Munster punched themselves out but went down swinging at Thomond Park

Toulouse were equally desperate for success. It has been 11 years since they were last kings of Europe and they played as if they were on a mission to make amends.

Toulouse's Matthis Lebel scores a try despite the best efforts of Joey Carbery. Picture: INPHO/Billy Stickland

The beers being sipped in the sun on Saturday were hard-earned and well deserved but there will have been a bitter taste to the sponsors’ product as Munster players contemplated their European exit.

A week on from a league final defeat that felt as if the men in red had not done themselves justice at the RDS, this Heineken Champions Cup knockout round of 16 loss will have been a little easier to take.