O'Donoghue calls on Munster to 'embrace the occasion' against defending champions Toulouse

Knowing what Toulouse will do, and stopping Toulouse from doing it are two entirely different things.

Ulster knew what to expect in the Round of 16, and while they executed the right plan for the bulk of the 160 minutes of rugby, they still felt the wrath of Dupont, Ntamack and co.

And having played them in the Heineken Champions Cup last season, Munster will know what to expect this afternoon when Stade Toulousain come to the Aviva Stadium, the defending champions putting their title on the line in Dublin.

Ten of Munster's starting XV this afternoon started last season's 40-33 defeat at Thomond Park, a game in which they traded blows with the French giants for 80 minutes.

Jack O'Donoghue is one of those who started last season, as will do so again today, this time swapping flanker for number 8.

And while this year's lineup is having to make do without the likes of Dave Kilcoyne, Tadhg Beirne, Andrew Conway and Gavin Coombes, Munster arrive into today's quarter-final looking a far more rounded group than they do a year ago.

"I think this group, we are already writing our history," O''Donoghue said this week.

"You can look at the past and it's a completely new crop of players and so for us, it’s all about enjoying the occasion and the build-up to the game. Some lads, it’s their first taste of Champions Cup rugby with a bit of a crowd and playing in the Aviva with a crowd, 30+ thousand people there is going to be incredible.

"While it’s a massive game, it’s an opportunity for lads to embrace the occasion, and go out there and really express themselves."

"I think we brought a varied attacking game [last year], we stretched Toulouse right until the very end. The game was in the balance right up until the 80th minute and that's