Irish Rugby

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Leinster head coach Leo Cullen spoke to Premier Sports after his side's 24-18 United Rugby Championship win over rivals Munster at Aviva Stadium.

On the performance: "We didn't manage the first 20 minutes particularly well, too many turnovers, little errors in our game. We just allowed Munster too much access into the game.

"I thought they were well on top for that 20 minutes but we grew into the game. I thought they were fatiguing a little bit by half-time so the message was to keep pounding away and we got some rewards."

On experimenting by putting Dan Sheehan at number eight: "I thought Dan was excellent, led from the front. Everything he did, took the fight to Munster.

"I thought he was really, really positive, everything he did. He's a really calm voice for us. We'll see where we go with that one, it's up to the Ireland squad now."

On Joey Carbery's first start: "Joey's good yeah, I think he was nervous in the game. He's been out a long time, only played 10 minutes last week.

"To get through 70-75 minutes today is great for him and it's another step. He's come back after a long time out with his ACL so delighted to see him back where he belongs."

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United Rugby Championship round four

Connacht (33) 48

Tries: Bealham, Jansen, Forde, Gilbert, Prendergast, West, Hefferman (2) Cons: Frawley (4), Gilbert

Zebre (17) 27

Tries: Ferrari, Botturi, Belloni, Ribaldi, Staville Cons: Montemauri

Connacht returned to winning ways in the United Rugby Championship with an eight-try 48-27 victory over Zebre at Dexcom Stadium.

Stuart Lancaster's side produced an impressive attacking display in the first half and scored five tries to lead 33-17 at the break.

The tempo of the game dropped after the restart with Zebre able to secure their first point of the season when they sealed a try bonus point.

The result means that Connacht move up to sixth position in the URC, while Zebre remain bottom.

Heffernan makes strong return

Zebre made a bright start to the game when flanker Giacomo Ferrari crossed on five minutes, but Giovanni Montemauri could not add the extras.

However, the home side responded emphatically with quick-fire tries from Finlay Bealham, Sean Jansen, Cathal Forde and Sam Gilbert in 15 minutes putting them in control.

The visitors continued to push with Jacopo Botturi able to cross to momentarily halt the home side's momentum.

Prendergast restored Connacht's lead before Mirko Belloni finished off a flowing attack to secure the visitors' third try before the break.

Dave Heffernan, who made his first start of the season since returning from injury, made an immediate impact and registered Connacht's sixth try on the hour mark.

West followed shortly afterwards to further strengthen the hosts' lead as the Irish province looked to build on their Champions Cup win last weekend.

The away side secured a bonus point when Giampietro Ribaldi powered over before Bautista Staville added a fifth try late on.

Connacht extended their lead in the closing seconds with Heffernan crossing from a close-range maul, but Sam Gilbert missed the conversion.

Line-ups

Connacht: Gilbert; Treacy, West, Forde, Hansen; Frawley, Reilly; Jansen, Byle, Prendergast, D Murray, N Murray, Bealham, de Buitlear, Cahir.

Replacements: Heffernan, Duggan, Illo, O'Connor, Connors, Blade, Naughton, Ryan.

Zebre: Belloni; Wade, Zanon, Casarin, Gesi; Montemauri, Fusco; Ruggeri, Botturi, Ferrari, Ortombina, Ruffolo, Hasa, Di Bartolomeo, Pelliccioli.

Replacements: Ribaldi, Pisani, Castellano, Canali, Stavile, Dominguez, Da Re, Migliori.

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)

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Eight of the nine Ulster players called up by Andy Farrell for Ireland's Nations Championship fixtures next month have been selected to feature for the province against the Bulls on Saturday.

The United Rugby Championship fixture in Pretoria [12:45 BST kick-off] is the first of two Richie Murphy's side will play in South Africa, with the Stormers in Cape Town to come on 31 October.

Ulster's international contingent will not be expected to feature in that concluding game of the tour, but Tom O'Toole, Tom Stewart and Nick Timoney all start up front this weekend, with Stuart McCloksey, Jamie Benson, Nathan Doak and Jacob Stockdale getting the nod in the back-line.

Uncapped back row James McNabney, who will hope to make a Test bow next month, is among the replacements, with wing Robert Baloucoune the only one of the province's Test call-ups not to feature in Saturday's 23.

Seemingly included in Farrell's squad as a fly-half option, Benson reverts back to outside centre having worn 10 in the win against Zebre in the Challenge Cup last time out.

The versatile Mike Lowry will play left wing for the first time since January 2025, with Murphy opting for a 6:2 split on the bench.

Ulster are searching for a first win of the league season having drawn two and lost one in the competition so far in the 2026-27 campaign.

Ulster: Stockdale; Mullins, Benson, McCloskey, Lowry; Murphy, Doak; O'Toole, Stewart (capt), Knox; Donnell, Izuchukwu; McCann, Timoney, Augustus.

Replacements: Walker, O'Sullivan, Wilson, Snyman, McNabney, Devine, Flannery, McKillop

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Neve Jones will win her 50th Ireland cap as Stacey Flood and Dorothy Wall return for the first of two WXV Global Series Tests against South Africa in Cape Town.

Gloucester-Hartpury's Jones is named at hooker, while Flood and Wall are reinstalled at full-back and lock for Saturday's game at Athlone Stadium (14:00 BST).

Wall's return to partner Jane Clohessy in the second row means Fione Tuite-O'Sullivan switches to blind-side flanker, while Brittany Hogan starts at number eight to deputise for injured star Aoife Wafer.

Jemima Adams Verling, who filled in for Wafer in the 43-19 win over Japan in Cork on 3 October, drops to the bench.

Flood, who replaces Niamh Gallagher in the 15 jersey, is joined by Beibhinn Parsons and Robyn O'Connor in the back three. Anna McGann and Aoife Dalton are again paired in midfield, while Dannah O'Brien and Emily Lane continue their half-back partnership.

Linda Djougang continues at loose-head prop with Eilis Cahill at tight-head either side of Jones, while Erin King captains the team from open-side flanker.

Kate Jordan, who made her debut as a second-half replacement for King in the win over Japan, is one of six forwards on the bench alongside Beth Buttimer, Niamh O'Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Grace Moore and Adams Verling.

Aoibheann Reilly and Eve Higgins provide backline cover from the bench.

Ireland's only previous meeting with South Africa was a 2006 Women's Rugby World Cup match in Canada, which the Irish won 37-0.

Scott Bemand's side opened their WXV campaign with defeat by the United States before bouncing back to beat Japan in Galway. They also defeated Japan in Cork in a non-WXV Test match in Cork.

After Saturday's first meeting, Ireland face South Africa again in Cape Town on 31 October.

Ireland: Stacey Flood; Beibhinn Parsons, Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Robyn O'Connor; Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Eilis Cahill, Jane Clohessy, Dorothy Wall, Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan, Erin King (capt), Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Beth Buttimer, Niamh O'Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Kate Jordan, Grace Moore, Jemima Adams Verling, Aoibheann Reilly, Eve Higgins.

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Munster centre Alex Nankivell has signed a new contract with Munster until 2029, which opens the door to international eligibility with Ireland.

The 29-year-old joined Munster from the Chiefs in his native New Zealand in 2023 and, through World Rugby's eligibility rules, could play for Ireland in the autumn of 2028.

Nankivell, who has previously played for the Maori All Blacks and an All Blacks XV, would be 31 by the time he is eligible to play for Andy Farrell's side.

Since moving to Munster, Nankivell has established himself as a key player and bounced back from an injury-hit 2024-25 campaign to be named the province's player of the season in June.

He also played for the Barbarians against South Africa and Wales in the summer.

Ian Costello, general manager of Munster, said that Nankivell is a "highly valued and repsected member of the squad.

"He has made a massive contribution both on and off the pitch since joining Munster," said Costello.

"We are delighted that he has committed his future to the club and look forward to seeing him continue to develop as a player and build on his performances in a Munster jersey.

"He has ambitions to play at international level, and we hope to see him realise that potential in the near future."

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Ulster winger Zac Ward is a doubt for Saturday's United Rugby Championship fixture with the Bulls in Pretoria.

Ward injured his ankle in Saturday's Challenge Cup victory over Zebre in Parma having started the match on the left wing.

Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney missed the win in Italy, but Ulster hope both will be available for selection to face the Bulls, who are coming off a 56-20 Champions Cup win over Stade Francais.

Forward Ben Donnell, back-three player Ethan McIlroy and second row Eli Snyman will be monitored throughout the week after resuming training.

Ulster are still without Eduardo Bello, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, James Hume, Charlie Irvine, Aitzol Arenzana-King, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Callum Reid and Bryn Ward.

Richie Murphy's side face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium (12:45 BST) before travelling to Cape Town, where they will take on the Stormers on 31 October (12:45 GMT).

Ulster sit 11th in the URC table after two draws and a defeat from their opening three games.

The Bulls, beaten finalists last season, and Stormers lie third and fourth in the standings having both won two out of three.

Ulster beat the Bulls 28-7 in Belfast last season and drew 38-38 with the Stormers. Last year's South African trip yielded a 34-26 win over the Sharks in Durban and 49-31 defeat by the Lions in Johannesburg.