Seven months down the road and Munster are set to renew their rivalry with Toulouse in Europe.
The French side sent them packing from last season's competition at the quarter-final stage despite playing out a thrilling stalemate over 80 minutes at Landsdowne Road. 24 points apiece was how it ended, with Toulouse's placekickers sending enough balls spinning through the uprights in the penalty-taking competition to secure the win. Heartbreak for Munster yet again.
That result was to be the final one for Johan Van Graan as head coach of the province. The South African's tenure was up and then-forwards coach Graeme Rowntree picked up the mantle.
While the "domestic" campaign has not ignited as of yet it is fair to say that Munster are still in the transitionary phase under their new management. Nine games played; four won and five lost. It's not exactly spirit-lifting at first glance.
In that time Rowntree has been able to get a look at almost his entire squad, however. The academy players have gotten plenty of minutes and the younger squad members have been to the fore also.
While the ups and downs are all part of the journey this weekend heralds the first proper acid test of the year. Europe is where Munster tend to shine - or at least it was. The province does not have a reputation in the competition for no reason, but this year it's not the same old Heineken Cup.
Much like the United Rugby Championship, European Professional Club Rugby have seen fit to introduce South African sides to the competition. It's a move that splits opinion as to whether we are improving the standard of the competition or diluting the "European" nature of it all.
The Vodacom Bulls, Cell C Sharks & DHL Stormers are now in the mix - something that Toulouse scrum-half Antoine Dupont is none too pleased about, saying this week that “It’s a new competition now. It’s no longer the European Cup."
It would be very pessimistic to say that there is a fear amongst the establishment of top teams that the new blood will hamper their chances of climbing the podium on the final day. We saw it play out in June when the U.R.C final was held in Cape Town with two home sides contesting the game.
The Stormers and the Bulls were the last two standing at the expense of Ulster and Leinster. Has the South African introduction improved the standard of the competition? It's likely too early to say but as it stands the same two sides are 2nd and 3rd in the U.R.C table, Leinster are on top with Ulster fourth so it's as you were for the moment at least.
For the English and French sides this is an entirely new experience. Since they don't play in the U.R.C they are not familiar with the South African teams and will have to adapt to the power game that they offer. The U.R.C sides meanwhile are well adjusted to the new landscape at this point.
For Munster, this game presents the chance to kick start their season. A statement win over the French powerhouse has the potential to instill the confidence that they have missed this so far, but the ghosts of last year's loss may still loom - we'll have to wait until it kicks off to find out.
