Fab Four: Classic Leinster Champions Cup semi-finals

As Leinster prepare to host Toulouse in the Aviva Stadium this afternoon, we take a look back at four classic Heineken Champions semi-finals involving the Irish side.

2009

LEINSTER 25-6 MUNSTER

The match that turned the tide.

Two-time and reigning champions Munster arrived at Croke Park looking for a repeat of the semi-final result from three years previous at Lansdowne Road that set them on their path to glory.

However, Leinster, under Michael Cheika, had different plans.

It was also the match that thrust Johnny Sexton onto the main stage, with the future Ireland captain coming on as replacement for the injured Felipe Contepomi in the 25th minute.

To that point the game was even, with Ronan O'Gara’s penalty levelling it up after the Argentinian had landed a dropgoal.

Sexton duly tapped over a penalty with his first touch in front of a sold-out GAA headquarters.

Leinster, who would go on to beat Leicester in the final, never looked back and after Gordon D’Arcy scored a try five minutes later, and Sexton famously sledged O’Gara in the corner.

The Munster out-half added a penalty before half-time but that was to be the visitors’ last score and second-half tries from Luke Fitzgerald and Brian O’Driscoll, picking off an O’Gara pass to run the length of the pitch, sealed the deal.

2011

LEINSTER 32-23 TOULOUSE

Having lost their crown with defeat to Toulouse in the semi-final in 2010, Leinster immediately got a shot at revenge when they welcomed the then-champions to the Aviva the following season.

Florian Fritz got the visitors off to a perfect start, quickest to react when a long-range David Skrela penalty effort hit the post and bounced up to the bemusement of a host of Leinster defenders.

It was tit-for-tat for most of the match with