Munster breathed life back into their European campaign with a badly-needed bonus point victory away to Toulon in their Pool 3 Investec Champions Cup encounter.
Winless from their opening two games, Graham Rowntree's side knew a negative result would leave their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages in a precarious position, but having weathered an early storm at Stade Mayol, were full value for their 29-18 win.
Tries from Alex Nankivell, Simon Zebo, Tom Ahern and Calvin Nash secured the five points that moves Munster into third place in the pool, with the top four advancing.
A Melvyn Jaminet penalty and a try from Duncan Paia'aua, who scampered in under the posts, gave the home support plenty to cheer about in the first half as the visitors played much of the opening 25 minutes on the backfoot.
A Jack Crowley penalty got them off the mark, and on the half hour mark they drew level.
Putting Toulon under phases of pressure for the first time, Craig Casey cut out a number of Toulon defenders with a wonderfully slung pass to centre Nankivell to run in under the posts.
Jaminet penalised Munster for holding on at the ruck to nudge Toulon ahead again, but it was Munster who would end the half in the ascendancy, and crucially, ahead.
Playing with a penalty advantage, Crowley chipped over the French defence for Zebo to gather. The out-half added the extras for a 17-13 interval advantage.
While Toulon began with second half with intent, it was the visitors that claimed the next try.
Nash, lively throughout, somehow managed to gather a wayward pass, keeping the ball alive in the tackle, before Crowley spotted flanker Ahern hogging the far touchline. The crossfield kick was on point and 23-year-old Ahern brushed off a weak challenge from Dan Biggar before dotting down.
The TMO was involved to clear up whether Nash had knocked on in gathering possession, but referee Nika Amashukeli deemed it wasn’t clear or obvious that the winger had nudged the ball forward on the deck.
The hosts hit back within five minutes with clever work from Jaminet, whose flicked pass put Cornell du Preez in and reduced the deficit to four points.
Toulon tried to push home their advantage, with Waisea Nayacalevu losing possession at a crucial juncture.
Munster secured the bonus point out of nothing.
Casey kicked to the skies and Nash was more committed to winning possession than Jaminet, leaping highest and nestling the ball in the air before powering forward and leaving defenders in his wake.
It proved to be the final score of the game as Toulon simply ran out of attacking ideas in the final 10 minutes.
The large travelling support were in full voice at the full-time whistle as their side rolled back the years with a significant win on French soil.
