Munster vs Connacht: Key Stats, Records, and Results from the Last Decade Ahead of the URC Clash

As Munster and Connacht prepare for another intense showdown in the United Rugby Championship (URC), it’s worth reflecting on how these Irish provincial rivals have fared against each other over the last decade. From Munster’s consistent home dominance to Connacht’s rare but notable victories, these clashes have provided thrilling rugby, with plenty of tight encounters and some standout performances. Here’s a breakdown of the key stats, records, and a comprehensive list of results between Munster and Connacht over the last 10 years.

Key Stats and Records (Last 10 Years)

Munster’s Biggest Win: Munster’s largest victory over Connacht came on 06/05/17, with a commanding 50-14 win.
Connacht’s Biggest Win: Connacht’s most dominant performance came on 16/04/16, with a 35-14 victory, a 21-point margin.
Narrowest Win for Connacht: Connacht’s narrowest victory occurred on 01/01/22, winning a tense game 10-8.
Longest Winning Streak (Munster): Munster enjoyed a four-game winning streak over Connacht from 05/01/19 to 30/08/20.
Back-to-Back Home Wins for Connacht: Connacht claimed consecutive home wins over Munster in 2022 with scores of 20-11 and 10-8.
Munster’s Home Dominance (Exception in 2021): While Munster has been dominant at home, Connacht broke this streak on 14/05/21, securing a 24-20 victory at Thomond Park.
Connacht’s Rare Double in 2021: Connacht won two games against Munster in 2021, with victories on 14/05/21 (24-20) and 16/10/21 (20-18).
Highest Combined Score: The match on 28/03/15 saw the highest combined score, with Munster winning 42-20 (62 total points).
Tight Encounters: Five matches in the last 10 years were decided by 4 points or fewer, showcasing the intense rivalry.
Connacht’s Improved Competitiveness: Connacht has won 8 out of 22 encounters since 2014, reflecting their growing ability to compete with Munster.

Full Results (Last 10 Years)

11/05/24: Munster 47 – 12 Connacht
01/01/24: Connacht 22 – 9 Munster
26/11/22: Munster 24 – 17 Connacht
07/10/22: Connacht 20 – 11 Munster
01/01/22: Connacht 10 – 8 Munster
16/10/21: Connacht 20 – 18 Munster
14/05/21: Munster 20 – 24 Connacht
05/03/21: Munster 20 – 17 Connacht
09/01/21: Connacht 10 – 16 Munster
30/08/20: Munster 49 – 12 Connacht
21/12/19: Connacht 14 – 19 Munster
27/04/19: Munster 27 – 14 Connacht
05/01/19: Connacht 24 – 31 Munster
06/01/18: Munster 39 – 13 Connacht
27/10/17: Connacht 20 – 16 Munster
06/05/17: Munster 50 – 14 Connacht
31/12/16: Connacht 9 – 16 Munster
16/04/16: Connacht 35 – 14 Munster
28/11/15: Munster 12 – 18 Connacht
28/03/15: Munster 42 – 20 Connacht
01/01/15: Connacht 24 – 16 Munster
19/04/14: Connacht 23 – 32 Munster

Opening Weekend of the URC: Predicted Handicaps Before Betting Markets

The much-anticipated United Rugby Championship (URC) is back, and with the betting markets yet to release official handicaps, here are my early predictions for the opening weekend. These handicaps provide an early insight into how the games may be priced by bookmakers.

Friday Matches

– **Cardiff (-16) vs Zebre**
– **Edinburgh (+9) vs Leinster**

Saturday Matches

– **Dragons (+4) vs Ospreys**

– **Munster (-13) vs Connacht**
– **Bennetton (-12) vs Scarlets**
– **Ulster (-3) vs Glasgow**

These predicted handicaps offer an early look at what to expect before official betting lines are set. Keep an eye on the markets as they open to see how they compare!

List of Rugby Referees and TMOs for this weeks matches

The match officials appointments of the BKT United Rugby Championship Round 1 fixtures have been confirmed and are available alongside TV listings below.

The match officials appointments of the BKT United Rugby Championship Round 1 fixtures have been confirmed and are available alongside TV listings below.

To avoid a clash with the Carling Currie Cup Final, Round 1 fixtures involving the South African teams will now be moved from this weekend and rescheduled to early 2025.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Cardiff Rugby v Zebre Parma
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU, 19th league game)
AR 1: Mike English (WRU) AR 2: Rhys Jones (WRU)
TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
Live on: BBC Wales, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Edinburgh Rugby v Leinster
Hive Stadium, Edinburgh – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 46th league game)
AR 1: Jonny Perriam (SRU) AR 2: Michael Todd (SRU)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)
Live on: Premier Sports, TG4, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

Dragons RFC v Ospreys
Rodney Parade, Newport – KO 15.00 IRE & UK / 16.00 ITA & SA
Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU, 3rd league game)
AR 1: Mike English (WRU) AR 2: Ben Connor (WRU)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Munster v Connacht
Thomond Park, Limerick – KO 17.30 IRE & UK / 18.30 ITA & SA
Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU, 43rd league game)
AR 1: Andrew Cole (IRFU) AR 2: Dan Carson (IRFU)
TMO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Live on: RTÉ, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Benetton v Scarlets
Stadio Monigo, Treviso – KO 19.35 IRE & UK / 20.35 ITA & SA
Referee: Ian Kenny (SRU, 4th league game)
AR 1: Fillipo Russo (FIR) AR 2: Franco Rosella (FIR)
TMO: Dave Sutherland (SRU)
Live on: Sky Italia, S4C, Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Ulster v Glasgow Warriors
Kingspan Stadium, Belfast – KO 19.45 IRE & UK / 20.45 ITA & SA
Referee: Adam Jones (WRU, 38th league game)
AR 1: Robbie Jenkinson (IRFU) AR 2: Padraig Reidy (IRFU)
TMO: Tom Spurrier (WRU)
Live on: Premier Sports, SuperSport, Flo Rugby & URC.tv

Kyprios completes the perfect season by winning Irish St Leger

Kyprios won the Group 1 Comer Group Irish St Leger at The Curragh on Sunday afternoon.

The win completes a perfect season for the son of Gailleo who has achieved wins in his five races in 2024.

Trained at Ballydoyle by Aidan O’Brien and owned by a partnership of Moyglare Stud and Coolmore Stud, the six-year-old was regaining the title he won two years ago.

Favourite upstaged in Moyglare Stakes

Race favourite Bedtime Story (4/5 favourite) was upstaged by her stable companion Lake Victoria (11/2) in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.

The seven-furlong race for fillies saw Lake Victoria and Wayne Lordan come late and wide down the home straight to claim victory, winning eventually by a length and a quarter at the line.

The Ollie Sangster-trained British challenger Simmering (17/2) finished second, with Exactly (20/1) a short-head further back. There was another head back to Red Letter with Bedtime Story being run our of it, finishing last of the five runners.

Scorthy Champ and Bradsell claim Group 1s at The Curragh

Scorthy Champ caused an upset in the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at The Curragh on Sunday afternoon.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained 12/1 chance claimed the scalp of the 4/5 favourite Henri Matisse, trained by the winning handler’s father, Aidan.

Scorthy Champ, ridden by Donegal jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, had three-quarters of a length in hand on runner-up Henri Matisse, under Ryan Moore, with British raider Seagulls Eleven (7/1) the same distance further back with Oisín Murphy in third.

First winner in Ireland for Hollie Doyle

Bradsell gave jockey Hollie Doyle her first winner in Ireland this afternoon in the Group 1 Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes.

Trained by Archie Watson in England, the four-year-old son of Tasleet led home a British-trained clean sweep with the visitors claiming the first six places.

Economics and Tom Marquand win Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes

Jockey Tom Marquand completed a quick Group 1 double on day one of the 2024 Irish Champions Festival when guiding Economics (7/4 favourite) to victory in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

Marquand had earlier won the Group 1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes aboard Porta Fortuna for Donnacha O’Brien, but this time he teamed up with British-based trainer William Haggas to claim the €1.25 million race.

The son of Night of Thunder held off last winner’s Auguste Rodin and Ryan Moore as the Aidan O’Brien-trained runner failed by a neck at the line to win a seventh Group 1 race.

The Japanese runner, Shin Emperor, was third a further three-quarters of a length behind the runner-up.

Economics becomes the first British-trained winner of the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes since Oisín Murphy guided Roaring Lion to victory for John Gosden in 2018.

Interestingly, this afternoon was Economics’ Group 1 debut and he becomes the first horse since Pentire in 1995 to break their Group 1 maiden in the Irish Champion Stakes.

Porta Fortuna wins Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes at Leopardstown

Porta Fortuna and Tom Marquand won the Group 1 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron Stakes over a mile at Leopardstown this afternoon.

One of the two Group 1 contests on day one of the 2024 Irish Champions Festival, it was a fourth success at the highest level for the daughter of Caravaggio.

Trained by Donnacha O’Brien, the three-year-old had finished runner-up in the QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May before claiming Group 1 wins in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket.

She becomes only the third favourite to win the race in the last 11 years, the previous two were Legatissimo in 2015 and Tahiyra last year.

Match Report: Bristol Bears 38-35 Connacht Rugby – Mack is back

Connacht concluded their preseason campaign with a thrilling, high-scoring 38-35 defeat against Bristol Bears, setting the stage for their opening clash in the 2024/25 URC season against Munster next weekend.

The encounter was a showcase of end-to-end rugby, with both teams exchanging blows throughout. Bristol’s clinical attack saw them secure a hard-fought win, but Connacht demonstrated immense resilience, keeping the contest alive until the dying moments. The second half wasn’t as intense due to all the substitutions.

First Half: Electric Start, Momentum Shifts

Bristol wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, with James Williams crossing for an early try just two minutes in, converted by AJ MacGinty. Connacht responded swiftly with Andrew Smith charging over the whitewash in the 5th minute, with Josh Ioane adding the extras to level the game. Smith, a standout performer for Connacht, added his second try in the 21st minute, showcasing his blistering pace and eye for the try line.

Bristol’s Harry Randall was instrumental in the first half, punishing Connacht with a sharp interception and a cheeky dummy to bag two tries in quick succession (18’ and 27’). Ioane, however, kept Connacht in touch with a flawless kicking display, converting all of Connacht’s first-half tries, including a late try from Niall Murray after a period of sustained pressure.

At halftime, the scoreboard read **Bristol Bears 24-21 Connacht**, with both teams evenly matched in what was shaping up to be a high-scoring affair.

Second Half: Substitutions and Drama

The second half began with both teams rotating their lineups, bringing on fresh legs and nearly fielding completely different sides. Bristol capitalised first as Benhard Janse van Rensburg sliced through Connacht’s defense to score their fifth try of the evening in the 51st minute, with MacGinty converting to extend their lead to 31-21.

💬 "Pre-season has been brilliant and we've had four good wins. That was the toughest game so far and we're ready to go for @premrugby now."

Hear from DOR Pat Lam after today's pre-season victory over Connacht at the HPC 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/9x9Warzzpu

— Bristol Bears 🐻 (@BristolBears) September 13, 2024

Connacht, undeterred, responded with Fiachna Barrett crashing over in the 68th minute following a long spell of pressure, narrowing the gap to just three points after Ioane added the conversion. Moments later, Connacht seized the lead for the first time in the match when another try scored by Paul Boyle was converted, taking them ahead 35-31 with just seven minutes remaining.

However, Bristol had the final say. Rich Lane darted over for a try in the 75th minute, and the successful conversion restored the Bears’ advantage at 38-35. Despite late efforts, Connacht couldn’t muster another score, and the match concluded with Bristol narrowly coming out on top.

Final Thoughts: Promising Signs for Connacht

Despite the loss, Connacht will take plenty of positives from the performance, particularly their fighting spirit and attacking prowess. Andrew Smith was electric, and Josh Ioane’s accuracy with the boot was flawless throughout. But most importantly it seen the comeback of Mack Hansen who had been out injured since January. With the URC season opener against Munster next weekend, Connacht will look to fine-tune their defense and build on the strong attacking foundations laid in this preseason encounter.

Match Scorers:

**Bristol Bears:**
– **James Williams** (Try, 2’)
– **Harry Randall** (Tries, 18’, 27’)
– **Harry Thacker** (Try, 33’)
– **Benhard Janse van Rensburg** (Try, 51’)
– **Rich Lane** (Try, 75’)
– **AJ MacGinty** (Conversions, 2’, 18’, 51’, )

**Connacht Rugby:**
– **Andrew Smith** (Tries, 5’, 21’)
– **Niall Murray** (Try, 36’)
– **Fiachna Barrett** (Try, 68’)
– ** Paul Boyle** (Try, 72)
– **Conversions** – Josh Ioane (5’, 21’, 36’, ?, ?

**Starting XV**
(15-9): Mack Hansen, Shane Jennings, Piers O’Conor, Hugh Gavin, Andrew Smith, Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade
(1-8): Peter Dooley, Dave Heffernan, Sam Illo, Oisin Dowling, Niall Murray, Josh Murphy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Cian Prendergast (C)

**Replacements**:
Denis Buckley, Eoin de Buitlear, Fiachna Barrett, Darragh Murray, David O’Connor, Paul Boyle, Conor Oliver, Sean Jansen, Ben Murphy, Sean Naughton, David Hawkshaw, Byron Ralston, Finn Treacy

Connacht’s focus now shifts to the highly anticipated clash with Munster, as they kick off the new URC season next weekend.

Heimir Hallgrimsson’s Silent Approach Under Scrutiny After Poor Start

Has the Ireland Manager Already Lost the Dressing Room?

The appointment of Heimir Hallgrimsson as Ireland’s national football manager has quickly come under intense scrutiny after a dismal start to his tenure. With two home defeats, including a 3-0 loss to England and a 2-0 defeat to Greece, Hallgrimsson’s approach has raised serious concerns among fans and pundits alike.

No Press Conferences, No Accountability?

One of the most baffling aspects of Hallgrimsson’s early days as manager is his refusal to conduct some press conferences and let John O’Shea take them.

Who’s Really Picking the Team, John O’Shea?

Another major question mark is whether Hallgrimsson is even the one making key decisions. His limited presence at domestic matches in the UK and Ireland has raised eyebrows, with many asking how he can accurately assess player form if he isn’t attending matches in person. Instead, Hallgrimsson reportedly relies on the data-driven Wyscout website, a move that’s sparked criticism from football figures, including former Ireland manager Brian Kerr. The data-driven approach may work in theory, but the lack of personal involvement suggests a manager who’s detached from the very players he’s supposed to inspire.

Rumors of a divide between the coaching staff and players have begun to swirl, particularly after two consecutive home defeats, where the squad appeared disjointed and uninspired. Is Hallgrimsson truly in charge of team selection, or is his reliance on data and analytics a sign that he’s not the one pulling the strings?

A Shaky Start: Two Home Defeats

Starting his campaign with two home defeats, Hallgrimsson has done little to boost confidence. The 3-0 loss to England and the 2-0 defeat to Greece have extended Ireland’s dismal record in the Nations League to just two wins in 18 games. The squad’s recent performances indicate that morale is low, and tactical coherence is missing. To add insult to injury, Ireland’s last eight competitive matches (outside of easy wins over Gibraltar) have ended in defeat.

This dreadful run of form hasn’t gone unnoticed, and it’s already drawing the ire of Ireland supporters. The booing from the stands during these defeats speaks volumes about the public’s growing frustration.

Lack of Scouting: A Recipe for Failure?

Even more concerning is Hallgrimsson’s refusal to scout Irish players in person. This weekend, Ipswich Town will face Brighton, a match featuring key Irish players like Chiedozie Ogbene, Sammie Szmodics, Dara O’Shea, and Evan Ferguson. Yet, Hallgrimsson is expected to skip the game in favor of watching it remotely via Wyscout. For a national team manager, this hands-off approach sends the wrong message—especially when it comes to evaluating talent and building relationships with players.

Growing Discontent Among Fans

Hallgrimsson’s style—or lack thereof—has left fans disillusioned. A manager who avoids the spotlight, refuses to scout players, and has failed to deliver any results is hardly what Irish football needs right now. A section of the fanbase has already turned against him, with some calling for a change before it’s too late.

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley has called for patience, urging supporters to give Hallgrimsson time to prove himself. However, with such a poor start, many are questioning whether he deserves that time.

Time Is Running Out

Ultimately, football is a results-driven business, and Hallgrimsson’s record thus far isn’t good enough. Without victories or a clear vision, it won’t be long before calls for his resignation grow louder. His unwillingness to engage with the media and fans only compounds the problem, leaving many to wonder if Hallgrimsson is the right man for the job.

As the pressure mounts, the question remains: Can Hallgrimsson turn it around, or has his reign already begun to unravel? Ireland’s next fixtures will likely provide the answer, but time is not on his side.

Connacht team news – Mack Hansen and Josh Ioane Start Against Bristol Bears

Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins has named a 28-man squad for their final pre-season fixture against Bristol Bears tomorrow, with kick-off set for 2 PM at the Bears’ High Performance Centre.

The match will serve as Connacht’s last warm-up before the start of the new season.

There are **12 changes** from the side that earned a hard-fought win against Glasgow Warriors last weekend. Notably, **Mack Hansen** returns to the starting lineup for the first time since January, adding firepower to the backline. Irish internationals **Dave Heffernan**, **Cian Prendergast** (who will captain the side), and **Caolin Blade** are also back in the starting XV.

**Josh Ioane**, who impressed during his debut last week, will continue at fly-half, while **Shane Jennings** retains his spot on the wing, joined by **Andrew Smith**. Rising star **Hugh Gavin** starts at inside centre, while **Piers O’Conor** moves from full-back to outside centre to face his former club.

In the pack, Connacht sees a complete overhaul. **Peter Dooley**, **Sam Illo**, **Oisin Dowling**, **Niall Murray**, **Josh Murphy**, and **Shamus Hurley-Langton** will all start in the forward pack, giving them a chance to impress ahead of the season opener.

The replacements bench features **13 players**, including Academy talents **Fiachna Barrett**, **Sean Naughton**, and **Finn Treacy**, adding to the depth and competition within the squad.

Connacht fans will be eager to see the team’s final pre-season performance as they fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming campaign.

**Connacht Matchday Squad vs Bristol Bears (Friday, September 13, 2024, 2 PM @ Bristol Bears HPC)**