Hello, everyone, and welcome to our live coverage of Munster’s pivotal Champions Cup pool encounter with Saracens at Thomond Park.
The two-time champions host the three-time champions in need of a victory, having picked up six points in their opening two games and with a tricky trip to Northampton left on their schedule.
Visitors Sarries will book a safe passage through to the knockouts with victory in Limerick.
Munster captain Tadhg Beirne. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Sarries and England star Maro Itoje. Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
It’s Gavan Casey with you here and if you can’t make it to Thomond or to a TV this evening, I’ll bring you live updates of every score and every big incident.
Pierre Brousset of France will be your man in the middle this evening.
Billy Stickland / INPHO
Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
10 hrs ago
5:06PM
How are you feeling about this one?
Call it…
Poll Results:
Munster (68)
Saracens (42)
10 hrs ago
5:12PM
Teams
A reminder of how the sides will line out in Thomond:
Conor Murray starts for Munster on his return from injury, partnering Jack Crowley at half-back. Peter O’Mahony, however, doesn’t make it, which is a serious blow for a Munster lineout which has often been shambolic this season.
Munster
A reminder of your Munster team to take on Saracens at Thomond Park this evening (5.30pm) 💪
Saracens boss Mark McCall has made two changes from the side that beat Bristol Bears in the Premiership last Saturday, with Liam Williams returning on the wing and Phil Brantingham named at loosehead.
1′ – MUN 0-0 SAR: Munster gather the kick-off but are immediately turned over as Mike Haley spills the ball backwards. Sarries then win a penalty as Munster stray offside, I think.
Easy three points here for Alex Lozowski — and he gobbles them up. Sarries lead inside the opening minute.
Poor start for Munster, perfect start for the Premiership side.
10 hrs ago
5:35PM
4′ – MUN 0-3 SAR: First scrum of the day as Elliot Daly spills an up-and-under by Jack Crowley.
Munster put-in between the Sarries 10-metre line and 22′.
Munster win the free-kick for an early shove by Sarries.
10 hrs ago
5:37PM
5′ – MUN 0-3 SAR: Munster tap the free and make it deep inside the Sarries’ 22′ — Dian Bleuler with a half-break that gains the most distance.
Eventually, Rory Scannell’s pass goes to ground, Munster lose yardage, and Tadhg Beirne then knocks on. Sarries scrum outside their own 22′.
They lock it out and get moving from deep.
10 hrs ago
5:40PM
8′ – MUN 0-3 SAR: Munster escape as Fergus Burke chips and chases down the middle. The scrambling Haley fails to gather the ball and it dribbles over the Munster line. Calvin Nash eventually scrapes it off the floor and clears it as far as the Munster 22′.
10′ – MUN 0-6 SAR: Munster are penalised for holding on between their own 10-metre line and 22′.
Lozowski chips over another three points for Sarries. Easy does it. They’ll be delighted with their start.
10 hrs ago
5:47PM
14′ – MUN 0-6 SAR: Another chip and chase by Fergus Burke into the Munster secondary reaps reward. Shane Daly spills forward inside the Munster half. It’s clearly something Saracens have identified — they’ve tried it three times to significant success.
Their attack, however, comes to an end when Elliot Daly kicks out on the full. Right option but wrong execution by the England backfielder.
10 hrs ago
5:50PM
18′ – MUN 0-6 SAR: Saracens destroying Munster in the air at the moment, winning scrum advantages and applying pressure with second kicks in behind the Munster back three.
10 hrs ago
5:55PM
22′ – MUN 0-6 SAR: There have been no try-scoring chances for either side but because Sarries are so far on top in the kicking game and aerial contest, Munster haven’t had even a chance to get anything going in transition.
Sarries effectively suffocating Munster so far.
10 hrs ago
5:57PM
22′ – MUN 0-6 SAR: Excellent defensive read by Conor Murray near midfield and then Gavin Coombes blasts Saracens off their own ball. Brilliant counter-ruck by the Skibbereen man — and he wins a penalty as he’s prevented from lifting the ball!
Crowley boots Munster into the Saracens 22′. First chance here for the hosts!
24′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Tidy lineout by Munster but they’re adjudged to have knocked on at the base of the ensuing ruck.
However, after a word in his ear, referee Brousset reverses his call and Jamie George is pinged for playing the ball on the ground.
So, after all that, Munster have another penalty deep inside the Sarries’ 22′. They take their points through Crowley.
Munster claim three back!
9 hrs ago
6:02PM
27′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: A Crowley clearance on his 22′ is charged down and Sarries gather the bobbling ball on the Munster 5′!
Munster, though, scramble unbelievably well and eventually drive Saracens back out of their 22′! What a defensive set by the hosts.
Thomond rocking now.
9 hrs ago
6:05PM
28′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: A moment of magic from Jack Crowley which ultimately leads to nothing — but crikey, it was exhilarating: the Munster 10 catches a kick inside his own half. He chips low into space and regathers the ball inside the Saracens half. He then chips over the head of the final defender, Elliot Daly, and catches the ball on the hop! But the ball then somehow squirts out of Crowley’s grasp as he starts thinking about one of the greatest individual scores the competition has ever seen!
So unluckly. Absolutely stunning bit of play by the Bandon man.
9 hrs ago
6:07PM
31′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Good to bad by Crowley as he misses touch from a penalty. Tried to get too much out of it.
Daly clears to touch on the Sarries 10′, so Munster will still get the put-in to the lineout.
9 hrs ago
6:09PM
33′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Munster win a scrum penalty! A bit of a turn-up for the books, there, and Crowley prods them into the English 22′. Their lineout has been 100% accurate but they’re throwing to the front, which is allowing Sarries to blitz them off the back.
9 hrs ago
6:10PM
34′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Munster win the ball at the front and Sarries make two separate infringements, one at the lineout and one on the ground.
Crowley kicks Munster to the away 5′. Big, big chance!
9 hrs ago
6:12PM
35′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Brilliant attacking maul by Munster but it’s stopped short, goes to deck, and Sarries go nuts as they win the scrum. Chance missed.
Jaysus, there were probably three Munster penalties in there from what I can see on the replay, but referee Brousset disagrees.
This game has heated up nicely though.
9 hrs ago
6:18PM
40′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Ivan van Zyl box-chips down the right edge and Liam Williams is inches from scoring a Saracens try. Under pressure from Crowley, however, he spills the ball forward in the air and Munster win a scrum on their own 5′.
Lock this out and take half-time will be the plan.
41′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Decent start to the second half by Munster but it all ends with a poor pass by Tadhg Beirne and a knock-on by Tom Farrell.
Their skills have just been off today, and for so much of the season to be honest. But some cause for optimism in the extent to which they started the second half with quick, front-foot ball there.
9 hrs ago
6:41PM
45′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: After a scrappy few minutes by both sides, Fineen Wycherley concedes a penalty as he’s left on the wrong side after a tackle.
It’s about 45 metres from goal and Elliot Daly is going to kick for the sticks.
61′ - TRYYYYYYYY FOR MUNSTER! MUNSTER 10-9 SARACENS! WHAT A MOMENT FOR DIAN BLEULER!
Munster go hard at Sarries from the lineout and Gavin Coombes’ snipes from the base of the ruck. He takes it to within inches of the Sarries line, cleverly stopping short to avoid being held up over the line.
Sarries concede the penalty advantage but Bleuler isn’t waiting around — he dives over off next phase!
Crowley with a medium-difficulty kick from left of centre, splits the posts.
64′ - TRRYYYYYYYYYYY AGAIN!!! JOHN HODNETT! MUNSTER 17-9 SARACENS!
WHAT A SCORE BY THE ROSCARBERRY MAN! Great carry by Calvin Nash up the right. The short pass inside to Tadhg Beirne gains more ground. Crowley crossfields it to Rory Scannell, who feeds it inside to Tom Farrell.
Farrell with tidy feet draws two tacklers and puts Hodnett through a hole down the left!
Hodnett is tripped, tumbles, but gets back up untouched to score.
And Crowley, from the left, splits the posts again with the afters.
69′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Sarries win a penalty as Diarmuid Barron is adjuged not to have released the ball carrier before winning a poach. It looked harsh on first viewing.
Sarries take the three from in front of the posts, virtually, as Lozowski knocks it over.
8 hrs ago
7:09PM
72′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Excellent pressure play by Munster as Tom Farrell chips one into the corner and Sarries can only hack one clear infield.
Mike Haley — who is probably having the worst game of his career — runs it back and then fires a loose pass which is almost gathered by Nick Tompkins.
The Sarries centre just about knocks it on, however, and Munster win the scrum inside the Sarries half. But Sarries win the scrum penalty as their bench makes a big impact in the shove!
8 hrs ago
7:10PM
73′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Sarries maul it towards the Munster 22′ from the lineout but Tadhg Beirne says no: he stays bound and nukes the maul on his own, shoving the ball-carrier at the back into touch. Thomond erupts!
8 hrs ago
7:13PM
75′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: OH WHAT A CHANCE MISSED BY SARACENS! Sensational transitional attack by the visitors and after about a half-dozen offloads, they put Liam Williams clear down the left.
He has a man outside him but he goes himself — and John Hodnett tackles him, dislodging the ball in the process!
Good scramble defence by Hodnett but just poor decision-making by Williams, whose head is in his hands.
Munster escape. They’ll get the scrum about 10 metres from their own line.
8 hrs ago
7:16PM
77′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Sarries win another scrum penalty and now have a lineout in the Munster 22′.
They’re gonna get another chance here.
8 hrs ago
7:18PM
79′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Munster repel the Sarries attack and again drive them backwards.
Sarries go wide right but the bridge pass is forward! Thomond goes mad once more.
Munster scrum, inside their own half, and into the final minute. Clock stopped as Brousset sets up the two packs.
8 hrs ago
7:19PM
80′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Incredibly, Munster spill the ball forward with the clock at 79:58.
Sarries scrum advantage. They have the ball again on halfway. Munster need one more defensive stand.
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As it happened: Munster v Saracens, Champions Cup
Hello, everyone, and welcome to our live coverage of Munster’s pivotal Champions Cup pool encounter with Saracens at Thomond Park.
The two-time champions host the three-time champions in need of a victory, having picked up six points in their opening two games and with a tricky trip to Northampton left on their schedule.
Visitors Sarries will book a safe passage through to the knockouts with victory in Limerick.
It’s Gavan Casey with you here and if you can’t make it to Thomond or to a TV this evening, I’ll bring you live updates of every score and every big incident.
Kick-off is in just under half an hour’s time!
Pierre Brousset of France will be your man in the middle this evening.
Call it…
Poll Results:
A reminder of how the sides will line out in Thomond:
Conor Murray starts for Munster on his return from injury, partnering Jack Crowley at half-back. Peter O’Mahony, however, doesn’t make it, which is a serious blow for a Munster lineout which has often been shambolic this season.
Munster
Saracens boss Mark McCall has made two changes from the side that beat Bristol Bears in the Premiership last Saturday, with Liam Williams returning on the wing and Phil Brantingham named at loosehead.
Saracens
Almost go-time at Thomond. Munster expecting about 22,000 fans in the building.
They’re going to need every one of them, you’d suspect. I would make Sarries slight favourites here, personally.
1′ – MUN 0-0 SAR: Here we go! Fergus Burke gets the action underway at a fervent Thomond Park.
1′ – MUN 0-0 SAR: Munster gather the kick-off but are immediately turned over as Mike Haley spills the ball backwards. Sarries then win a penalty as Munster stray offside, I think.
Easy three points here for Alex Lozowski — and he gobbles them up. Sarries lead inside the opening minute.
Poor start for Munster, perfect start for the Premiership side.
4′ – MUN 0-3 SAR: First scrum of the day as Elliot Daly spills an up-and-under by Jack Crowley.
Munster put-in between the Sarries 10-metre line and 22′.
Munster win the free-kick for an early shove by Sarries.
5′ – MUN 0-3 SAR: Munster tap the free and make it deep inside the Sarries’ 22′ — Dian Bleuler with a half-break that gains the most distance.
Eventually, Rory Scannell’s pass goes to ground, Munster lose yardage, and Tadhg Beirne then knocks on. Sarries scrum outside their own 22′.
They lock it out and get moving from deep.
8′ – MUN 0-3 SAR: Munster escape as Fergus Burke chips and chases down the middle. The scrambling Haley fails to gather the ball and it dribbles over the Munster line. Calvin Nash eventually scrapes it off the floor and clears it as far as the Munster 22′.
10′ – MUN 0-6 SAR: Munster are penalised for holding on between their own 10-metre line and 22′.
Lozowski chips over another three points for Sarries. Easy does it. They’ll be delighted with their start.
14′ – MUN 0-6 SAR: Another chip and chase by Fergus Burke into the Munster secondary reaps reward. Shane Daly spills forward inside the Munster half. It’s clearly something Saracens have identified — they’ve tried it three times to significant success.
Their attack, however, comes to an end when Elliot Daly kicks out on the full. Right option but wrong execution by the England backfielder.
18′ – MUN 0-6 SAR: Saracens destroying Munster in the air at the moment, winning scrum advantages and applying pressure with second kicks in behind the Munster back three.
22′ – MUN 0-6 SAR: There have been no try-scoring chances for either side but because Sarries are so far on top in the kicking game and aerial contest, Munster haven’t had even a chance to get anything going in transition.
Sarries effectively suffocating Munster so far.
22′ – MUN 0-6 SAR: Excellent defensive read by Conor Murray near midfield and then Gavin Coombes blasts Saracens off their own ball. Brilliant counter-ruck by the Skibbereen man — and he wins a penalty as he’s prevented from lifting the ball!
Crowley boots Munster into the Saracens 22′. First chance here for the hosts!
24′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Tidy lineout by Munster but they’re adjudged to have knocked on at the base of the ensuing ruck.
However, after a word in his ear, referee Brousset reverses his call and Jamie George is pinged for playing the ball on the ground.
So, after all that, Munster have another penalty deep inside the Sarries’ 22′. They take their points through Crowley.
Munster claim three back!
27′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: A Crowley clearance on his 22′ is charged down and Sarries gather the bobbling ball on the Munster 5′!
Munster, though, scramble unbelievably well and eventually drive Saracens back out of their 22′! What a defensive set by the hosts.
Thomond rocking now.
28′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: A moment of magic from Jack Crowley which ultimately leads to nothing — but crikey, it was exhilarating: the Munster 10 catches a kick inside his own half. He chips low into space and regathers the ball inside the Saracens half. He then chips over the head of the final defender, Elliot Daly, and catches the ball on the hop! But the ball then somehow squirts out of Crowley’s grasp as he starts thinking about one of the greatest individual scores the competition has ever seen!
So unluckly. Absolutely stunning bit of play by the Bandon man.
31′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Good to bad by Crowley as he misses touch from a penalty. Tried to get too much out of it.
Daly clears to touch on the Sarries 10′, so Munster will still get the put-in to the lineout.
33′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Munster win a scrum penalty! A bit of a turn-up for the books, there, and Crowley prods them into the English 22′. Their lineout has been 100% accurate but they’re throwing to the front, which is allowing Sarries to blitz them off the back.
34′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Munster win the ball at the front and Sarries make two separate infringements, one at the lineout and one on the ground.
Crowley kicks Munster to the away 5′. Big, big chance!
35′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Brilliant attacking maul by Munster but it’s stopped short, goes to deck, and Sarries go nuts as they win the scrum. Chance missed.
Jaysus, there were probably three Munster penalties in there from what I can see on the replay, but referee Brousset disagrees.
This game has heated up nicely though.
40′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Ivan van Zyl box-chips down the right edge and Liam Williams is inches from scoring a Saracens try. Under pressure from Crowley, however, he spills the ball forward in the air and Munster win a scrum on their own 5′.
Lock this out and take half-time will be the plan.
It’s been one of these for Munster so far. Very difficult to call. All to play for in the second half!
41′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: Decent start to the second half by Munster but it all ends with a poor pass by Tadhg Beirne and a knock-on by Tom Farrell.
Their skills have just been off today, and for so much of the season to be honest. But some cause for optimism in the extent to which they started the second half with quick, front-foot ball there.
45′ – MUN 3-6 SAR: After a scrappy few minutes by both sides, Fineen Wycherley concedes a penalty as he’s left on the wrong side after a tackle.
It’s about 45 metres from goal and Elliot Daly is going to kick for the sticks.
46′ – MUN 3-9 SAR: Daly nails it. Sarries lead by six. Munster cannot afford to allow this to become a two-score game.
51′ – MUN 3-9 SAR: Munster win a pen as Jack O’Donoghue is fouled in the air during a lineout for the second time.
Munster will kick for goal — but it’s a toughie. A solid 45 metres upcoming for Crowley with a right-hand angle.
52′ – MUN 3-9 SAR: Crowley pushes the kick slightly right.
Munster bringing on Stephen Archer, John Hodnett and Tom Ahern. A bit of dynamism there.
55′ – MUN 3-9 SAR: A nice Munster attack is pulled back because Conor Murray was ahead of Crowley before gathering a chip through on halfway.
Sarries win the penalty and boot the ball to touch well inside the Munster 22′.
Munster, though, disrupt their lineout and Sarries lose 15 metres but retain possession.
They go to the air again and the ball bounces kindly for Liam Williams! The Welsh wing takes it to within 10 of the Munster line!
Sarries knocking on the door, now.
58′ – MUN 3-9 SAR: Excellent defence again by Munster and Sarries set up a drop-goal for Burke, who skews it wide left.
Munster escape. Still a one-score game!
58′ – MUN 3-9 SAR: Munster, now, win a penalty just past halfway for a high tackle by Losowski.
Crowley will kick to touch — and he drills Munster well into the Saracens’ 22′. Good kick.
61′ - TRYYYYYYYY FOR MUNSTER! MUNSTER 10-9 SARACENS! WHAT A MOMENT FOR DIAN BLEULER!
Munster go hard at Sarries from the lineout and Gavin Coombes’ snipes from the base of the ruck. He takes it to within inches of the Sarries line, cleverly stopping short to avoid being held up over the line.
Sarries concede the penalty advantage but Bleuler isn’t waiting around — he dives over off next phase!
Crowley with a medium-difficulty kick from left of centre, splits the posts.
Munster lead at Thomond Park!
64′ - TRRYYYYYYYYYYY AGAIN!!! JOHN HODNETT! MUNSTER 17-9 SARACENS!
WHAT A SCORE BY THE ROSCARBERRY MAN! Great carry by Calvin Nash up the right. The short pass inside to Tadhg Beirne gains more ground. Crowley crossfields it to Rory Scannell, who feeds it inside to Tom Farrell.
Farrell with tidy feet draws two tacklers and puts Hodnett through a hole down the left!
Hodnett is tripped, tumbles, but gets back up untouched to score.
And Crowley, from the left, splits the posts again with the afters.
All of a sudden, Munster have a two-score lead!
69′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Sarries win a penalty as Diarmuid Barron is adjuged not to have released the ball carrier before winning a poach. It looked harsh on first viewing.
Sarries take the three from in front of the posts, virtually, as Lozowski knocks it over.
72′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Excellent pressure play by Munster as Tom Farrell chips one into the corner and Sarries can only hack one clear infield.
Mike Haley — who is probably having the worst game of his career — runs it back and then fires a loose pass which is almost gathered by Nick Tompkins.
The Sarries centre just about knocks it on, however, and Munster win the scrum inside the Sarries half. But Sarries win the scrum penalty as their bench makes a big impact in the shove!
73′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Sarries maul it towards the Munster 22′ from the lineout but Tadhg Beirne says no: he stays bound and nukes the maul on his own, shoving the ball-carrier at the back into touch. Thomond erupts!
75′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: OH WHAT A CHANCE MISSED BY SARACENS! Sensational transitional attack by the visitors and after about a half-dozen offloads, they put Liam Williams clear down the left.
He has a man outside him but he goes himself — and John Hodnett tackles him, dislodging the ball in the process!
Good scramble defence by Hodnett but just poor decision-making by Williams, whose head is in his hands.
Munster escape. They’ll get the scrum about 10 metres from their own line.
77′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Sarries win another scrum penalty and now have a lineout in the Munster 22′.
They’re gonna get another chance here.
79′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Munster repel the Sarries attack and again drive them backwards.
Sarries go wide right but the bridge pass is forward! Thomond goes mad once more.
Munster scrum, inside their own half, and into the final minute. Clock stopped as Brousset sets up the two packs.
80′ – MUN 17-12 SAR: Incredibly, Munster spill the ball forward with the clock at 79:58.
Sarries scrum advantage. They have the ball again on halfway. Munster need one more defensive stand.
KNOCK-ON BY SARACENS! THAT’LL DO IT!
That turned into a brilliant Munster performance, and they’ve got a foot — and more — in the knockouts now.
Super second half by the hosts, whose two tries were brilliantly taken.
Sarries were good, too. A proper Munster win. Credit to them.
Ciarán Kennedy will have a report and reaction on The 42, so keep an eye!
But that’s it for me. Cheers for joining us. Take it easy!
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