Two-time champions Munster kept their hopes of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter finals alive with an uninspiring 17-26 victory over Edinburgh at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Victory saw Munster go second in Pool 1, three points behind Saracens, with one match remaining next weekend when the English side should seal top spot and a place in the last eight when they play Edinburgh.
Munster, whose last eight hopes probably rest in getting one of the two best-placed runners-up spots, host third-placed Racing-Metro in Limerick next Sunday.
Munster looked to be cruising when they scored two tries in quick succession in the second-half, a penalty try and then scrum-half Colin Murray scrambled over with Ireland veteran fly-half Ronan O'Gara converting both to finish the match with 16 points.
However, the hosts hit back with a brace of tries of their own, both through wing Dougie Fife to leave the game in the balance with less than 10 minutes remaining.
Munster, though, held on with the Scottish side not even getting a bonus point which leaves last season's semi-finalists pointless.
Four places will remain up for grabs entering the last weekend of action with Harlequins, Ulster and French duo Toulon and Clermont having secured their berths this weekend.
Final Score Edinburgh (3) 17 Munster (12) 26
Scorers
Edinburgh
Tries: Fife 2
Cons: Laidlaw 2
Pens: Laidlaw
Munster
Tries: Penalty, Murray
Cons: O'Gara 2
Pens: O'Gara 4
Match Officials
Referee: Romain Poite (Fra),
Assistant ref: Cyril Lafon (Fra),
Assistant ref: Stephane Boyer (Fra),
TMO: Daniel Gillet (Fra),
Citing Commisioner: Alberto Recaldini (Ita)
Teams
Edinburgh Rugby: Greig Tonks; Dougie Fife, Ben Cairns, Matthew Scott, Tim Visser; Greig Laidlaw (c), Richie Rees; Allan Jacobsen, Steven Lawrie, WP Nel, Grant Gilchrist, Sean Cox, Stuart McInally, Dimitri Basilaia, Dave Denton.
Replacements: Andy Titterrell, Robin Hislop, Geoff Cross, Netani Talei, Roddy Grant, Piers Francis, Ben Atiga, Sep Visser.
Munster Rugby: Felix Jones; Doug Howlett (c), Keith Earls, James Downey, Simon Zebo; Ronan O'Gara, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Damien Varley, BJ Botha, Donncha O'Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan, Peter O'Mahony, Tommy O'Donnell, James Coughlan.
Replacements: Mike Sherry, Wian Du Preez, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Paddy Butler, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Casey Laulala.
