All You Need To Know | Connacht v Munster
30th December 2021 By The Editor
John Ryan on the charge against Connacht earlier this season.
Munster are back in United Rugby Championship action for the first time in 10 weeks on New Year’s Day as the province visit Connacht for what promises to be an exciting Interpro derby at the Sportsground.
Find out all you need to know ahead of the game below.
Where?
The Sportsground, Galway
When?
Saturday, January 1, 5.15pm
Tickets
General sale tickets for this game are not valid due to Covid restrictions. Connacht Rugby have issued refunds with full information emailed to all purchasers.
Team line-ups
See full Munster team news here.
Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Damian de Allende, Shane Daly; Ben Healy, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Jeremy Loughman, Keynan Knox, Thomas Ahern, Jack Daly, Neil Cronin, Jack Crowley, Rory Scannell.
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; John Porch, Sammy Arnold, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen; Jack Carty (C), Kieran Marmion; Matthew Burke, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Ultan Dillane, Oisín Dowling; Cian Prendergast, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler.
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Tietie Tuimauga, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Eoghan Masterson, Abraham Papali’i, Matthew Devine, Conor Fitzgerald, Tom Farrell.
Broadcast
The game is live on URC TV (subscribe here), TG4 & Premier Sports.
Munster News
See this week’s best training pics
Munster Development v Ireland U20s teams
Conor Murray signs contract extension
Preview
Munster travel to Galway on Saturday eager to get back in action after a number of postponements in the URC over recent months.
Both of the province’s games in South Africa were postponed due to Covid along with the St Stephen’s Day fixture against Leinster.
Johann van Graan’s men have earned two wins from two in the Champions Cup this month, against Wasps and Castres.
Munster have won four out of five in the URC but sit seventh in the table, 10 points off leaders Leinster but with two games in hand.
Connacht are one place below after recording three wins in seven games.
The sides have already met once this season as Munster were 20-18 winners at Thomond Park in October.
Press Pass
Hear from Senior Coach Stephen Larkham and out-half Ben Healy ahead of the game.
Match Officials
Referee: Chris Busby
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace & Eoghan Cross
TMO: Olly Hodges
Upcoming Fixtures
Saturday, January 1
URC: Connacht v Munster, the Sportsground, 5.15pm
Saturday, January 8
URC: Munster v Ulster, Thomond Park, 7.35pm;
Friday, January 14
Champions Cup: Castres Olympique v Munster, Pierre-Fabre, 8pm Irish time;
Sunday, January 23
Champions Cup: Munster v Wasps, Thomond Park, 3.15pm;
Saturday, January 29
URC: Zebre Parma v Munster, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, 5pm Irish time;
Friday, February 18
URC: Munster v Edinburgh, Thomond Park, 7.35pm;
