Referee Sam Grove-White blows the whistle and we're off here in Limerick!

Sam Prendergast kicks deep in Munster's half.

The teams are finishing off their warmups as Thomond Park begins to fill up.

For late December, it's a relatively mild, dry night - ideal conditions for rugby.

Just a few minutes now until kick-off.

This isn't the only Irish interpro this weekend with Ulster travelling to Connacht tomorrow night.

In the midst of a five-game losing streak, there was some interesting team news from the northern province this afternoon with two academy players set for their first starts.

Both Jack Murphy, son of head coach Richie, and Rory Telfer will be in the run-on side for Ulster in Galway.

Read more.

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Ulster Rugby fans were given an early gift this year as, on Christmas Eve, it was confirmed that Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale will be staying at Kingspan Stadium for another two years.

The 28-year-old's previous deal expired this summer and he had been linked with a move away from his native province.

"I'm delighted to sign for the next couple of seasons here," said Stockdale, who has 38 Ireland caps.

"I feel good about where my game is at and where this team is heading. There is a lot of excitement around the place with the young players coming up and I am enjoying my role as one of the experienced players in the team."

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Munster have a number of injury absentees going into this evening with one in particular a cause of concern for the national side too.

Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey looks set to miss the Six Nations after Munster confirmed he will miss "approximately four months" following knee surgery.

Casey was forced off with the injury in Munster's Investec Champions Cup defeat by Castres this month.

The 25-year-old has won 18 Ireland caps since making his debut in 2021 and featured in three of their four autumn Tests last month.

Ireland begin their Six Nations title defence on 1 February against England. The holders, who will be led by interim head coach Simon Easterby in Andy Farrell's Lions-enforced absence, also face Scotland and Wales away and host France before a final-weekend trip to Italy on 15 March.

The likes of Peter O'Mahony, Jean Kleyn, Conor Murray, Dave Kilcoyne, Thaakir Abrahams and Alex Nankivell are all missing in Limerick tonight too.

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Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; Dian Bleuler, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Fineen Wycherley, Tadhg Beirne (capt); Tom Ahern, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Eoghan Clarke, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Brian Gleeson, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Ben O'Connor.

Leinster: Jamie Osborne; Tommy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O'Brien; Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath; Jack Boyle, Ronan Kelleher, Rabah Slimani; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Lee Barron, Andrew Porter, Cian Healy, Brian Deeny, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ross Byrne, Jordan Larmour.

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There will be no direct head-to-head between the duo vying for Ireland's number 10 jersey this evening.

While Sam Prendergast, who finished the autumn starting at fly-half for Andy Farrell, is in Leinster's run-on side, there is no Jack Crowley in the Munster 23 this evening.

Instead it will be former Ulster and Ireland fly-half Billy Burns in the Munster 10 jersey.

Burns is one of seven changes from Munster's victory over Ulster last weekend with Leo Cullen making 11 alternations to the Leinster side who beat Connacht six days ago.

Full line-ups to follow...

Good evening!

While we may be in that period of the year when nobody seems to know what day it is, one thing that's certain is we've an absolute cracker in store tonight!

Rivalries in the United Rugby Championship don't come any bigger than Munster versus Leinster with the old foes getting ready to go head-to-head in Thomond Park this evening.

Leinster have won 10 from 10 in all competitions this season but nobody would take more festive joy from ending that winning run than Munster...can they do it this evening?

Image source, Inpho