There’s nothing worse than the chaotic airport scenes that invariably follow these painful European exits.

Simon Lewis looks at the shortcomings that led to the province’s defeat by Racing 92.

Former All Black Chris Masoe has praised Donnacha Ryan’s contribution to Racing 92’s charge to the Champions Cup final, crediting the Munster man’s positivity with lifting the squad in his debut season.

Jack O’Donoghue’s worst nightmares of last season’s semi-final defeat to Saracens were revisited on Sunday in Bordeaux but the Munster back-rower is determined to quickly move on from the latest European setback ahead of the Guinness PRO14 play-offs.

In the raw aftermath of a second successive European semi-final defeat, there was very little a Munster captain could say to put a positive spin on yet another bitterly disappointing visit to the Champions Cup last four.

Johann van Graan defended his decision not to start Simon Zebo in yesterday’s Champions Cup semi-final against Racing 92.

Conor Murray’s reputation as the leading scrum-half in the Northern Hemisphere, if not the world, will mean the Munster star can expect a lot of attention from Racing 92’s forwards in Bordeaux tomorrow but Johann van Graan says his number nine will not be fazed.

This may be the biggest game of his fledgling career as a head coach but five months into his tenure as Munster boss, Johann van Graan is finally in familiar territory.

It was his piece of individual magic that turned the tide against Toulon and delivered Munster a place in the Champions Cup semi-finals but Andrew Conway believes it will count for nothing if his side does not kick on and reach the final.

Johann van Graan has been involved in some pretty significant semi-finals in his coaching career and as he began preparations for Munster’s mission to succeed in Bordeaux this Sunday he urged his players to “embrace the expectation”.

Few players who have graced the Munster jersey over the last 20 years appreciate more what it takes to beat a top French team in their own country than Mick Galwey.

Let the scramble begin.

Bordeaux may have to prepare for another Irish invasion.

Thousands of Irish kids could relate to Harry Byrne’s youthful admiration of Jonathan Sexton and Ronan O’Gara but Ireland’s U20s out-half had another role model to emulate much closer to home.

The entertainment from Bordeaux’s Stade Chaban-Delmas wasn’t restricted to events on the pitch last Friday.

Euro roundup: Gareth Bale answered his critics in Spain as his brace helped Real Madrid beat Levante 2-0 at the Bernabeu last night.

There were wins for both Madrid teams in La Liga last night, but Atletico’s was marred by an injury worry for star striker Radamel Falcao.

Bordeaux 2 Newcastle 0

Newcastle are set to field a largely youthful side for tonight’s top of the table clash against Bordeaux in the Europa League.

Heady days for Leinster. Less than 24 hours after their Heineken Cup semi-final heroics in France the European champions announced that 18 players had inked new deals with the province.

Clermont Auvergne 15 Leinster 19

If Leinster dominate these key areas in France, they will deserve the plaudits

Isaac Boss will partner Jonathan Sexton when Leinster face ASM Clermont Auvergne in Sunday's Heineken Cup semi-final in the Stade Chaban-Delmas (3pm Irish time).

With Brad Thorn recently arrived, Leo Cullen fully recovered from surgery and Devin Toner likely to be named as first reserve, it is unlikely Damian Browne will get to register his ninth Heineken Cup appearance this weekend.

Following Friday night’s victory over Ulster in Ravenhill, the Leinster medical team have reported no fresh injury concerns for the province as they prepare for Sunday’s Heineken Cup semi-final against ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Stade Chaban-Delmas (3pm Irish time).

Wayne Barnes, whose handling of Ireland’s Six Nations clash against Wales caused such controversy less than three months ago, has been handed control of another major fixture involving an Irish side.

It’s five years and a handful of weeks since former Leicester Tigers coach Pat Howard sat on a battered old sofa in the club’s training grounds and described Thomond Park as “just a field” to a scrum of English and Irish journalists.

LAST week it was Julien Pierre and Romain Millo-Chluski. Today it is Pascal Pape and Lionel Nallet.

Declan Kidney accepts Ireland face a daunting challenge as they attempt to nudge their World Cup preparations on track.

IRELAND won’t let frustration worry them as they continue their World Cup preparations at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Andrew Trimble admits the failure to contain France’s early onslaught at the Stade Chaban-Delmas led to Ireland’s downfall.

France 19 Ireland 12

FULL-BACK Aly Cissokho has backed Lyon to complete a “difficult” Champions League quarter-final win over Bordeaux – and claims his side have the quality required to go on and win the competition.

Bordeaux’s Ligue 1 title hopes suffered a further setback tonight as they were held to a draw by struggling Grenoble at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Eddie O’Sullivan has reacted to his side’s dire 14-10 victory over Georgia by making three changes for the pivotal World Cup clash with France.

GEORGIA captain Ilia Zedginidze is convinced the ‘Lelos’ have the potential to challenge established rugby nations over the next two decades.

DESPITE the result, there was only one real winner at the Stade Chaban-Delmas on Saturday night. With just minutes remaining and clinging for dear life to a four-point lead, Ireland’s future in this tournament lay in the hands of an Argentinean.

Georgia captain Ilia Zedginidze is convinced the ’Lelos’ have the potential to challenge established rugby nations over the next two decades.

Eddie O’Sullivan admits Ireland are doomed to an early World Cup exit unless they address the appalling slump that has left supporters angry and frustrated.

Ireland hooker Rory Best is a doubt for Friday’s pivotal World Cup clash with France after dislocating his thumb against Georgia last night.