Munster always got going when the going got tough and so Toulouse beware - Damian de Allende believes that is what happened again in his last season with the Reds.
De Allende hopes to leave with the first silverware earned by the club since long before his 2019 arrival.
But the first acid test of that ambition will come against the record five-time Champions Cup winners on Saturday.
If Munster are to cause an upset against the reigning champions then they will have to be unified.
De Allende saw a new unity emerge through the dark times of late last year, through November and December, when the Reds lost to Connacht at home and then were struck down by Covid in South Africa.
"When things get tough, especially in a team environment, it can be quite easy to point fingers," said the World Cup winner with South Africa.
"And when things got tough we kept it in the group and we took accountability for it.
"It was tough. The toughness started just before we went to South Africa when we lost a game against Connacht, which was a very tough game, and it was just a bit of frustration.
"But when frustration creeps into a team and you sort it out in the group and you don't let that frustration get out, it helps a lot.
"We've spoken about it numerous times and the understanding of the way we speak about it has helped a lot as well. It's not blaming each other, each making each other better and I think us as a group now understand that.
"We've learned a lot and have a lot to look forward to, but it has been incredible the way guys have moved on from that frustration.
"Every time there is frustration we just talk about it and get it out of the way. We don't let it linger any more.
"We have grown a lot and are a lot tighter than we were last year - we have a better understanding not just of each other but what we want to achieve."
The 30-year-old eventually got to enjoy his time in Limerick but he links a lot of that enjoyment with the return of supporters to Thomond Park and the other stadia he has played in with the province.
"We had big moments last year but when you have no crowd it feels like the hard works goes unnoticed," de Allende said.
"Last year was frustrating against Toulouse (at the last-16 stage) - not that we left anything out there, just the mistakes that we made. Hopefully we've learned from that.
"The crowd can keep you up for much longer and Exeter (in the last round) was like that.
"I think the atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday is going to be incredible but I think the energy on the field...I can't explain it but I get that feeling of it's going to be a cracker of a game on Saturday afternoon.
"Obviously I want to leave here on a high but if that doesn't happen that’s just the way things go. It would be unfortunate but I will cherish my time here. I’ve really loved it.
“It was tough when I couldn’t enjoy Ireland properly when I first got here but as the weeks have gone on it’s been a lot better. It’s been incredible to play in a full Thomond Park, it was exceptional.
"I wish I could have played in front of a crowd in a lot more events but that’s just the way life is at the moment.
“Whatever happens, happens but I will leave here with a big smile on my face with lots of happy memories that are made here in Munster.”
