THE UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP IS BACK THIS WEEKEND after a month of international test matches.
Munster take on Connacht in Thomond Park this Saturday 7.35pm, and it promises to be another interprovincial cracker this weekend.
The sides last met in October when Connacht edged out Munster in a 20-11 win in Galway.
The game will be live on a number of channels this weekend, and to help you with more information here's a full preview of the game.
Limerick , Ireland - 16 October 2021; John Ryan of Munster, supported by team-mate Joey Carbery, (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)When is it on?
Saturday, November 26th
What TV station is it on?
You can see the game on TG4, the TG4 Player and Premier Sports
What time does it start?
Kick off is at 7.35pm
What time does coverage start?
Coverage on TG4 starts at 7pm, while coverage on Premier Sports starts at 7.25pm.
Where is it on?
Thomond Park
Can I still get tickets
Tickets can be found here.
Odds for the game
Team news
Munster’s team
Fullback: 15. Mike Haley;
Winger: 14. Calvin Nash
Centres: 13., Antoine Frisch, 13. Rory Scannell,
Winger: 11. Shane Daly;
Outhalf: 10. Joey Carbery, Scrumhalf:9. Craig Casey;
Front row: 1. Josh Wycherley, 2. Diarmuid Barron, 3. Roman Salanoa
Second row: 4. Jean Kleyn, 5. Tadhg Beirne;
Backrow: 6. Peter O’Mahony (C), John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, John Ryan, Edwin Edogbo, Jack O’Donoghue, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Gavin Coombes
Here is your Munster team to face Connacht in Saturday's Interprovincial derby at Thomond Park (7.35pm) 💪
A family pack of 4⃣ tickets costs just €40 with Stand tickets from €15 for juniors and €30 for adults.
Full team news & get your tickets ⤵️#MUNvCON #SUAF 🔴— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) November 25, 2022
Connacht
Six Connacht players who were with the Ireland squad in November have come into the starting lineup
Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Gavin Thornbury, Cian Prendergast, Caolin Blade and Bundee Aki all start.
John Porch, Byron Ralston, Alex Wootton start in a back three
Denis Buckley joins Heffernan and Bealham in the front row
Josh Murphy and Thornbury start as locks.
Prendergast, Conor Oliver and Jarrad Butler start in the back row
Captain Jack Carty starts at out-half while Caolin Blade starts beside him at scrumhalf.
Finally Tom Farrell partners Aki in the centre.
Connacht team
Full back: 15. John Porch
Winger 14. Byron Ralston
Centres 13. Tom Farrell 12. Bundee Aki
Winger 11. Alex Wootton
Out half 10. Jack Carty (C) Scurmhalf 9. Caolin Blade
Front row 1. Denis Buckley, 2. Dave Heffernan 3. Finlay Bealham
Second row 4. Josh Murphy 5. Gavin Thornbury
Backrow 6. Cian Prendergast, 7. Conor Oliver 8. Jarrad Butler
Replacements: 16. Shane Delahunt, 17. Peter Dooley, 18. Jack Aungier, 19. Niall Murray, 20. Oisín Dowling, 21. Kieran Marmion, 22. Conor Fitzgerald, 23. Paul Boyle
🟢𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈 𝘼𝙉𝙉𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘾𝙀𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏 🟢
And we're back! Here's our 23 to face @Munsterrugby tomorrow 💪#BKTURC | #MUNvCON
Full story: https://t.co/t0tKdIkxhV pic.twitter.com/BYMIB9ANot— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) November 25, 2022
Where are both teams in the URC table?
Connacht, are 12th in the URC table, a point ahead and two places above Munster
📸 GALLERY | Munster face Connacht at Thomond Park on Saturday night with prep continuing at the HPC today.
See the best training pics as the international contingent return ⤵️#MUNvCON #SUAF 🔴— Munster Rugby (@Munsterrugby) November 22, 2022
What happened last time the sides met ?
Connacht beat Munster 20-11 in Galway on October 7th.
Tries from Mack Hansen, Finlay Bealham, and Paul Boyle cancelled out Munster's Patrick Campbell solo try.
Injury news
Munster: : Jean Kleyn Keith Earls and Liam Coombes are back in training.
Joey Carbery will complete his return to play protocols with a view to returning to full team training this week.
Antoine Frisch is expected to return to full training this week having undergone a scan on a thigh issue last week.
Dave Kilcoyne (shoulder) will progress with his rehab and his availability will be determined later in the week.
However Munster will not have the likes of Conor Murray (groin), Stephen Archer (ankle), Tom Ahern (shoulder), RG Snyman (knee), Fineen Wycherley (shoulder), Paddy Kelly (head), Jack Daly (knee), Jack O’Sullivan (knee), Andrew Conway (knee) unavailable for the game.
Keynan Knox also has a short-term knee injury.
Connacht: Connacht winger Mack Hansen is a major doubt
Tiernan O’Halloran has a hip injury.
Sean Masterson has an Achilles injury and is unavailable for selection.
Peter Dooley, Dominic Robertson-McCoy and Shayne Bolton returnied to full training after recovering from injury.
Back in Galway and ready for @URCOfficial action 💪#ConnachtRugby pic.twitter.com/JvuXzpjteN
— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) November 22, 2022
