The starting XV saw first Champions Cup starts for academy products James McCormick, Scott Wilson and Ben Carson. Aidan Morgan and Werner Kok also made their first Champions Cup appearances since their summer switches.
The home side got off to the best start they could hope for, with Lebel diving over in the corner to get the first score after 90 seconds played. Antoine Dupont was the architect of the try, with his carry and offload creating the spark.
Romain Ntamack then scored a quick second, after being found by Dupont and breaking the tackle efforts to score.
The away side dug in and responded.James McCormick got Ulster’s first try, after a close-range pick and drive over the line that was reward for the attacking intent. Doak converted the score.
That positivity was sent backwards almost immediately after, with Toulouse winning the restart and launching at Ulster's corner. The powerful French international lock, Meafou, powering over for their third.
Toulouse were in a ruthless mood and punished every Ulster error. A turnover of possession sent them on the attack once more and after slick interplay between Ramos and Lebel on the left, Ange Capuzzo, was sent through to score their fourth bonus point try.
Antoine Dupont then turned from creator to scorer, as he pounced for his own try minutes later after Lebel was tackled short of the line.
With the scoreline stretched, Ulster kept going and got their reward after Aidan Morgan picked out Stewart Moore with a wonderful looped pass in the opposition 22, with Moore racing through to score Ulster’s second converted try.
Before the half was up, Meafou then notched his second and Toulouse's sixth after bulldozing over from close range, with Ramos yet again nailing another conversion.
HT: 40-14
Ulster made two changes at the break, with Rob Herring and Tom O’Toole coming on for McCormick and Wilson.
Ulster defended well in the opening period of the half and had some spells of possession but like they showed in the opening half, Toulouse quickly turned defence into a deadly attack when at the 51 minute mark the home side quickly went through the gears and passed their way up the pitch. Argentine centre, Santiago Chocobares, made the score after being put through by his winger.
Their next try was a moment of class from Antoine Dupont, as the scrum-half scanned his options on a Toulouse attack in the Ulster 22 and pinged out a perfect cross field kick to Capuzzo who dotted down in the corner.
Ulster’s replacements started to bring more energy into getting the away side going again.
Ulster gained some momentum back and forced themselves into the home 22, after Tom O’Toole’s punt forward was chased down well by replacement lock, Cormac Izuchukwu before the Toulouse player kicked into touch.
In the phases after two attacking lineouts, Ulster captain, Iain Henderson, got the province’s third score, as he dived over with a pick and go.
Despite getting themselves into decent territory, Ulster couldn’t execute the attack they needed to secure a losing bonus point try. The home side took the sting out of the game and on a late flurry they were awarded a penalty try for a lineout maul that was illegally collapsed. The final whistle then went on a tough afternoon in France.
Ulster will aim to bounce back quickly, with a fast turnaround to Saturday’s home clash with Bordeaux at Kingspan Stadium.
FT: Toulouse 61-21 Ulster Rugby
Scorers:
Toulouse:
TRY: <br>
Lebel, Ntamack, Meafou (2), Capuozzo (2), Dupont, Chocobares, Penalty
CON: Ramos x7
Ulster:
TRY:
McCormick, Moore, Henderson
CON:
Doak x3
Teams
Toulouse:
(15-9) Ramos Capuozzo, Barassi, Chocobares, Lebel; R Ntamack, Dupont (C);
(1-8) Ainu'u, Mauvaka, Aldeheri; Flament, Meafou, Willis, Banos, Roumat
Replacements: Marchand, Neti, Merkler, T Ntamack, Graou, Costes, Mallia
Ulster:
15\. Stewart Moore, 14. Werner Kok, 13. Ben Carson, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Michael Lowry, 10. Aidan Morgan, 9. Nathan Doak;
1\. Andrew Warwick, 2. James McCormick, 3. Scott Wilson, 4. Alan O’Connor (C), 5. Harry Sheridan, 6. Matty Rea, 7. Marcus Rea, 8. James McNabney
Replacements:
16\. Rob Herring, 17. Eric O’Sullivan, 18. Tom O’Toole, 19. Iain Henderson, 20. Cormac Izuchukwu, 21. Dave Shanahan, 22. Jude Postlethwaite, 23. Nick Timoney