An occasionally ferocious showing by Racing sparked Ronan O'Gara to claim his side deserved credit despite defeat at Thomond Park.
His former side eventually saw off their French visitors on a scoreline of 22-10, enough for a home quarter-final where they could yet face Toulouse or Toulon.
ROG explained how his Racing charges may have exposed a few flaws in Munster's game which may be exploited in the last 8, but again praised the progress Rassie Erasmus and his side have made during an extraordinarily difficult spell for the club.
And then, the inevitable. With Racing's European odyssey finished for another year, Sky Sports' Graham Harris popped the question to O'Gara - the one he, and all the rest of us, already knew the answer to, but also knew ROG would finally answer aloud on a doubtless emotional return to his old stomping ground.
The Munster icon couldn't hide his smile.
You were waiting to ask that! Of course I would [like to return], yeah. It's a special club. Look at the ground tonight.
I think anyone who isn't impressed with what they produce here isn't right in the head. It's an incredible place. The people are so passionate - it's everything that's good about sport.
I was lucky to be on that rollercoaster for a long time; now you've gotta go away and see how other cultures work, and then hopefully come back when you're the finished article.
Get that man home before we start a petition.
