Referee Eoghan Cross blows the whistle and we're off here in Galway.

Ciaran Frawley kicks deep into Connacht's half and the ball sails over the head of Bundee Aki and bounces into touch.

The teams are finishing their warmups and the Dexcom Stadium in Galway is filling up.

A dry and relatively mild night in Galway makes it ideal conditions for rugby.

Just over 10 minutes to go until kick-off.

Connacht: Piers O'Conor; Shayne Bolton, David Hawkshaw, Bundee Aki, Santiago Cordero; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray; Cian Prendergast (capt), Sean O’Brien, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Sean Jansen, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, Hugh Gavin.

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Liam Turner, Garry Ringrose, Jamie Osborne, Andrew Osborne; Ciarán Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani; RG Snyman, James Ryan (capt); Max Deegan, Will Connors, James Culhane.

Replacements: Stephen Smyth, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ross Byrne, Hugh Cooney.

Image source, bb

Up next in the second game of the United Rugby Championship double bill we bring you this evening is interprovincial action as Connacht take on Leinster in Galway at 19.35.

Connacht have won two of the opening four games in this campaign while Leinster have sealed four bonus point victories so far.

We'll be here to cover the live action as it unfolds.

Player-of-the-match Damian Willemse speaks post-match

"(We are)Very happy with the win," he said

"We had a dissappointing tour of Europe so we had to put that right.

"We hadnt beaten Munster yet so our plans and processes during the week were very good.

"We were very happy to be back at home after five months and the best way to big ourselves up is to go out and win and we did that tonight."

A valiant effort from Munster but alas nothing to show for the effort.

The Stormers were error-strewn at times but fantastically powerful in other phases and they get the bonus-point win.

Veteran Ruhan Nel ends up with a pair of scores and Munster have some set-piece work to do before facing an International-laden Sharks in Durban next week.

Stormers win a scrum penalty in midfield but Damian Willemse fails to find touch. Munster desperately go to run it looking for a losing bonus point but they are 90-metres short.

Can you believe it.

Willemse knocks over a drop-goal from 25 metres and that should be that.

Unbelievable Jack Crowley then also fails to go 10 metres on the restart. Criminal stuff.

He slots it through.

To make matters worse Billy Burns doesn't make the compulsory 10 metres with his restart.

ooohh Gavin Coombes.

After all his good work, the back-rower does not release the ball after the referee shouts a warning and Stormers will kick at goal from 30-metres out.

Breathless spell of play with both sides winning turnovers on the deck.

First Stormers, then Munster who clear downfield via Mike Haley. Both sides look out on their feet.

After getting defeated in Cape Town, in the same venue by Munster in the Grand Final in 2023, will Stormers minds start to panic about history repeating itself?

Munster with another penalty on the halfway line for a high tackle.

Jack Crowley the victim and the beneficiary and he gets back to his feet to punt the ball into the Stormers 22.

The answer is no.

The Irish province do win the lineout but they are under pressure immediately from a wolf pack of a Stormers defence.

Tadhg Beirne is the man to cough up the ball and it is scrum advantage to the Stormers.

Well, what about that, Munster win a scrum penalty against the head and Crowley goes straight to the corner once more.

Is this the chance that Munster can take?

Some smart inter-play between Billy Burns and Jack Crowley to set Munster charging towards the Stormers 22, but play is called back for a forward pass.

Perhaps this is Munster finding a way back intothe game?

Munster back with a sniff.

They earn a penalty in midfield and Jack Crowley punts right into the Stormers corner.

But once again it is another lineout loss, so frustrsting for the visitors.

The Stormers looking so dangerous down this left-hand side, throwing some lightning-quick passes.

Thankfully Gavin Coombes is on the pitch and on hand to turnover the ball, fantastic defence.