Danny Cipriani's red-card proved costly for Gloucester Rugby as they were defeated 36-22 by Munster in their European Champions Cup encounter at Thomond Park on Saturday.
CJ Stander scored the decisive try and Joey Carberry followed with the conversion as Munster managed a 10-10 draw against Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Saturday.
As European rugby's elite club competition returns this weekend, TRU's Joe Harvey runs the rule over some of the standout fixtures from the opening round of this year's Heineken Champions Cup.
Glasgow Warriors went on to claim the pole position in Conference A after they went on to win the Pro14 clash against Munster with a 25-10 margin at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday.
With just over two weeks to until the start of the new Pro 14 season, Rhiannon Garth Jones takes her pick of six players who could shine in the 2018/19 campaign.
Leinster managed to overcome a late score from Munster as they edged out their Irish rivals with a 16-15 margin in Dublin to reach the final of the Pro 14.
Teddy Thomas scored a double while Maxime Machenaud contributed with 20 points as Racing Metro progressed to the final of the European Champions Cup after beating Munster 27-22 in the semi-final in Bordeaux.
Rounds 18 and 19 threw up mixed results for the Pro14’s European contingent as Leinster, Munster and Scarlets focused their efforts on reaching the European Champions Cup semi-finals.
Ireland international Keith Earls has been sidelined for up to six weeks following a knee injury that he sustained in the Grand Slam winning final round Six Nations Championship encounter against England.