Munster 19 Montauban 17:If ever proof were needed that nothing can be taken for granted in the Heineken European Cup it came by the barrel full in Thomond Park this evening, when what was expected to be a rout on home soil turned into anything but for the reigning champions in the opening fixture of their title defence.
Munster looked primed to gobble up their opponents after a near-flawless start to their Magners League campaign but Montauban, debuting in the competition, came within three minutes of flouting all the rules and silencing the revamped venue.
With five minutes to go Petru Mitu edged the visitors in front and but for a bit of indiscipline after the restart, that is where they would have stayed. As it was, Ronan O'Gara landed his fourth penalty and spared the blushes of Tony McGahan's side, though there will still be a lengthy inquiry into how and why this game went to the wire.
The visitors took an early lead through scrumhalf Mitu's sixth minute penalty. The Romanian could have doubled Montauban's advantage moments later but he dragged a straight-forward kick wide.
Munster enjoyed territorial advantage for much of the first period but a series of handling errors in the wet conditions saw them fail to take full advantage.
O'Gara drew them level with a 32nd minute penalty and the vocal Thomond Park crowd were lifted when substitute Barry Murphy crossed three minutes before the break to hand them a half-time lead.
Murphy, on moments earlier for Rua Tipoki, took the ball on the right wing following good passing and handling by Peter Stringer, O'Gara and Doug Howlett, before cutting inside to beat the covering defence.
O'Gara added the conversion to send Munster in 10-3 ahead at the interval and looking at an emphatic win in the second period.
But it was Montauban who put the first points on the board after the break courtesy of Mitu's right boot but O'Gara answered soon after to open up a seven-point margin once again.
Mitu again gave the visitors hope with a further three points before a moment of madness by Alan Quinlan handed them a shock lead.
The Irish flanker looked to throw a long pass on halfway but the ball missed its intended target and was hacked forward for Jonnet to beat David Wallace to the touch down.
O'Gara had the chance to put Munster back into the lead two minutes later but his penalty struck the upright and was gathered under extreme pressure by centre Jean Viard who called for the mark.
The Irish stand-off did find his range on 65 minutes to edge the holders ahead again before Mitu, only assuming kicking duties in the absence of regular goal-kicker Favian Fortassin, put the away side within sight of a stunning win, before O'Gara ensured a winning start, albeit an unconvincing one.
