Reaction: Leinster coach Michael Cheika admitted his players were "broken" despite edging Harlequins 6-5 in a thrilling Heineken Cup quarter-final at the Stoop.

Two Felipe Contepomi penalties were enough to set up an all-Irish last-four appointment with Munster at Croke Park with Leinster surviving a relentless Quins assault.

“That was a pretty tough game. The guys in that dressing room are broken because it was so physical,” he said.

“We had to do a lot of defending, especially in the second half. It was mental as well as physical pressure.

“We showed a lot of character to defend that lead being pinned down in our territory for so long.

“Maybe we didn’t show a lot of accuracy but there was a lot of character against a quality side.

“This is a tournament we really want to win. It will now be a massive challenge against the best team in Europe.”

The late return of Quins outhalf Nick Evans caused controversy after the All Black limped off early in the second half because of a knee problem.

His replacement Chris Malone then withdrew with a hamstring injury and shortly after Tom Williams, who came on for Malone, was forced off with a blood injury, resulting in Evans’ return.

Evans attempted a drop goal in the final minute which sailed wide and Cheika admitted Leinster’s management would look at the incident.

“We’ll probably say something. We don’t doubt the substitution but we are entitled to check for blood which we weren’t given the opportunity to do,” he said.

“That’s all we were looking for. It’s not that big an issue for us, our management will take up it up if they see fit.”

Quins director of rugby Dean Richards denied there was anything sinister in Evans’ return.

“Nick tweaked his knee halfway through the first half. At half-time he said it was sore,” he said.

“We gave him 10 minutes then he came off. Putting Nick back on after Chris had pulled his hamstring was the last throw of the dice.

“I was reluctant to do it but decided we had to. Nick will be out for two to three weeks now.

“The options open to us were pretty limited. You have to know your rules.”

England fullback Mike Brown crossed in the 67th minute to give Quins hope but, despite vast amounts of possession, they failed to land the decisive blow.

It was the club’s first venture into the Heineken Cup quarter-finals and Richards refused to lament the lack of a fairytale ending.

“It’s been a lovely journey but at the same time it’s come to an end and we have to accept that,” he said.

“It’s never easy to get as far as we have done and not win but you have to accept it. We’ll learn from this. There are no regrets.

“No one left the stadium with five minutes to go. We gave the spectators value for money and we’ll continue to try to do that.”