Munster got their Champions Cup campaign off to a winning start as Clayton McMillan's side dug out a 33-25 win over Racing 92 with a performance that Anthony Foley would have been proud of.
It was Racing 92 who drew first blood in this clash after Munster infringed from defending a maul. Antoine Gibert stepped up and notched the three points.
Munster got back on the front foot straight away when some nice backline play got the home side up the pitch before Charlie O'Shea, on his first European appearance, dinked a ball over the top which Racing carried over their own line.
From the resulting 5m scrum, Brian Gleeson, wearing 24 on his back in memory of Anthony Foley, produced a powerful carry from the base of the scrum akin to the man himself with the Tipperary back-row powering through contact to score Munster's first try. Charlie O'Shea landed the difficult conversion to put Munster 7-3 in front.
After a poignant round of applause in the 8th minute in memory of Axel, Munster were applying pressure at the breakdown and scrum to win back possession and territory.
On 12 minutes, Munster got their second try of the game. The ball was spread wide where O'Shea wasn't able to catch a pass directed his way, thankfully the ball went into the hands of Shay McCarthy who put on the afterburners to score in the corner. O'Shea nailed the conversion to put Munster 14-3 in front.
Both sides were guilty of mistakes over the next 10 minutes until Racing put more points on the board when a Munster infringement gave Gilbert the chance to tack on another three points.
Munster had opportunties, particularly with a 5m lineout at the end of the first half, to increase their lead but a combination of some unforced errors and pressure from the Parisian side meant Clayton McMillan's side went into the break with a 14-6 lead.
Munster got their third try just four minutes into the second half when a series of powerful carries from the likes of Seán Edogbo, Jeremy Loughman and Tadhg Beirne got the home side humming. With a penalty advantage and just metres from the Racing line, the ball went to Beirne and the captain put the head down and powered over the line. O'Shea nailed a difficult conversion to put Munster 21-6 in front.
Unfortunately for Munster, they conceded almost immediately when Wilfried Hulleu went through a gap to score in the corner. Munster would have been disappointed with how they defended in that moment but the conversion attempt was wide as Munster's lead was reduced to 21-11.
Racing then got another try when their powerful rolling maul couldn't be stopped. Gibert converted to put just three points between the sides.
It was getting a little nervy around the Páirc but thankfully Munster got their fourth try when Craig Casey delayed a pass before releasing Fineen Wycherley, who had just entered the game for Tom Ahern, into a gap and the Bantry man crossed next to the posts. JJ Hanrahan, who had just replaced O'Shea, converted to extend Munster's lead to 28-18.
Racing, to their credit, hit back with a try in the corner from Joey Manu. Gibert converted as Munster's lead was reduced to just three points once again.
With nine minutes remaining, Racing 92 were reduced to 14 men when Arthur Roche tackled McCarthy in the air. Munster almost got another try but Beirne was held up over the line.
With two minutes remaining, Munster secured the win when a poweful rolling maul saw Casey pick the ball from the back and cross for a try. Hanrahan's conversion went narrowly wide as Munster finished the game 33-25 winners.
Munster Rugby: Ben O’Connor; Shay McCarthy, Alex Nankivell, Dan Kelly, Seán O’Brien; Charlie O’Shea (Hanrahan 58'), Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman (J Wycherley 58'), Marnus van der Merwe, Jack Aungier (Brookes 58'); Tom Ahern (F Wycherley 60'), Tadhg Beirne (C); Seán Edogbo (O'Donoghue 55'), John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson (Coombes 55').
Replacements: Max Clein, Josh Wycherley, Kieran Brookes, Fineen Wycherley, Gavin Coombes, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Jack O’Donoghue.