Interprovincial rugby: Munster and Connacht win openers

What the Interprovincial results mean

They came as two of Ireland's leading provinces opened the campaign with victories over Leinster and Ulster.

At Virgin Media Park, defending champions Munster overpowered Leinster 39-19, with 20-year-old Tipperary hooker Beth Buttimer running in four tries, according to The42's match report.

The Ireland U21 star, closing in on a first senior cap before next month's WXV Global Series, claimed a first-half brace and was the obvious player of the match in an abrasive pack featuring debutant flanker Grace Moore.

Alana McInerney also crossed as Matt Brown's side led 15-7 at the interval.

In Belfast, Connacht edged Ulster 15-10 at Affidea Stadium in a far tighter affair.

Ireland internationals Anna McGann and Méabh Deely made the difference: McGann marked her Connacht debut with a fourth-minute try and later grabbed a second, while out-half Deely kicked the conversion and a decisive 70th-minute penalty, as RTÉ Sport reported.

It was Connacht's fourth win in a row in the fixture and a promising start for new head coach Craig Hansberry.

Ulster, who led through tries from stand-in captain Claire Boles and Sophie Barrett, must regroup for a tough second-round trip to Munster, while Connacht head for Dublin to face Leinster.

For a raft of Ireland hopefuls, the series is the last shop window before the WXV campaign.

It has been an eventful stretch for the provinces, with Joe Schmidt's return to Ulster rugby still fresh in the memory.