Racing pay heavy price for resting stars

Munster will go into Champions Cup semi-final weekend as the only one of Europe’s last four with a win behind them after their opponents this Saturday – Racing 92 – were defeated by Toulouse.

Johann van Graan’s men will travel to Bordeaux to face Racing in their bid to reach next month’s Bilbao final and if Munster’s South African coach had watched proceedings at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, he will have found plenty to ponder as Toulouse sealed a convincing success over France’s capital club.

Racing rested key men – as did Leinster and Scarlets – and ended up with a similar result to the two teams who will compete the other semi-final.