Munster v Toulon: A game, a season, turned on its head

Seventy-four minutes in and nerves were frayed in the packed Thomond Park stands. Camped inside the Toulon 22, Munster were going through the phases, six points down and desperately trying to bridge the gap.

“It’s gone, lads,” said a voice behind the press box as visiting fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc hoisted the ball skyward, after a pass out to Munster’s right wing had gone astray and home thoughts turned to an agonising European exit.

Over on the far side, though, there were other, more positive ideas. Determined to keep the ball alive, Andrew Conway was not letting Trinh-Duc’s kick leave the field.