But the Red Army stepped up to the plate when it mattered most in the south of France and became only the third side in Heineken Cup history after Leicester Tigers and London Wasps to register an away success at the Stade Aime Giral.

Lions and Munster skipper O’Connell said: “It’s a great day for us. We put a lot of hard work into the game and we had a big work ethic, especially at the breakdown.

“We were patient and, once we transferred what we’d been doing on the training ground onto the pitch, then we knew we’d play well.”

Munster lie in pole position in Pool One and lead nearest rivals Northampton by two points after tries from Denis Fogarty, Denis Hurley, Jean de Villiers and Doug Howlett sealed a historic triumph.

Sale are targeting a quarter-final spot after proving they are a team for all seasons with a hard-fought 21-17 win over Pool Five rivals Harlequins in driving snow.

Quins led 14-8 at half-time at a freezing Edgeley Park after tries from Nick Evans and Aston Croall but a 55th-minute score from prop Eifion Roberts edged the Sharks back in front.

Sale now face a trip to Cardiff and a home clash with Pool Five leaders Toulouse to determine whether they will reach the knockout stages of Europe’s premier competition.

Sharks director of rugby Kingsley Jones, whose side led with a well-worked try from Sisa Koyamaibole, said: “On paper we’re as good as any team in Europe.

“We’ve showed we’re mentally strong and we need to show it again against Cardiff and Toulouse.”

Gloucester head coach Bryan Redpath hopes his side will gain some much-needed confidence from their 19-6 Heineken Cup victory over Glasgow Warriors that avenged a thumping in Scotland last weekend.

Wing Charlie Sharples and second row Alex Brown scored Gloucester’s tries, while fly-half Nicky Robinson added three penalties.

Redpath said: “Today was about us winning and getting confidence and getting back on track to where we should be.

“It was about us not digging a hole for ourselves and worrying too much. We have had six months of ifs and buts. We have got to change, we have to start having confidence so I am chuffed how we all got something out of it today.”

Stade Francais seized the initiative in Pool Four with a 29-16 victory over Ulster at Stade Jean Bouin, while Guinness Premiership strugglers Leeds Carnegie maintained their pursuit of a quarter-final place in the Amlin Challenge Cup following a convincing 47-0 home win over Bucuresti Oaks.