Munster are set to take on Connacht in an inter-provincial clash this weekend as both sides will be looking to kick off their United Rugby Championship campaign. In their recent encounters, Munster have won 2 out of the last 5 matches against Connacht, with Connacht taking the other 3 victories.
This weekend's match will be an opportunity for Munster to improve their recent record against their provincial rivals.
For Munster, they will be looking to start their season on a high note. Tadhg Beirne has been named as the new Munster Rugby captain.
In Connacht's case, they'll also be looking to start their season strongly. They have won three Championship away fixtures last season, at Sharks in November, at Cardiff in February and at Dragons in April.
Head coach Pete Wilkins expressed his excitement ahead of the season opener, saying:
We can’t wait to get the season going. It was a shorter and more intense pre-season than last year, with three productive games in the last few weeks, so now it’s about delivering what I believe we’re capable of.
We’re very fortunate to have over 40 players available to us. This has helped drive standards in training and competition for places, and gives us a nice challenge reducing the group to a matchday 23.
We know what to expect from Munster and Thomond Park, so it’s a brilliant opportunity for us to start the year on a positive note.
In their last encounter, Connacht emerged victorious against Munster with a score of 22-9 on New Year's Day, 2024. The match was played at Dexcom Stadium in Galway, and Connacht managed to secure a comfortable win despite Munster's efforts. The game saw some intense moments, with Connacht's bench and the 6-2 split having a significant impact on the outcome.
When is Munster v Connacht?
Munster is set to take on Connacht this Saturday, September 21, at Thomond Park with kick-off scheduled for 5:30 pm.
How can I watch Munster v Connacht?
The match will be broadcast live on RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby, and URC.tv.
Team News:
Munster welcomes back Jean Kleyn, who returns to the pitch for the first time in nearly a year after recovering from a serious eye injury.
Additionally, Thaakir Abrahams is set to make his Munster debut on the wing, while Billy Burns will make his first Munster appearance as well.
Team News is in! ✊
And it's the first team sheet of the 24/25 season 🤩
©️ Diarmuid Barron as captain
👊Thaakir Abrahams, Tom Farrell & Billy Burns start
🔄 Jean Kleyn is back
Join us at Thomond Park on Saturday as we face Connacht 🏟️#SUAF 🔴 | #MUNvCON | Read more 👇— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) September 20, 2024
Meanwhile, Connacht sees the return of Mack Hansen, who has been sidelined since New Year's Day when he suffered an injury against Munster.
The 9-10 axis of Ioane and Murray will also make their Connacht debut in this highly anticipated match.
🟢 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 🦅
Just bring it! The 2⃣3⃣ heading to Thomond Park tomorrow for our first game of the @URCOfficial season 🫴
🔗 https://t.co/YQESVNzqdc#ConnachtRugby | @Genesys pic.twitter.com/ODTAubX82B— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) September 20, 2024
