IT was hard fought and frantic, and occasionally hair-raising, but seeing off Bourgoin brought rewards both immediate and long-lasting for Munster.

Bourgoin 27 Munster 30

MUNSTER’S Heineken Cup opponents, Bourgoin, produced one of the shock results of the French Championship weekend when defeating champions Biarritz 9-0 at Stade Pierre-Rajon on Friday night.

LEICESTER blew a disjointed Bourgoin side away in the first half to keep their Heineken Cup hopes alive.