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Munster got their Heineken Cup campaign off to a winning start with a nervy 19-17 win over debutants Montauban at a redeveloped Thomand Park.

The French side, playing in their first ever Heineken Cup match, were impressive against a side they were not expected to trouble and even led by a point with just five minutes remaining before Ronan O'Gara kicked the winning points for the reigning champions.

Montauban stunned the hosts to take an early lead when scrum-half Petre Mitu kicked a penalty in the sixth minute.

Depite Munster enjoying the lion's share of possession a slew of handling errors cost the hosts and Mitu could even have extended the visitors lead on the quarter-hour mark.

But the Romanian pulled the kick wide and O'Gara finally drew the hosts level in the 32nd minute.

Munster finally looked to be getting into some sort of rhythm when substitute Barry Murphy produced a moment of brilliance to touch down just before the interval and give his side the half-time lead.

Murphy received the ball on the right wing before stepping inside, and around the tackle of Johan Dalla Riva , before forcing his way over the line. O'Gara added the conversion to leave the hosts leading 10-3 and poised to run away with the second half.

But Munster had not counted on the strength of Montauban and it was the French side that got the scoring underway in the second half courtesy of Mitu's boot once again.

O'Gara hit back soon after but Mitu kicked another three points before Alan Quinaln's ill-advised pass bounced off Justin Melck and bounced towards the Montauban try-line.

Sylvain Jonnet was quickest to react and dived on the ball, ahead of David Wallace, to give his side the shock one-point lead just over 20 minutes from time.

Mitu failed to add the conversion however, allowing O'Gara the chance to put Munster back in the lead two minutes later. But he star succumbed to a rare case of nerves and bounced his penalty off the post.

The Ireland star made amends in the 65th minute though before Mitu, who was only on kicking duty in the absence of Favian Fortassin, gave Montauban the lead again with less than five minute remaining.

With just two and a half minutes left on the clock though, O'Gara rescued his side and ended Montauban's hopes of a stunning win.

Perpignan 27-16 Benetton Treviso

Perpignan also got their Heineken Cup campaign with a win over Treviso at Stade Aime-Giral, despite staunch defence from the Italian side.

Italian fly-half Andrea Marcato gave Treviso the lead kicking his penalty after 12 minutes, before Emiliano Mulieri touched down for the visitors to extend their lead.

But Perpignan were awarded a penalty try when Treviso suffered a moment of madness in defence and Benjamin De Jager was sent to the sin bin for a tackle off the ball.

Marcato added another penalty despite Treviso being a man down but opposite number David Mele cancelled the kick out by landing his first drop goal of the night.

A moment of brilliance from Jerome Porical and Chris Cusiter allowed the hosts to grab the lead for the first time just before the interval with the pair combining to race more than half of the pitch before the full-back touched down.

Perpignan ran away with the match in the second half and will be disappointed not to have secured a bonus point as Mele added a second drop goal and Jean-Philippe Grandclaude added a second try to his side's tally.

Despite a third penalty for Treviso, this time from Marius Goosen, the Italian side were left to rue their indiscipline as they had a second man sent to the sin bin and struggled to keep up with their opponents.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport