Munster v Connacht Provincial rivals face off in URC opener in ...

Munster

Connacht

Mike Haley wins a penalty by preventing Piers O'Conor from releasing. Billy Burns can't find touch as a series of groans go up around Thomond Park. 

Munster are back on the attack after Connacht's goal-line drop-out, however another handling error costs them dearly. 

The second-half begins with Josh Ioane getting us underway for another thrilling 40 minutes of entertainment! 

Some positive news for Munster fans is that Shane Daly has passed his Head Injury Assessment and is fit to return for this half.

The second of Ben Murphy's brace of tries for Peter Wilkins' green-clad outfit: 

Munster's handing errors have cost them dearly this game, but despite that the likes of Alex Nankivell, Craig Casey and Mike Haley have been electric when afforded the space. John Hodnett has also put in a big shift for the forwards. 

Meanwhile, the stars of the show thus far are Connacht's half-back duo Josh Ioane and Ben Murphy. The two players who arrived in the western province this summer have 3 tries between them. Otherwise, Josh Murphy, Conor Oliver, and Mack Hansen have been impressive. 

The second-half is set to follow in a matter of minutes and you won't want to miss it! 

Mike Haley bagged Munster's second try of the half to give Graham Rowntree's side a momentary lead before Connacht responded: 

The first of two tries from Connacht scrum-half Ben Murphy. The half-back pairing of Ioane and Murphy have wreaked havoc for Peter Wilkins' charges: 

What a game we have on our hands in Thomond Park!

It was a slow start with handling errors a plenty from both sides, but the game sprung to life around the 20th-minute as tries rained in. Now that we have a moment to catch our breath, we will bring you some of the highlights! 

Connacht wrestle the lead back in their favour as Ioane converts the extras underneath the posts. 

A third Connacht try and a second from Ben Murphy!

Joe Joyce crashes it up and sets the platform for the scrum-half who spots a gap and snipes through the hole. The Connacht half-back partnership has been nothing short of deadly this half. Murphy plays a one-two with Josh Ioane to go over the line. 

Mack Hansen makes a dart for the line and attempts to offload to David Hawkshaw in the process. Alex Nankivell cleverly flicks the ball away from the substitute before he can gather. Munster momentarily clear their lines, but Connacht are back inside the Munster 22-line after some carries down the blindside. 

The winger did all he could to chase back and tackle Mike Haley. He has injured himself in the process so David Hawkshaw has entered the action in his place. 

A costly knock-on from the restart offers Connacht a scrum just 10 metres from the Munster try-line. This game has been nothing short of end-to-end, especially since Cordiero's sin-binning. 

Munster have completed the comeback as Billy Burns puts them into a 2-point lead. 

Munster have come alive as Mike Haley goes over!

The ball spurts free in the Connacht half and John Hodnett is fastest to react. The openside flanker pops the ball up to Mike Haley who evades the tackle from Shayne Bolton as his momentum carries him over the line. 

Munster have come alive and go on the attack again through Tom Farrell and Carig Casey. Graham Rowntree's men are just two metres from the try-line. 

Fineen Wycherley makes a lunge for the whitewash, but the big second-row is held up. Connacht take a hasty goal-line drop out. 

Billy Burns has his first points in a Munster jersey with a straightforward conversion. 

Munster respond! Alex Nankivell weaves his way through the Connacht cover. 

Munster find their man with the lineout and feed Nankivell in front of the posts. The Kiwi centre manages to bump off a tame tackle from Conor Oliver before crossing the line at a canter. 

The Argentine full-back can't escape the sin-bin as he caught Craig Casey high around the shoulders. Fortunately, Casey's dropping body height acts as some mitigation against a potential red card. 

Mike Haley waits for the perfect time to offload to Shane Daly on the wing who breaks free. The winger slips it inside to Munster academy player Ruadhan Quinn who in turn feeds Craig Casey. Just as the Irish test international looks as if he will make the try-line, he comes up just short and knocks on. 

There is a TMO review in place for Santi Cordiero's last gasp tackle attempt on Craig Casey in the process. 

Another handling error costs Graham Rowntree's side as they look to build an attack on the Connacht 22-line. Craig Casey fires a pinpoint pass into Alex Nankivell, but the New Zealander takes his eyes off the ball. 

That's an astounding 7 handling errors from Munster inside 27 minutes of play.