A few handling errors are creeping in early on for both sides and we're back for another scrum.

Munster are patiently working the ball through the hands and trying to build some attacking phases.

Wow. A huge shift from Munster sees them overpower Ulster at scrum time.

It's time for the scrum and Ulster have the put in.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Affidea Stadium

With the Affidea Stadium bathed in autumnal sunshine, Jacob Stockdale leads Ulster out on his 150th appearance.

The milestone comes a week later than planned, of course, with the Ireland wing having had to withdraw from the Glasgow game through injury.

Stockdale has inspired Ulster on countless occasions in the past. There's a big crowd in here this evening hoping to see a vintage performance from the 30-year-old.

Munster have the early advantage for two Ulster knock ons.

Jack Murphy gets us under way at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast...

It's derby time!

Jacob Stockdale leads his side out with his two daughters on his 150th appearance in an Ulster jersey!

A huge achievement for such a staple of Ulster Rugby.

It's almost time to get started...

Under way in Llanelli, will it be Scarlets or Benetton that gets a first win of the season?

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is in the crowd tonight!

There will be lots of players hoping to put their hands up for Ireland caps ahead of the home leg of the Nations Championship in November.

Last week saw 66 points, 10 tries, five yellow cards and some very entertaining rugby as Glasgow and Ulster drew 33-33 at Scotstoun.

Meanwhile, Munster secured a 26-22 win over the Bulls at Thomond Park, with Charlie O'Shea scoring two crucial tries and three conversions on his first senior competitive start.

Who will come out top in this interpro? Give a thumbs up for Ulster or thumbs down for Munster!

Ulster have returned to the changing room ahead of kick off!

They're met with lots of whoops and cheers by the home supporters.

Just five minutes to go...

Image source, Getty Images

Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak said he is "really enjoying the role that I have" as one of the province's most senior figures despite being just 24.

Doak has already made 111 appearances for Ulster, registered 492 points and established himself as a key player for Richie Murphy's side.

He will now aim to help the Irish province secure their first United Rugby Championship [URC] win of the season when they welcome Munster to Belfast tonight.

"Yeah, it was quite strange, I was meant to do Jacob Stockdale's 150th cap last week and I was like 'Jeez, I didn't think I had the CV to be doing that or the age!'," Doak told BBC Sport NI.

"I love that responsibility. I love being a leader for this group. It's class to be able to have so many experiences with all sorts at such a young age.

"I absolutely love that I'm able to try and help the younger lads, and I'm also still learning as well from the older lads. But I am really enjoying the role that I have."

Chris Kirwan
BBC Sport Wales

Don’t underestimate how important this evening’s game in Llanelli is for Scarlets after another slow start to a season.

Derby defeats by Cardiff and Dragons have left supporters fearing another poor campaign after the west Wales side finished 14th in 2025-26.

Benetton have also started poorly under new boss Wayne Pivac, the man who led Scarlets to title glory in 2017.

The Italians drew with Dragons and lost to Connacht in Treviso, so could do with an away win to avoid falling behind in the race for the play-offs.

But it is Scarlets who are truly under pressure given what is to come before the break for the November Tests.

They host Newcastle in the Challenge Cup before a double-header in South Africa against Stormers and Bulls.

If there are Italian celebrations in Llanelli tonight then you would imagine Scarlets will go into December without a victory and languishing with Zebre at the bottom of the URC.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Former Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac will be reunited with old friends when he brings his Benetton side to Llanelli tonight.

Pivac was Scarlets head coach between 2014 and 2019 before replacing Wales boss Warren Gatland.

His most notable achievement in Llanelli was guiding them to the Pro12 title in 2017, while Scarlets also reached the final and Champions Cup semi-final the following year.

For the first time since his departure, Pivac returns competitively this weekend for the United Rugby Championship (URC) match.

"I did cast my eye down the fixture list and to see the Scarlets was our first away match was pretty exciting," said Pivac.

"It's good to get the game early and something to look forward to.

"There's also the opportunity to catch up with friends, both from the work point of view but also friends we made outside of rugby."

Scarlets: Murray; Mee, James, Hawkins, Page; Costelow, Blacker; Mathias, Elias, Henry Thomas, Groves, Evans, Lousi, Macleod (capt), O Williams.

Replacements: McKee, S O'Connor, H O'Connor, Cuckson, Anderson, G Davies, J Roberts, J Williams.

Benetton: Gallagher; Lynagh, Mey, Marin, Ratave; Umaga, Garbisi; Spagnolo, Maile, Zilocchi, Cannone, Midena, Marini, Ruzza, Lamaro.

Replacements: Bernasconi, Medrano, Ferrari, Fa'aso'o, Kingi, Werchon, Smith, Zanandrea.

Image source, Getty Images

It was one home win apiece in this mighty derby last season.

Ulster beat Munster 28-3 in their last meeting in Belfast in January, but Clayton McMillan's side ran out 41-14 winners when the provinces last met at Thomond Park in April.

Ulster have only won once in the last five meetings of these teams, so who will come out as winners today?

Munster head coach Clayton McMillan had initally made nine changes to his side that beat the Bulls at Thomond Park last week, with the return of captain Tadhg Beirne a huge boost for the visitors.

It'll be Beirne's first Munster appearance since their home win over Ulster in April, as he missed the end of the season through injury before returning to action for Ireland in July.

Due to last minute knocks, it was confirmed an hour before kick off that Shay McCarthy will start on the wing, with Max Clein set to make his URC debut and Michael Foy in line for his senior debut off the bench.

They will replace Shane Daly, Diarmuid Barron and Tom Ahern respectively.

Jeremy Loughman and new signings Marnus van der Merwe and Kieran Brookes make up the front row, with Evan O’Connell, who hasn’t missed a minute of action so far this season, and Beirne named as the starting locks.

Meanwhile, Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen and Gavin Coombes form an all-new back row.

In the back three, Ben O’Connor, Shay McCarthy and Seán O’Brien start, with Dan Kelly and Alex Nankivell forming the midfield partnership.

Craig Casey and JJ Hanrahan start together in the half-backs.

Munster: O'Connor; McCarthy, Nankivell, Kelly, O'Brien; Hanrahan, Casey; Loughman, Van der Merwe, Brookes; O'Connell, Beirne (capt); O'Donoghue, Kendellen, Coombes.

Replacements: Clein, Wycherley, Aungier, Foy, Gleeson, O'Donovan, O'Shea, Hodnett.

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has made seven changes to his line-up from last week, with returning Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey and Nick Timoney included in the starting line-up and Tom O'Toole on the bench.

McCloskey, who started all three of Ireland's Nations Championship matches in July, returns at inside centre and forms a new midfield partnership with summer signing Jamie Benson.

It will be 34-year-old McCloskey's 218th Ulster appearance, moving him alongside former captain Rory Best in joint-third on the province's all-time cap list.

Timoney returns to the back row alongside Cormac Izuchukwu and Juarno Augustus, while recent recruits Ben Donnell and Eli Snyman form a new second row.

The front row remains unchanged and is made up by Eric O'Sullivan, captain Tom Stewart and Keynan Knox.

Nathan Doak makes his first start of the season at scrum-half and will be joined by fly-half Jack Murphy in the half-back partnership.

Jacob Stockdale make his 150th appearance on the left wing a week later than planned after being forced to withdraw from the Glasgow game through injury, and Robert Baloucoune returns on the right wing after missing the trip to Scotstoun because of concussion.

Ethan McIlroy is retained at full-back.

Ulster: McIlroy; Baloucoune, Benson, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; O'Sullivan, Stewart (capt), Knox, Donnell, Snyman, Izuchukwu, Timoney, Augustus.

Replacements: Walker, O'Toole, McAllister, McNabney, McCann, Devine, Flannery, Mullins.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello everyone and welcome to our live text commentary and live audio of what promises to be an exciting inter-pro derby, as Ulster take on Munster at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast!

Richie Murphy's side will be hoping to get their first win of the URC season, after a narrow 34-29 loss to Edinburgh in the opening round and a nail-biting 33-33 draw with Glasgow last week.

Glasgow overpowered Munster 26-20 in their opening fixture, but Clayton McMillan's side edged a 26-22 win over the Bulls last week, so who will come out on top today?

There will also be updates from the Scarlets v Benetton game, so you can follow along with all the URC action this evening right here on the BBC Sport website!

Here we go...