Hello and welcome to our liveblog of this evening’s Pro12 clash between Munster and Connacht at Thomond Park. There has been one late change to the Connacht line-up with Conor Finn replacing Craig Ronaldson.

Munster: 15 Felix Jones, 14 Keith Earls, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Denis Hurley (c), 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Tommy O’Donnell, 6 Dave O’Callaghan, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Duncan Casey, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Paddy Butler, 20 Jack O’Donoghue, 21 Neil Cronin, 22 JJ Hanrahan, 23 Ronan O’Mahony.

Connacht: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Darragh Leader, 13 Danie Poolman, 12 Craig Ronaldson, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Eoghan Masterson, 6 John Muldoon (c), 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 Mick Kearney, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Quinn Roux, 20 Eoin McKeon, 21 John Cooney, 22 Shane O’Leary, 23 Miah Nikora.

Edinburgh have just beaten the Scarelts 26-15 to move level on points with Connacht so the pressure is on the westerners to deliver a result this evening.

When these two sides met earlier in the season on New Year’s Day it was an absolute cracker. Hopefully we get something similar tonight.

If you are thinking of having a bet, Munster are 1/7, Connacht are 4/1 and the draw is 25/1.

The home side are 12-point favourites.

When Connacht beat Munster in January, Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw combined excellently in the centre. Pat Lam is without both of them tonight, which is a big blow.

We are off at Thomond Park!

Munster get pinged in their own 22 on the wing and Jack Carty will go for the posts. A tough kick to start the game.

Munster 0-3 Connacht

Carty judges the wind perfectly to put the visitors in front.

Carty kicks a ball out on the full and Munster are in possession inside the Connacht 22.

Connacht turn the ball over and this time Carty’s kick bounces nicely and he pins Munster back inside their own 22.

Connacht have a scrum after Munster are penalised at the lineout. Good opportunity for the visitors.

But Tommy O’Donnell rips the ball from Danie Poolman and Ian Keatley clears to halfway.

Zebo wins a high kick inside the Connacht 22 but Keatley knocks on moments later.

Danie Poolman knocks on sloppily when carrying out of defence and a few phases later Connacht are penalised for going off their feet. Keatley goes to the corner and Munster have a lineout 10 metres out.

Donncha O’Callaghan somehow manages to be held up over the line when it looked certain he would score. 5m scrum to Munster to the left of the posts.

TRY! Munster 7-3 Connacht

Stander carries off the base of the scrum and creates enough space for Billy Holland to dive over after the next ruck.

A series of strong Connacht carries brings play into the Munster 22 but the ball is knocked on and Munster clear.

Pat Lam isn’t a fan of Welsh referee Leighton Hodges and he won’t be pleased with the penalty count so far as Eoghan Masterson is penalised for not releasing in the Munster half.

Bit of a break in play as Connacht second row Mick Kearney receives treatment. We will resume with a Connacht scrum on their 10m line.

Danie Poolman launches a kick into the Munster half but it goes too long and the home side will have a 22 drop-out.

Connacht have a lineout 10m from the Munster line and look to set a maul.

Connacht’s maul rumbles for a couple of yards but goes to ground and Munster are awarded a scrum 5m from their own line.

Munster work the ball to Ian Keatley from the scrum and he clears well, taking play to about 30m from the Munster line.

Simon Zebo makes an electric burst down the left wing and his clever grubber is carried into touch by Matt Healy. Munster then go quickly from the lineout, and have possession 10m from the line.

But Denis Buckley does well to get over the ball and win a penalty for the visitors. Great work by the loosehead prop.

Munster put together three or four lovely offloads in the Connacht half… but then Zebo throws an ill-advised side-door pass that bounces into touch.

Andrew Smith makes a ten metre break on halfway and elects to dummy rather than play in Keith Earls. Turns out to be the wrong move as Earls fumbles the ball trying to collect Smith’s offload off the floor.

Duncan Williams frees his hands in the tackle as he snipes out of defence and offloads to the onrushing Felix Jones. The fullback makes 20m before grubbering into Connacht territory. Once again Matt Healy tidies up well and the visitors are able to clear.

Denis Buckley wins his second turnover penalty after Zebo gets isolated in contact. A strong shift from the loosehead here this evening.

Munster are penalised for a high tackle on halfway and Carty will attempt the long kick from a central area.

Carty pushes the kick just wide and the gap remains at four.

Buckley takes the ball into contact on the Munster 10m line and this time he gets turned over with hooker Eusebio Guinazu getting the poach.

Another turnover for Buckley! Connacht are awarded a penalty immediately after when O’Callaghan tackles high. Carty puts the ball into the corner with a minute left in the half.

HT: Munster 7-3 Connacht

Munster steal the lineout and that is it for the first half. Not a whole lot has happened besides Billy Holland’s try but Connacht are still in with a shout.

There are a few celebrities in attendance at Thomond Park.

The second half has just started here!

Buckley makes a nuisance of himself at another breakdown and wins a penalty. Connacht have a lineout on the Munster 22.

There was a bit of space for Jack Carty to move the ball into but he decided to go himself and the Munster defence held firm. The home side have a scrum 5m from their own line now.

Munster 7-6 Connacht

The visitors are awarded a scrum penalty from straight in front and Carty reduces the deficit to the minimum.

Munster have moved into the Connacht half after a nice carry from John Ryan and then Mick Kearney is penalised for going off his feet. Keatley will kick a penalty from the 10m line in a central area.

Keatley pushes his kick to the right and wide. He would have expected to nail that one.

Games like today really make you appreciate the final day of the Six Nations even more!

Donncha O’Callaghan is penalised for coming in from the side and the referee gives him a warning. Connacht now have a lineout just inside the Munster half.

Duncan Casey and BJ Botha have just come on for Munster.

Connacht were hunting for a score to take the lead but CJ Stander wins a big turnover penalty in his own 22.

TRY! Munster 12-6 Connacht

Munster form an impromptu maul in the Connacht 22 and Duncan Casey dots down at the back of it.

Munster 14-6 Connacht

And Keatley converts.

Connacht win a penalty on halfway but Carty’s touchfinder goes over the dead ball line. Poor mistake from the out-half.

Munster win a penalty at the scrum and Keatley finds touch deep in the Connacht 22.

Munster suck in the Connacht defence effectively before Denis Hurley launches a pass out to Zebo on the left wing, who seems to touch down. We are going to the TMO.

TRY! Munster 21-6 Connacht

It looked like Zebo may have lost control of the ball but Leighton Hodges asked ‘is there any reason why I cannot award the try’ and the TMO couldn’t find one. It was a sumptuous pick up by Zebo in the build-up too.

Jack O’Donoghue is on for Donncha O’Callaghan.

Ronan Loughney is on for the turnover machine Denis Buckley.

Munster are pushing for a bonus point try now and have a lineout in the Connacht 22.

But Keatley fumbles the ball and Connacht are able to clear.

Keatley then gets penalised for a high tackle and Connacht now have a lineout on the halfway line.

TRY! Munster 21-13 Connacht

Miah Nikora spots a gap on the left flank after he picks up a bouncing ball and then sprints 35m to the corner for a lovely score!

Massive score for Connacht. A losing bonus point is very much in sight now.

Tiernan O’Halloran and Matt Healy get mixed up in attack and it results in the fullback throwing a pass into touch on halfway.

The Munster maul is collapsed and they are awarded a penalty. JJ Hanrahan is on for Keatley and he puts the ball in the corner.

TRY! Munster 28-13 Connacht

Andrew Smith crosses from close-range to get Munster the bonus point. It looks like Connacht will leave with nothing after all.

TRY! Munster 35-13 Connacht

John Muldoon dithers on the ball on halfway and Keith Earls nips in and claims it before drawing the last defender and feeding Hurley for an easy finish under the posts.

There is one minute left and we are going to the TMO for a possible Connacht consolation try.

FT: Munster 42-20 Connacht

Shane O’Leary is awarded the try but it isn’t enough to prevent Connacht from suffering a heavy defeat as Keith Earls goes straight down the field and finishes the game with a score of his own. Munster deserved their bonus point win as they were far more clinical. And don’t let the scoreline fool you, this wasn’t a very exciting game.

That is all for our liveblog tonight. Thanks for joining me and make sure to check the site later for a report on this evening’s game.