RUGBY/European Cup: And so the nightmare scenario came to pass. Missing a couple of key players, patching up their walking wounded and playing a second away game in six days caught up with Leinster, whose 15-game winning run came to a shuddering halt in Toulouse with yesterday's record 43-7 defeat.

For their sins, Leinster will be sent to Leicester in the quarter-finals, while Munster have been consigned to a tie in Paris against their semi-final conquerors last season, Stade Francais. The boys in red and the boys in blue are going to have to do it the hard way.

A meeting between ERC officials and relevant television companies in London yesterday evening agreed that the Leicester-Leinster game will be held on Sunday week, while the other three semi-finals will take place the day before. So Munster will face Stade Francais on Saturday week at Stade Jean Bouin (capacity 12,000) at 4.15 local time (3.15 Irish). French sources have ruled out a switch to Parc des Princes.

Going into the game, Leinster's players, unlike Munster the day before, had been made aware of the complex permutations. Well, maybe not all of them. Win, and score three tries or more, and they would be at home to Llanelli. Win, scoring fewer than three tries, and they would have played Munster at home, as would be the case if they drew. Lose, and they would be away to Leicester, but lose scoring four tries and they would be at home to Leicester.

In other words, regardless of the result, by scoring a minimum of four tries Leinster would assure themselves of a home quarter-final.

Each of these alternatives also left Munster sweating over who they would be playing next too, with Bath, Leinster and Stade Francais being their possible away destinies. But all of this was made to look a mite fanciful by early in the second half as Leinster, in their pursuit of a notional four tries, became a little ragged defensively.

"You could almost hear them run out of petrol, and how some of those guys got through that game is a credit to them," said Matt Williams. "Toulouse played some scintillating stuff. Once it got away the guys got a bit too loose.

"As a coach I couldn't fault them for their preparation, their attitude and their work. At one stage we had four hotels and had six flights in six days, and I think that wear and tear caught up with us."

Ironically, the only team to beat Leicester in their last 50 games at Welford Road was Leinster, over two years and 35 games ago, and admittedly in a dead European tie for the English side.

"They're obviously a great side, but any team can beat any team on a given day, and we've beaten great teams before. While it's an enormous ask, write us off at your peril."

A torrid week in southwestern France for the bulk of the Irish squad could be bad news for the Irish management, whose 43-man squad was due to assemble last night in Limerick for a week-long training camp. Ireland play Wales in the Six Nations opener a week after the quarter-finals.

At least a dreaded Leinster-Munster quarter-final had been averted, and Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan admitted that "the last thing we wanted was another interpro".

Leinster's defeat came at additional cost for province and country. Shane Horgan looks like being ruled out of both the Leicester and Welsh games due to a suspected cracked rib which is liable to sideline him for anything between three and six weeks.

Brian O'Meara will be sidelined for five or six weeks due to damaged ligaments in his left knee and, like Jeremy Staunton the day before, Reggie Corrigan twisted an ankle and the extent of the damage has still to be determined.

At least Munster might otherwise have a full deck to play with for a change, as Peter Stringer is targeting the quarter-finals for a comeback while John Hayes, Paul O'Connell, David Wallace and Rob Henderson should all be fit for selection from the start.

Similarly, Leinster expect to have Malcolm O'Kelly, Eric Miller, Emmet Byrne and Nathan Spooner back next week, though O'Kelly's damaged cheekbone must be a concern.

All the quarter-finalists have until tomorrow to add two players to their squads. Munster might consider Tom Tierney, who made his comeback for Garryowen at the weekend, while rumour has it that Duncan McRae's name is being considered as a Leinster addition.

Saturday, January 26th

Castres v Montferrand Stade Pierre-Antoine 2.45 local, 1.45 Irish.

Bath v Llanelli Recreation Ground 3.00.

Stade Francais v Munster Stade Jean Bouin 4.15 local, 3.15 Irish.

Sunday, January 27th

Leicester v Leinster Welford Road 3.00.