Michael Scully
Subs Connacht
Bealham, Joyce and Jordan Duggan come off for Denis Buckey, Jack Aungier and Paul Boyle.
Michael Scully
Penalty Munster
The Reds have the put in just outside Connacht's 22 and earn a penalty. Crowley kicks to touch inside the hosts' 22. Munster can turn the screw here.
Michael Scully
Munster subs
Stephen Archer and Kleyn are on for Jager and Fineen Wycherley respectively. 56 minutes gone.
Michael Scully
Penalty Munster
Crowley's tackle in midfield sets up a turnover penalty and he earns his side a lineout just outside Connacht's 22.
Connacht make changes. Blade and Cordero are off for Matthew Devine and JJ Hanrahan.
Munster's Jean Kleyn is about to make his return to action having been sidelined for October.
54 minutes gone.
KEY EVENT
Munster try!
An excellent response by the Reds, who camp themselves close to Connacht's line before Casey produces a superb skip pass to release the unmarked Crowley to score. Brilliant work by the Munster half-backs and Crowley adds the extras to make it 25-12 to the Reds with 52 minutes on the clock.
Michael Scully
Penalty Munster
Instant response from the Reds and Crowley kicks to touch from just outside Connacht's 22 to just outside the 5m line.
KEY EVENT
Try Connacht
Big moment in the contest as Caolin Blade scores under the posts. The westerners looked to have blown a good chance when Hansen just failed to find Ioane with an overlap on the left but Finn Treacy exploded down the left flank and Blade was in the right place to score.
The conversion is good and Munster's lead is down to six points.
46 minutes gone.
