Payback time for Munster

LIFE, said Al Pacino, is a game of inches. So is rugby.

As Ronan O'Gara strains every last sinew to reach for Munster's first try in yesterday's Heineken Cup quarter-final, the sense that the tide had turned red at Welford Road was palpable.

Leicester's green machine found itself confronted by the full force of red redemption for last year's heartbreaking final loss.

The reigning champions, incredibly, were held scoreless for an hour in front of 17,000 supporters as Alan Gaffney's men stormed to a semi-final meeting against Toulouse with a 20-7 victory. It was Leicester's first European loss at home in three years.

When Andy Booth finally edged Leicester in front, Munster's awesome pack redoubled their efforts to send Lions test stars Ben Kay and Austin Healey packing.

O'Gara sneaked over for the lead try before setting up the decisive score for his half-back partner Peter Stringer with 10 minutes left.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney labelled the victory "the greatest performance he has been privileged to be involved with".

"Our first-half performance was a bit patchy and a bit panicky, but in the second half it was a lot better and our defence was very firm.

"We knew that we had to perform, and our discipline was very good. Our guys stood up to Leicester and were counted. We came here with a belief that we could win and if any side can perform under this sort of pressure, then this side can."

Despite the palpable tension beforhand, Leicester coach Dean Richards admitted: "Munster deserved to win. They played better than we did on the day, and played the game in the right areas.

"We just didn't turn up. It was not the fact that we lost, it was the manner in which we lost.

"I thought that Munster were outstanding they played the game in the right areas and their half-backs were outstanding."

There is no doubt that if Munster play with the passion that they did today, then they can win it."

Munster will meet Toulouse in Toulouse on Saturday, April 26, kicking off at 2pm Irish time, while Leinster tackle Perpignan in Dublin the following afternoon, starting at 2.45pm.