Howdy, all. Welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Connacht and Ulster’s URC meeting at Dexcom Stadium, Galway.

Hope you’ve had a lovely few days so far — wherever you are in the world. It’s Gavan Casey with you here, and I’ll keep you up to speed on proceedings from The Sportsground in this second Christmas interpro if you can’t make it to the game or to a TV (RTÉ 2/Premier Sports).

Kick-off is at 7:35pm, and my colleague Ciarán Kennedy will also have a full match report and reaction from the ground so keep an eye on The 42 for all of that afterwards if you don’t catch the game live.

Murray Kinsella is also on RTÉ duty this evening. Working hard or hardly working, says you!

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Cian Prendergast lays down the gauntlet for the hosts: rock, paper, scissors to choose ends.

Ulster skipper Nick Timoney appears to be more keen on a conventional coin toss.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Team news coming momentarily — there’s been one late change to Connacht’s starting XV.

New stand coming along nicely in Galway. pic.twitter.com/zwhBIDRk3b

— Ciarán Kennedy (@CiaranKennedy_) December 28, 2024

So, Connacht had announced three changes to their backline for this one, but there’s now a fourth swap in the forwards:

Darragh Murray has pulled up in the warm-up, so he’ll be replaced in the second row by his older brother Niall.

Pete Wilkins’ 6-2 bench remains unchanged.

A like-for-like replacement with Niall (L) deputising for Darragh Murray. Craig Watson / INPHO Craig Watson / INPHO / INPHO

Ulster line out as named with Jack Murphy, who made his senior debut against Munster, earning his first start for the province at 10.

Fellow academy back Rory Telfer also makes his first start after two appearances from the bench against Bordeaux and Munster. Wilhelm De Klerk is in line for his senior debut off the bench.

Your man in the middle in 15 minutes’ time will be Andy Brace.

Connacht

15. Piers O’Conor
14. Mack Hansen
13. Cathal Forde
12. Bundee Aki
11. Santiago Cordero
10. Jack Carty
9. Caolin Blade

1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Josh Murphy
5. Niall Murray
6. Cian Prendergast (capt)
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton
8. Paul Boyle

Replacements:

16. Dylan Tierney-Martin
17. Peter Dooley
18. Jack Aungier
19. Oisín Dowling
20. Sean Jansen
21. Ben Murphy
22. Shane Jennings
23. Conor Oliver

Ulster

15. Michael Lowry
14. Werner Kok
13. Ben Carson
12. Jude Postlethwaite
11. Rory Telfer
10. Jack Murphy
9. Nathan Doak

1. Eric O’Sullivan
2. Rob Herring
3. Scott Wilson
4. Alan O’Connor (capt)
5. Cormac Izuchukwu
6. Matty Rea
7. Nick Timoney
8. James McNabney

Replacements:

16. John Andrew
17. Andrew Warwick
18. Corrie Barrett
19. Kieran Treadwell
20. David McCann
21. John Cooney
22. Aidan Morgan
23. Wilhelm De Klerk

Ref: Andrew Brace (Ire)

Feels like Ulster are up against it here given the lack of personnel available to them, but this fixture has tended to be mightily close in recent years. What do you reckon?

Apologies, I missed this one: Along with Darragh Murray, Dave Heffernan has been ruled out. So, Dylan Tierney-Martin starts at hooker with Eoin de Buitléar coming onto the westerners’ bench.

1′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Ah Jaysus, there have been two changes to the Ulster team as well! I’m asleep at the wheel here — let’s call it a turkey coma.

Kieran Treadwell comes into the starting XV for Alan O’Connor, with Harry Sheridan coming onto the bench. And John Andrew replaces the injured Rob Herring at hooker with James McCormick now among Ulster’s replacements. That one happened just 15 minutes before kick-off.

Okay — now we’re up to speed. And so is Jack Murphy, whose first start begins with a peach of a 50-22.

Unfortunately for Ulster, they spill it forward from the resulting lineout. But a bright start by their young 10.

4′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Ulster win a free-kick at the scrum and Jude Postlethwaite takes it straight into contact. But he’s immediately isolated and concedes the jackal penalty to Bundee Aki. A bit headless by the young centre, there.

7′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Super attack by Ulster, led by Ben Carson and James McNabney, and they target the short side to move the ball within inches of the Connacht line.

Somehow it squirts out and Niall Murray emerges with the ball, but he’s immediately tackled over his own line.

Ulster win the five-metre scrum in the early going here in Galway.

9′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Scrum is a mess so far. Brace resets this one. Next one will force him into a decision, he says.

10′ – CON 0-0 ULS: Aaand another reset as it goes to ground again. Brace couldn’t find who to blame so we go again.

Ulster lock it out and McNabney makes a booming run off the back of it! Ulster at the line but not over. Huge chance here for the northern province but Connacht holding out.

Advantage Ulster — Connacht offside.

12′ - TRYYYYYYYYYY!!! ERIC O’SULLIVAN!

The loosehead crashes over as Ulster’s assault on the Connacht line eventually pays dividends!

Jack Murphy converts from under the posts.

What a start for Richie Murphy’s side here. They’re getting serious dominance in the collision so far. Interesting stuff!

14′ – CON 0-7 ULS: Connacht’s lineout is really struggling so far with the two late changes at hooker and second row.

Ulster get one back on their side and MCNABNEY AGAIN BLASTS HIS WAY THROUGH THE CONNACHT DEFENCE.

Superb break by the back row and while Connacht bring him down, they’re pinged for going off their feet thereafter inside their own 22′.

Easy three points available to Jack Murphy, here. And he’s gonna take them.

Murphy slots his kick. Ulster out to a 10-point lead. Their youngsters have started brilliantly.

24′ – CON 0-10 ULS: Connacht ease some pressure with a penalty win at the breakdown and while they’ve simplified their lineout, they then immediately concede a pen as Finlay Bealham blocks off an Ulster tackler.

Murphy boots Ulster into the Connacht 22′ and Ulster win the lineout but knock on moments later.

Connacht then edge that scrum as Eric O’Sullivan struggles to get to grips with Bealham. Brace rewards them with a penalty.

28′ – CON 0-10 ULS: Connacht’s first real attack is a long, multi-phase effort which takes them towards the Ulster 22′ — but after Werner Kok tackles Paul Boyle, Bundee Aki is penalised for clearing him out from the side.

Crowd don’t like it as Kok was off his feet at the time of the contact.

Solid defence by Ulster but their lineout is also struggling and Connacht steal one back near halfway.

32′ – CON 0-10 ULS: Connacht are growing into this incrementally. They’re winning their own ball at lineout time after some early hiccups and they’re putting Ulster under pressure on their ball, stealing two.

They’re also on top in the scrum, where they’ve just won a kickable penalty just outside the Ulster 22′.

Timoney has just been warned that the next scrum penalty will result in a yellow card for one of Ulster’s front rows.

33′ – CON 0-10 ULS: Connacht turn down the three points and go to the line.

Their maul takes them towards the Ulster five but it’s stopped legally. They’re attacking centrally now — aaand they spill it forward in contact.

Jack Murphy, with the scrum advantage no use to him, blasts the ball up to halfway from under his own sticks.

Really impressive first half by the 20-year-old.

34′ - TRYYYYYYYY FOR CONNACHT! MACK HANSEN OUT OF ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Connacht had the penalty advantage after Murray was interfered with at lineout time. Jack Carty dinks one in behind the Ulster defensive line and the ball ricochets off Mike Lowry, straight into Hansen’s bread basket!

He’s home and hosed before the home crowd can even understand what happened, but they love it! Under the posts goes Hansen, and Carty converts.

We’ve a three-point game in Galway.

The rest of the first half passed without much incident, albeit Cormac Izuchukwu had a bit of an injury scare when he jarred his knee in a non-contact scenario. He looks alright, though.

A bright start by Ulster but Connacht have grown into it and controlled the second quarter by and large. Ulster’s set-piece under pressure and costing them some of the ball and territory they enjoyed in the opening 20 minutes.

Finely poised at the turnaround. Catch you in about 15!

Eric O'Sullivan opened the scoring for Ulster. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Mack Hansen bagged Connacht's try. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

41′ – CON 7-10 ULS: Jack Murphy gets the action back underway at Dexcom. A really interesting 40 minutes in store here.

41′ – CON 7-10 ULS: Andrew Warwick has come on for Eric O’Sullivan, who actually took to the field for the second half but went off in the first break in play.

Werner Kok has also just gone off holding his right arm, which was already heavily strapped. Wilhelm de Klerk comes on for his senior Ulster debut.

43′ – CON 7-10 ULS: Connacht get a chance early in this second half: a lineout on the Ulster 22′. They win it, take it infield and then spin left.

Unfortunately for Caolin Blade, his pass spins into touch. Good linespeed again from Ulster.

46′ – CON 7-10 ULS: Bundee Aki growing into this one with ball in hand.

Some decent Connacht attacking shape is met by some fine Ulster defensive shape — again — and Santi Cordero is bundled into touch just outside the Ulster 22′.

Ulster have proven a very tough nut to crack so far but you wonder if this strategy of absorption is sustainable.

48′ – CON 7-10 ULS: Jack Murphy has kicked really well out of hand. He has a deceptively big boot for his frame. Three monsters to touch so far in this game, including his first-minute 50-22′.

50′ – CON 7-10 ULS: Dave McCann comes on for Matty Rea in the Ulster back row. They could use some of his ball-carrying impetus. He made 26 carries or something mad against Munster last weekend, I’m sure.

50′ – CON 7-10 ULS: It’s been a scrappy start to the second half. Ulster will be the happier: they’re keeping Connacht contained with some strong linespeed near the breakdown and then sitting off a bit out wide. Similar to how New Zealand defended against Ireland in the World Cup quarter-final, for example.

52′ – CON 7-10 ULS: Connacht win yet another scrum pen — Bealham has been beastly.

But Izuchukwu gets up and steals their lineout. That’s Ulster’s second steal. Connacht have had three.

Ulster then win a penalty during a kick chase as Cian Prendergast blocks an Ulsterman. Murphy hoofs them into the Connacht 22′.

First attacking opportunity for Ulster in what feels like an age.

54′ – CON 7-10 ULS: Ulster bash it to within a metre of the Connacht line and, with the pen advantage, they eventually lose the ball on the ground.

They turn down the gimme three points and go to the line! Lineout on the Connacht 5′.

55′ - NICK TIMONEY’S DECISION TO GO TO THE LINE IS JUSTIFIED! HE TOUCHES DOWN HIMSELF!!!

Ulster get the drive going early and Timoney peels off the back with a splinter cell of big Ulster forwards, led by Izuchukwu and Stuart Wilson. They roll it to the line, where Timoney eventually forces the ball onto the chalk!

Nathan Doak converts from the right-hand side. Ulster lead by 10! Wow!

58′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Strong response by Connacht as replacement Sean Jansen makes big inroads into the Ulster 22′. A couple of nice offloads in that move.

BUT JUDE POSTLETHWAITE MAKES A HUGE STEAL ON THE GROUND! Ulster penalty!

59′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Ben Murphy on at scrum-half for Connacht. If you’re a more passive rugby fan, he’s facing his younger brother Jack and their dad, head coach Richie, on the Ulster side of things. Cool one for the family!

62′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Connacht, plagued by inaccuracies all night, stringing together some nice attack in the loose.

They win a penalty on the floor — and an extra 10 metres for backchat which takes them deep into the Ulster half. They’ll go to the line, and they have a lineout from about seven metres out.

63′ – CON 7-17 ULS: I mentioned those inaccuracies… A Ben Murphy pass from the base of a ruck clips Cian Prendergast’s hand and goes forward into referee Brace.

Scrum Ulster on their own 5′. Chance gone for Connacht — Ulster lock out the scrum and clear through the boot of Doak.

He’s taken a lot of the pressure off Jack Murphy tonight with some big box-kicks.

66′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Connacht attack wide right in the Ulster half and Santi Cordero chips down the line before Lowry can tackle him into touch.

Doak covers but spills the ball — backwards — into touch.

Big chance for Connacht, now: lineout deep inside the Ulster 22′.

67′ – CON 7-17 ULS: HUGE DEFENCE BY ULSTER AGAIN! Treadwell, Timoney and McNabney nuke the Connacht maul, stop it dead, and the ball becomes unplayable! Scrum to the visitors, and they go nuts!

69′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Doak box-kicks to touch again but, under pressure this time, he only gets it as far as his own 22′.

Connacht will go again!

69′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Jack Murphy offside on a Bundee Aki carry — penalty for Connacht. They’ll go to the corner…

…Oh no. Cathal Forde misses touch, kicks it dead. Ulster escape with a 22′. That’s a shocker unfortunately. And it has really deflated the ground.

71′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Aidan Morgan caught with hands in the ruck despite clear warning from Brace. Another Connacht pen.

Forde makes touch this time, just inside the Ulster 22′.

73′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Connacht, with a fresh pen advantage, chip through via the boot of Hansen. There’s a mad scramble and Harry Sheridan carries it back over his own line.

It’ll be a five-metre scrum to Connacht. Crowd alive again — but the hosts need something here, you’d have to imagine.

Seven minutes to go, 10 points in it. Connacht with a big chance to narrow the gap.

74′ – CON 7-17 ULS: HOLY MOLY! ULSTER CRUSH THE CONNACHT SCRUM! PENALTY TO THE VISITORS!

James McCormick, Andy Warwick and Corrie Barrett — take a bow, lads!

76′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Connacht attack again but NICK TIMONEY WINS THE JACKAL PENALTY ON HIS OWN 22′!

What a performance by Ulster’s skipper on the night!

77′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Connacht return the favour — I think it was Hurley-Langton who wins the poach — and Cathal Forde boots Connacht into the Ulster half.

Nick Timoney has just been named man of the match.

78′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Ulster steal the ball back and go wide left! Jack Murphy in acres tears down the edge and grubbers ahead. Connacht regather near their own line — but this game is effectively over, folks!

WHAT A WIN IT’S GOING TO BE FOR RICHIE MURPHY’S ULSTER!

80′ – CON 7-17 ULS: Connacht produce a breathtaking attack down the left edge but the final offload just eludes the hands of Jansen.

It bobbles forward and it’s gobbled up by Harry Sheridan on his own line!

It would have been a losing bonus point for Connacht, but they’re going to leave with nothing here.

Ulster have done it!

Wow. Wow, wow, wow!

Ulster pull off a big upset in Galway to snap their losing streak and breathe life into their season.

Connacht look despondent. Such a letdown following last week’s spirited second half in Dublin.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

That’s it from me for this evening.

Thanks for joining us for these live updates. Ciarán Kennedy will have a full match report and reaction from Dexcom Stadium so keep an eye on The 42 for all of that.

Happy Christmas, all, and a happy new year before the next liveblog!