Munster, who won this tournament in 2006 and 2008, had the boot of fly-half Ronan O'Gara to thank a for narrow 12-3 lead at half-time against a stubborn Edinburgh side in the Scottish capital.

The veteran Ireland fly-half landed four penalties in the first half, while his opposite number Greig Laidlaw, the Scotland fly-half, slotted a solitary penalty for the home side.

Edinburgh's Laidlaw and Munster prop Dave Kilcoyne both found themselves yellow carded for professional fouls, leaving both sides with 14-men at the start of the second-half.

Munster took full advantage and were awarded a penalty try at a five metre scrum in the shadow of the home side's posts, which O'Gara converted, to make it 19-3 to the Irish province.

Scrum-half Connor Murray than barged his way over from a line-out for the visitors second try before wing Doubie Fife crossed for Edinburgh's first two tries in this season's European campaign. It had taken 392 minutes for them to cross the opposition line this tournament and then Fife did it twice In as many minutes

Munster, who host Racing Metro 92 at Thomond Park in their final Pool game, have only failed to reach the last eight of European rugby's premier tournament once in the last 14 seasons and that was in 2011.