Munster head coach Johann Van Graan hailed his side's defensive efforts as they reached the Heineken Champions Cup semi-final for a 14th time with a narrow win over Edinburgh in Murrayfield this afternoon.
Munster trailed 13-10 with ten minutes remaining but a 71st try expertly finished by Keith Earls - who also scored Munster's first try early in the game - and, crucially, converted from the sideline by replacement outhalf Tyler Blyendaal gave the visitors a four-point lead as the game entered its frantic closing stages.
Edinburgh attacked in wave after wave, keeping the play alive as the clock ticked past 84 minutes. However, the Munster defence held out and the province booked their place in the last-four for a third successive year.
"It was an incredible game of rugby," Van Graan told RTÉ Sport afterwards.
"Two heavyweight teams. It was very, very tight. There were big moments in that game and we handled those big moments very well.
"I thought we handled the fact that Mike (Haley) didn't play very well. Sweets (Darren Sweetnam) slotted in seamlessly, Andrew (Conway) going to full back.
"Conceding that yellow card, I thought we defended our line with everything we had. Losing Joey (Carbery) was a big moment and so glad that Tyler (Blyendaal) came through and that kick from the sideline was massive.
"Our big players stood up today. It was a real squad effort from everyone involved. To lose Jack (O'Donoghue) and Joey (Carbery) in the first half is massive. Our bench really made a step-up in the second half.
"Discipline-wise, they put us under pressure. But defence wins you championships and we handled that excellently today. In the first ten minutes, they went for the corner three times and to keep them out was excellent."
Keith Earls, who is still seeking a first European Cup win with Munster, emerged as the hero late in the day and Van Graan said it was critical that the big players had delivered.
"I said to the lads before the game. We all choose to be in this game and we all want these big games. And it's the big players that have to step up and he's (Earls) certainly one of our big players and he certainly stepped up today."
