The Guinness PRO14’s final two representatives in Europe enjoyed mixed fortunes at the weekend as Leinster stormed into the European Champions Cup final after Munster were knocked out.

Johann van Graan’s Munster side pushed Saracens all the way but the Premiership outfit ultimately proved too strong as they prevailed 32-16 in their semi-final clash in Coventry.

Defending champions Leinster had no such problem, though, as they delivered an irresistible performance to defeat Toulouse 30-12 in Dublin to reach their fifth European final.

And ahead of a mouth-watering Anglo-Irish showdown in the competition’s showpiece in Newcastle next month, here are the takeaways from two absorbing last-four battles in the Champions Cup.

SARACENS 32-16 MUNSTER

It was always going to be a tall order for the Irish province against the two-time champions of Europe but Munster were right in the mix at the break as they delivered another robust rearguard effort to keep the reigning Premiership champions at bay.

They only trailed 12-9 at half-time as penalties from Tyler Bleyendaal and Conor Murray kept them in it.

The game certainly lived up to its billing as the best defence in this year’s Champions Cup took on the best attack – Saracens had scored the most tries per game and

Munster had conceded the fewest ahead of the first whistle. But without the cutting edge of the missing Joey Carbery and Keith Earls, Munster struggled to test the Saracens defence.

And the pressure on Munster’s own try-line eventually paid off when Michael Rhodes burrowed over for the opening score after the restart. The opening 15 minutes proved crucial as Mark McCall’s men began to click, with the flanker’s try plus two more penalties from the boot of Owen Farrell extending Saracens’ lead to 16 points.

Murray gave the visitors some hope with some quick thinking at scrum time, grabbing the loose ball on Saracens’ own five-metre line before the ball was worked out wide to Darren Sweetnam, who went over in the corner to cut the deficit. It proved to be no more than a consolation, however, as Billy Vunipola’s late score sealed the deal for Saracens.

Van Graan will now have to go back to the drawing board as Munster must wait until next season to end a curse that now extends to their last seven European semi-finals, stretching back to the 2008-09 season when Leinster beat them. Focus now turns on finishing the season on a high against Connacht in the Guinness PRO14 before the Final Series.

Munster head coach Van Graan said: “I believe we do need to improve. If we are just going to say this is good enough, then we are not in the right job. At this stage, it is this group again.

“Obviously, with the World Cup coming, you might get some short-term solutions if there are injuries and a lot of guys at the World Cup.

“But, we, as a group, have said we’re going to stick together. That’s why all of our big players re-signed. We believe in the plan. We literally didn’t have the ball in the first half.

“Not because we didn’t want to but because they kept bombing aerial bomb after aerial bomb at us. If you play with their mass and their width, they force turnovers.”

LEINSTER 30-12 TOULOUSE

On paper, Leinster’s match-up with fellow four-time Champions Cup winners Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium had all the makings of a classic. In the end, Leo Cullen’s outfit suffocated their French opponents and suggested – after a mixed run of form in the Guinness PRO14 – that they are hitting top gear at just the right time of the season.

Leinster’s trademark efficiency and accuracy was on show from the off as prop Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien – in his final season in a Leinster shirt – combined to put James Lowe through for the opening try on 14 minutes. Leinster then exploited a man advantage when Richie Gray was sin-binned as Luke McGrath was driven over for their second score.

The home side’s defence was equally as industrious, nullifying Toulouse’s offloading game for the most part, with the Top 14 side relying on four penalties from Thomas Ramos to keep them in range. And when Scott Fardy crashed over following a spell of second-half pressure from the hosts, Leinster ensured they would be contesting the final with Saracens.

History will now be on the line for Leinster as they look to become the first team in the competition to lift the trophy for the fifth time in the May 11 showpiece. They have yet to lose a European final, winning four out of four, but know they will have to be at their very best to beat their English rivals – who won the trophy back-to-back in 2016 and 2017.

One of the most pleasing aspects for Cullen will be the way his international heavyweights returned to the fore, with Johnny Sexton, Devin Toner and Robbie Henshaw all impressing. Cullen also reserved special praise for Sean O’Brien. He will be hoping they only go from strength to strength as Leinster look to complete the double again.

Leinster coach Leo Cullen said: “I think our guys showed a lot of resilience, particularly as they got close to our try-line. They’re good qualities to have in these big games.

“There was great fight for each other. You could see the players, how much it means to them. I thought Sean O’Brien was really exceptional.

“It’s not just his performance. It’s how he leads the group in the week; the way he talks, how he understands the threats the opposition pose, both sides of the ball.

“In terms of dominating that contact area, he’s one of the best players to have ever played the game – certainly [amongst] Irish guys.”