Edinburgh - 17 Munster - 18: Munster increased their lead at the top of the Celtic League by defeating their nearest rivals, Edinburgh, in a classic contest at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The Scotland international ground at Murrayfield had become something of a fortress for Edinburgh this season until Saturday night when Munster brought down its walls.
"To come to Scotland and defeat Edinburgh at Murrayfield is a great achievement for us. Nobody else in the Celtic League has done it this season," said Declan Kidney, the Munster coach.
He added: "Edinburgh are a very good side both at Murrayfield and away from home. So to win tonight was special. They ran the ball well but we showed very good defence."
The key to Munster's win was the greater physical strength up front and the tactical variations behind the scrum by outhalf Ronan O'Gara.
Munster's forward superiority, which gave them the advantage in the rolling mauls, was recognised by the man-of-the-match award for skipper Paul O'Connell.
The Ireland and Lions lock, still feeling his way back after injury, looked to be back to real form, although he believes there is some way to go.
"I'm still a bit off the pace for international rugby, but there was certainly no better game than this one to show that I'm almost there.
"I will have to be at my best with the Six Nations approaching because there are a lot of guys out there gunning for the lock position in the Ireland team" said O'Connell.
As for two of the other long-established Ireland players, Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara, the signal from Murrayfield was hugely positive. O'Gara converted a Trevor Halstead try and then increased his side's lead with a 40-metre penalty after Edinburgh hauled down a lineout-generated maul.
But with half-time approaching Edinburgh opened their scoring with a try off the back of a scrum generated by Lions number eight Simon Taylor and finished by Scotland lock Scott Murray.
Chris Paterson's conversion reduced Munster's lead to three points. However, just before half-time the gap again increased with an O'Gara penalty.
An impressive try by winger John Kelly, from clever midfield interpassing, quick recycling of the ball near the try line and a superbly-judged pass from O'Gara, appeared to put Munster into a commanding lead only for Edinburgh to be gifted seven points from an ill-judged O'Gara pass that went straight to Edinburgh centre Marcus Di Rollo. His pace led to a touchdown under the posts, giving Paterson an easy conversion.
A trip by Federico Pucciariello on Edinburgh wing Francisco Leonelli earned the Munster prop a yellow card and three points for Edinburgh as Paterson again narrowed the gap to one point. O'Gara tried to put the game beyond Edinburgh's reach with an attempted drop goal. It drifted wide.
In the final seconds of the game, Paterson missed with a potential match-winning penalty from 45 metres to leave a relieved Munster winners, and deservedly so.
EDINBURGH: H Southwell; C Paterson, M Di Rollo, P Jorgensen, F Leonelli; P Godman, M Blair; D Hewett, D Hall , C Smith, A Kellock, S Murray, A Hogg, S Cross, S Taylor Replacements: M Dey for Jorgensen 44 mins; R Lawson for Blair 62 mins; A McDonald for Cross 62 mins; A Dickenson for Hewett 73 mins.
MUNSTER: S Payne; J Kelly, B Murphy, T Halstead, I Dowling; R O'Gara, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, S Keogh, D Wallace, M O'Driscoll. Replacements: D Fogarty for Flannery 46 mins; E McGovern for Hayes 64 mins; T O'leary for Kelly, T Hogan for O'Driscoll both 75 mins.
Referee: H Watkins (Wales).
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