Toulouse 23
Ulster 25
ULSTER PRODUCED A superb performance to give themselves a European lifeline with a 25-23 victory over Toulouse, who crash out at the group stages for the second successive year.
Les Kiss’ side followed-up last week’s five-try demolition of the French giants with a resilient display at the Stade Ernest Wallon to boost their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals from Pool 1.
After suffering defeat in their first outing to Saracens, the northern province have ignited their European campaign with back-to-back triumphs over one of the competition’s heavyweights.
It it just their third win on French soil and a victory which will give Kiss much encouragement heading into the New Year.
Ruan Pienaar’s first-half try ensured Ulster’s purposeful start was rewarded and although Toulouse came back strongly after the interval, they showed all their tenacity in an end-to-end second period.
After withstanding a brief storm when Paddy Jackson was in the sinbin either side of the break, Ulster regained control of the tie as Andrew Trimble finished off a superb team move.
Jackson ensured Ulster kept their noses in front from the tee and the win was secured when Luke Marshall pierced through the wall of black shirts in the final minutes.
Louis Picamoles crossed to make it a grandstand finish but there was to be no denying Ulster a famous win.
Toulouse came into the game smarting from last weekend’s humiliating 38-0 reverse in Belfast and looking for swift revenge.
But despite dominating ball and territory in the first half, they paid for a lack of subtly.
Jackson kicked an early penalty for Ulster, who then defended doggedly to keep a predictable Toulouse at bay.
And when the province made a rare foray into the French 22, they made it count.
Ulster’s forwards bludgeoned they way up to the line until confusion reigned in the Toulouse defence, allowing South African scrum-half Pienaar to pick the ball up from the back of a ruck and dive over unopposed.
Jackson, who converted the try, was then sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on as Toulouse rumbled towards the line.
Bezy kicked a second penalty early in the second half but right after Jackson returned to the pitch, Ulster centre McCloskey made a stunning break through the middle and with Toulouse’s scrambling defence back-tracking, Trimble dived over in the corner.
But the four-time champions came straight back and after Ulster resisted their pack from a metre out, Toulouse finally swung the ball wide where Fickou went over on the right.
Bezy converted and the misfiring French suddenly found themselves just two points behind.
Almost immediately, Andy Warwick gave away a stupid penalty and Bezy kicked Toulouse into a 16-15 lead.
But a Jackson penalty restored Ulster’s lead before late on a clever inside pass from Alan O’Connor set up Marshall for the killer third try.
Toulouse threatened to make it a nervous finale when Picamoles was shoved over by his pack but Ulster easily held on.
Toulouse scorers:Tries: Fickou, Picamoles
Conversions: Bézy, Doussain
Penalties: Bézy (3)Ulster scorers:
Tries: Pienaar, Trimble, Marshall
Conversions: Jackson (2)
Penalties: Jackson (2)
Toulouse: Alexis Palisson; Kunatani Kunabuli, Gael Fickou, Florian Fritz, Timoci Matanavou; Jean-Marc Doussain, Sébastien Bézy; Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Census Johnston, Gregory Lamboley, Yoann Maestri, Yacouba Camara, Thierry Dusautoir, Imanol Harinordoquy
Replacements: Christopher Tolofua, Gurthro Steenkamp, Gert Muller, Joe Tekori, Louis Picamoles, Gillian Galan, David Mele, Clément Poitrenaud
Ulster: Louis Ludik; Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Kyle McCall, Rory Best, Wiehahn Herbst; Alan O’Connor, Franco van der Merwe; Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy, Roger Wilson.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Ricky Lutton, Lewis Stevenson, Nick Williams, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Rory Scholes.
Referee: JP Doyle.
Additional reporting from AFP
