Toulouse 13 Munster 12
Munster's European Odyssey came to an untimely halt in Toulouse this afternoon as the hosts avenged their 2000 semi-final defeat to reach the Heineken Cup final.
After a see-saw first-half, which Munster shaded 6-3, Toulouse scored the only try of the match in the second period courtesy of French international Frederic Michalak.
That converted score, eight minutes from time, proved the crucial act but was well deserved after a sustained period of Toulouse pressure deep in the Munster 22.
Nevertheless, as is their wont, the visitors fought back desperately in the closing stages and the home fans in the stadium - 15,000 travelling Munster fans made their presence felt - had to hold their breath deep into injury-time as Ronan O'Gara twice launched huge drop goal attempts that sailed narrowly wide.
Toulouse, the 1996 European champions, now march on to a May 24th final in Dublin against either Leinster or Perpignan, who meet at Lansdowne Road tomorrow.
Munster's bid to reach their third Heineken Cup final in four seasons began brightly in front of a capacity 36,000 crowd with the opening exchanges providing predictably frenzied action, but Munster had to feel satisfied with an intense first 10 minutes as they shaded the territorial battle.
And Munster pressure produced the 15th-minute lead when O'Gara dropped a 20-metre goal. The out-half doubled Munster's advantage with an angled short-range penalty minutes later, but it stung Toulouse into action.
Munster full-back Jeremy Staunton coped well under the high ball, which epitomised a seemingly rock-solid defensive effort as the visitors continued to quell Toulouse's attempted attacking adventure.
Toulouse looked dangerous from broken play, yet they appeared the more nervous team, which was illustrated through centre Xavier Garbajosa's wild pass to full-back Clement Poitrenaud, just when Munster looked stretched.
O'Gara was narrowly wide with his third penalty attempt six minutes before the break, yet Toulouse still couldn't settle, and they resorted to running from deep, which confirmed their unsettled state.
Michalak hammered the ball straight into touch, just when Toulouse needed a degree of composure, and O'Gara showed him exactly how it should be done by producing another booming kick that kept Munster ticking over.
Delaigue's snappy 38th-minute break caused temporary alarm - the move ended when prop Patrice Collazo spilled possession - and Munster had once again absorbed their opponents' best attacking efforts like a giant sponge.
Toulouse though, threatened again during first-half injury time, and Delaigue's injury-time penalty made the interval score 6-3 in Munster's favour.
The second-half began in dream fashion for Munster, who extended their lead on 43 minutes following a spell of sustained pressure. The unflappable O'Gara, given such a solid platform by his forwards, had no hesitation attempting another drop-goal strike from 30 metres, and his kick sailed between the posts for a 9-3 lead.
Toulouse, who had lost three previous Heineken Cup semi-finals - in Toulouse, Bordeaux and Leicester - once again gave the appearance of a team destined to fall short of its target. Munster, with O'Gara driving them forward relentlessly, sensed they could repeat their victory over the same semi-final opponents three years ago, yet Toulouse were determined not to disappoint their fanatical drum-banging, flag-waving supporters.
Elissalde's 57th-minute penalty brought Toulouse firmly back into contention at 9-6 adrift, setting up a thrilling closing quarter.
O'Gara weathered the storm by landing his second penalty and securing a 12-6 lead on 61 minutes, putting Munster ever closer to the final - but there was much more drama to unfold.
Garbajosa appeared, on first impressions, to have scored a 66th-minute try, but Munster scrum-half Peter Stringer's brilliant tackle dislodged the ball from his grasp as he rolled over the line in pursuit of glory.
Referee Chris White consulted video official Ed Morrison, who confirmed that the ball had squirted clear, and Munster survived.
It was an accurate call from Morrison, yet still Toulouse pressed, roared on by their vociferous fans, and the reward ultimately arrived. The closing minutes were all about relentless Toulouse pressure, and Munster's mighty defence finally cracked six minutes from time.
Toulouse swung possession left and right in pursuit of a try, and when Munster predictably ran out of numbers, Michalak exploited a huge gap to score. Elissalde converted superbly, and Toulouse went ahead for the first time and went on to win 13-12.
Scorers:
Toulouse
Try: Frederic Michalak
Conversion: Jean-Baptiste Elissalde
Penalties: Yann Delaigue, Elissalde.
Munster
Penalties: Ronan O'Gara (2)
Drop goals: O'Gara
Toulouse: Poitrenaud, Ntamack, Garbajosa, Jauzion, Clerc, Delaigue, Michalak, Collazo, Bru, Poux, Gerard, Pelous, Brennan, Bouihlou, Labit. Replacements: Lecouls, Servat, Lamboley, F. Maka, Elissalde, Heymans, Desbrosse.
Munster: Staunton, Kelly, Mullins, Henderson, Horgan, O'Gara, Stringer, Horan, Sheahan, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Williams, Quinlan, Foley. Replacements: Blaney, Kerr, M. O'Driscoll, Leamy, Malone, Holland, Crotty.
Att: 36,500