Ronan O'Gara kicked four crucial second-half penalties as Munster vaulted overcame a strong challenge from Perpignan, setting up an all-Ireland Heineken Cup semi-final against Leinster thanks to today's 19-10 victory.
The result means Ireland will be guaranteed to have a team in the May 20 decider at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
O'Gara, who started at fly-half despite a slight hamstring injury, held his nerve at Lansdowne Road to send the province into their sixth semi-final in seven seasons.
Lock Paul O'Connell, one of nine Irish international returning to the Munster side after the RBS 6 Nations Championship, swapped first-half tries with Perpignan winger Mathieu Bourret in a clash that failed to fire in damp conditions in Lansdowne Road.
Bourret, one of four changes to the Perpignan side before kick-off, landed his one and only penalty, on 36 minutes, to hand the visitors a 10-7 buffer for the second half, but O'Gara succeeded with place kicks after 42, 44, 66 and 69 minutes to lead his side to a precious victory.
Bourret went from hero to villain in the second half as he missed two very kickable penalties, while full-back Julien Laharrague skewed three off-the-cuff drop-goal efforts wide. Philippe Boher's outfit were also hampered by two untimely sin binnings as Perpignan's lack of discipline got the better of them.
Munster took their time to gel but when they did, it was the ever-ready O'Connell who lurched over in the left corner for the game's first score.
After prop Nicolas Mas had been sin-binned for persistent offside, O'Connell powered through the tackle of Christophe Manas for a 21st-minute try. O'Connell started and finished the move as he won lineout possession and, after three recycles, made for the line. O'Gara scotched rumours of his lack of match fitness as he launched over a superb conversion from the touchline.
But, seven minutes later, Perpignan were back level. Munster's Trevor Halstead was turned over in midfield and John Kelly was sucked in in defence as Bourret gassed over in the left corner to touch down and convert.
Bourret's penalty split the sides at the break. Referee Nigel Whitehouse also had to split up a touchline scuffle, with man-of-the-match O'Connell in the thick of it, that broke out on the cusp of half-time.
Neither side could raise their game in the second half as the intensity of the occasion became an obvious factor. Within six minutes of the restart, O'Gara had put Munster in front with a quick penalty brace.
Perpignan's hopes of repeating their semi-final defeat of Leinster at Lansdowne Road three seasons ago slid away in the closing half-hour as scrum half Nicolas Durand was yellow carded for an off-the-ball incident.
With a try out of their reach, Bourret tried to keep his side in it with penalty chances on 62 and 77 minutes, but failed both times. O'Gara showed him how it was done to bring an off-colour Munster to life again.
