LIVEBath v Munster, Champions Cup, live minute-by-minute updates

The Champions Cup is back. Can Munster produce a classic European performance to topple a very strong Bath side?
Bath v Munster, Champions Cup, live minute-by-minute updates

Munster dejected after conceding their fourth try of the match. Pic: Tom Maher/Inpho

Champions Cup: Bath 28 Munster 7

27 mins: Bath secure possession from their own lineout and test the Munster back-three but they deal with it. Munster - and John Hodnett - earn a penalty and Hanrahan pumps it downfield. Momentum shifting at The Rec. 

Tadhg Beirne claims the lineout and Munster have the advantage. We'll come back for the penalty. Into the corner it goes.

23 mins: Munster try! Coombes pivotal again before Edwin Edogbo powers over. Hanrahan makes it seven. Well needed.

22 mins: Side entry at the lineout from Bath, so Munster playing with advantage. Ben Spencer gets a warning.

20 mins: Thaakir Abrahams' dancing feet buy Munster a penalty, and Hanrahan goes to the corner. They need something, even at this early stage. 

Big Coombes carry forces a Bath infringement at the ruck. Back to the corner we go. 

18 mins: Bath maul the visitors over. Tom Dunn the scorer. That's their bonus-point try. We've only played 18 minutes. 

More extras for Russell. 

16 mins: More errors hands Bath possession deep in Munster territory. Scrum time. And penalty time too. For Bath that is.

Into the corner Russell goes.

12 mins: And another Bath try. Gavin Coombes and Tom Ahern find a gap but the ball is somehow robbed. Cam Redpath kicks forward and Henry Arundell gladly races in to score. Russell converts the conversion. 21-0. Munster in deep trouble. 

10 mins: Another try for Bath. Finn Russell pulling the strings and Miles Reid is the one to punch a hole in the Munster defence. Russell adds the extras. 14-0.

Thaakir Abrahams of Munster is tackled by Cam Redpath of Bath. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Thaakir Abrahams of Munster is tackled by Cam Redpath of Bath. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

8 mins: Munster under pressure once more, and Diarmuid Barron's throw is not straight deep in his own half. Scrum Bath.

7 mins: Penalty try for Bath, and Munster captain Tadhg Beirne goes to the sin bin.

6 mins: Another lineout goes wrong for Munster. Spencer kicks downfield and Shane Daly has little choice but to concede five metres out.

Bath will look to maul over here.

4 mins: Munster lineout ball is not clean, Spencer clears but McMillan's men still in good position.

Lineout lost again.

2 mins: Inside two minutes and both sides have already got their hands on the ball. Ben Spencer clears his lines and Munster are handed an early penalty from the lineout.

Hanrahan kicks to the corner. 

1 min: JJ Hanrahan kicks off. We're underway at The Rec, with the rain coming down.

Munster's Craig Casey during the warm up ahead of the match. Pic: Dan Clohessy/Inpho
Munster's Craig Casey during the warm up ahead of the match. Pic: Dan Clohessy/Inpho

7.48pm: To add to the earlier news of Jean Kleyn's withdrawal from the Munster matchday squad, Michael Milne has been ruled out after "picking up a knock". Jeremy Loughman starts with Josh Wycherley coming onto the bench.

7.45pm: Pre-match thoughts of Bath boss Johann van Graan: 

7.40pm: Here's what Munster centre Tom Farrell had to say earlier in the week: 

As Farrell's province prepare to face a powerhouse Bath side at The Rec on Saturday night, he knows it is going to take a “complete performance”.

"Just a complete performance,” Farrell said. “We can't really rely on one aspect of our game.

"It probably won't be enough. We're going to need every aspect of our game, our attack, our defence, our set-piece, everything firing because if one of them is missing, it probably won't be enough going over here, to be honest.

"We're fully aware of it. I was only watching their game against Sarries (a 36-29 win at Saracens last Sunday).

"Even the names they have on paper, but some of the lads who weren't even in the 23, we know that they're probably going to come in this week and add even more depth that they have."

Munster supporters Paddy Donlon, left, and Tom McGrath. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Munster supporters Paddy Donlon, left, and Tom McGrath. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

7.30pm: Welcome back to another Irish Examiner Sport live blog - we'll provide minute-by-minute updates from The Rec as English Premiership big guns Bath host Munster in the opening round of the Champions Cup.

In team news, Jack Crowley has been ruled out with an ankle injury as Clayton McMillan makes a number of changes to the side that faced the Stormers last weekend.

Crowley has been replaced at number 10 by JJ Hanrahan as Munster go to the home of Johann van Graan’s English champions.

A late change to the side originally named sees Edwin Edogbo, due to be among the replacements, promoted to start as Jean Kleyn withdraws for personal reasons. 

Fineen Wycherley takes Edogbo's place on the bench. 

Ex-Munster boss van Graan's Bath have strength in depth with stars of the ilk of Springbok tighthead Thomas du Toit, England forwards Ted Hill and Sam Underhill and former Leinster lock Ross Molony, as well as Argentina star playmaking back Santi Carreras all named on the bench.

Scotland and Lions fly-half Finn Russell starts at 10 in half-back partnership with captain and England scrum-half Ben Spencer while English standouts from November Max Ojomoh and Guy Pepper start at outside centre and openside flanker respectively.

Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan, right, and Simon Zebo before the Investec Champions Cup match between Bath and Munster. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan, right, and Simon Zebo before the Investec Champions Cup match between Bath and Munster. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

BATH: Tom de Glanville; Joe Cokanasiga, Max Ojomoh, Cameron Redpath, Henry Arundell; Finn Russell, Ben Spencer – captain; Beno Obano, Tom Dunn, Will Stuart; Quinn Roux, Charlie Ewels; Josh Bayliss, Guy Pepper, Miles Reid.

Replacements: Kepu Tuipulotu, Francois van Wyk, Thomas du Toit, Ross Molony, Ted Hill, Tom Carr-Smith, Santi Carreras, Sam Underhill.

MUNSTER: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Dan Kelly, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey; Jeremy Louhman, Diarmuid Barron, John Ryan; Edwin Edogbo, Tom Ahern; Tadhg Beirne - captain, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Michael Ala’alatoa, Fineen Wycherley, Ruadhán Quinn, Ethan Coughlan, Alex Nankivell, Alex Kendellen.

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