Leinster v Munster, Pro14 semi-finalThe42

1 minute ago

It’s interesting to see Conor Murray receiving treatment after that exchange. Of course, he had a long-standing shoulder / neck problem that hampered his game. Hopefully, this side of the sport’s closure doesn’t light up.

3 minutes ago

A mistake by Luke McGrath gives Munster a platform to attack, but Leinster’s defense makes sure they end up going side to side or backwards until Hanrahan kicks to touch.

Beirne wins the lineout to steal possession from Leinster, but Loughman spills at the base of a ruck and Leinster can take a second chance to clear his lines.

5 minutes ago

Strong, strong suspicion of a double move by Kelleher as he slid from the base of a maul to the try line, but the TMO ruled there was insufficient evidence to overturn Andrew Brace’s on-court decision.

And, while Sexton achieves the touchline conversion, isn’t it like Leinster working his way to a four-point lead after being on the back foot for nearly half an hour?

Leinster 7 Munster 3

8 minutes ago

TRY! Leinster 5 Munster 3 (Kelleher ’28)

9 minutes ago

Leinster assembled a fluid mallet. Munster has excellent defense in that area and managed to interrupt them.

The TMO is taking a look to see how close Leinster came to the cover-up.

11 minutes ago

Andrew Porter forces the issue at the scrum and takes the penalty. From scrum to line-out.

11 minutes ago

Even Keith Earls is wrong with the ball soaked big as it is today.

The veteran forward chases after him as Sexton targets the corner kick behind him, grabs it but lets it slide behind him as he faces his own line of attempts. Ahead.

Blue scrum at 10 meters.

15 minutes ago

Munster seemed to be building a decent set of phases at Leinster’s 22, but came to an end with a Hanrahan angled grubber. It’s easy to handle and Hugo Keenan delivers a fierce blow to Conor Murray as the scrum-half fields the punt.

18 minutes ago

Another bomb from Conor Murray to test Leinster, but James Lowe is there this time to jump in and claim cleanly.

The hosts clear their lines, but the penalty comes for Munster when Jack Conan is pinged. Frustrated expressions mostly in blue to the minute.

21 minutes ago

You may have heard this before, but Johnny Sexton is a defender, guys.

Damian De Allende hard hits the out-half on the carry and the Springbok backed up by the burly Chris Farrell. Sexton got to his feet and held himself and the ball up to force a Leinster maul and scrum. Brilliant stuff from the captain of Ireland and Leinster.

23 minutes ago

Offisde penalty against Leinster while defending Munster’s selection and units in midfield. Hanrahan goes to the line-out.

25 minutes ago

Sexton’s long-range kick goes through the posts and lands about a foot wide.

The wet ball is playing havoc with Leinster’s pace so far. And that’s fine with Munster. The longer they can keep the home team unresolved, the better.

27 minutes ago

O’Donoghue penalized in midfield and Sexton will now take a long-range penalty. Beyond the last penalty kicked to the edge.

30 minutes ago

Hanrahan faces Larmour and after the restart after the penalty is given to Leinster. That would be a well-matched blunder.

Leinster kicks for the lineout at the 22nd, but is ousted by Kelleher and Munster can scrum to get out.

32 minutes ago

PENALTY FEE! Leinster 0 Munster 3 (Hanrahan ‘5)

33 minutes ago

Larmour may have struggled on the ground, but he has taken two brilliant shots in the air. However, after his second CJ Stander and Jack O’Donoghue were very happy to greet him and step directly over the ball once it hit the ground.

Penalty chance for Munster.

35 minutes ago

The rain around the Aviva has caused an early spill of Jordan Larmour on the ground and the cheers of the Munster players can be heard ‘creating their own atmosphere’ to salute the mistake.

37 minutes ago

KICK OFF: Sexton starts and Peter O’Mahony climbs high to take it. Talk about early involvement of key players.

39 minutes ago

Munster trotted out of the tunnel to the noise of the crowd greeting them alongside one commentator who noted the ‘eerie silence’.

Then ‘All of the Lights’ resonates as Leinster follows them onto the field.

50 minutes ago

Here are the teams for tonight’s final four-game clash. Munster has changed the composition of his bank with a belated adjustment. They are now 6-2 split when Mike Haley, who was out of shape for either game since the restart, is replaced by Gavin Coombes.

Leinster:

15. Jordan Larmour
14. Hugo Keenan
13. Garry Ringrose
12. Robbie Henshaw
11. James Lowe
10. Johnny Sexton (captain)
9. Luke McGrath

1. Cyan Healy
2. Ronan Kelleher
3. Andrew Porter
4. Devin toner
5. Scott Fardy
6. Caelan Doris
7. Will Connors
8. Jack Conan

Replacements:

16. Sean Cronin
17. Ed Byrne
18. Michael Bent
19. Ryan Baird
20. Josh van der Flier
21. Jamison Gibson-Park
22. Ross Byrne
23. Rory O’Loughlin

Munster:

15. Shane Daly
14. Andrew Conway
13. Chris Farrell
12. Damian de Allende
11. Keith Earls
10. JJ Hanrahan
9. Conor Murray

1. Jeremy Loughman
2. Niall Scannell
3. Stephen Archer
4. Tadhg Beirne
5. Billy Holland
6. Peter O’Mahony (captain)
7. Jack O’Donoghue
8. CJ Stander

Replacements:

16. Kevin O’Byrne
17. James Cronin
18. John Ryan
19. Gavin Coombes
20. Chris Cloete
21. Craig Casey
22. Rory Scannell
23. Fineen Wycherley

Referee: Andrew Brace.

6:48P.M

Is a Friday the sensation we’re feeling, or is it just the imminent prospect of knockout rugby?

Welcome to our coverage of the biggest rugby match in almost seven months.

It’s Leinster v Munster with a final Pro14 spot at stake, but don’t get too excited just yet. The start is not until 19.35 (eir Sport) and you don’t want to waste your energy before it starts.

Soak up the sun for a few minutes, grab your dinner, or turn off the bell to make sure no one can come to disturb you between 7.35pm and 10pm.