Fixture News

Report | Ulster 23 Toulouse 30 (49-50 on aggregate)

16th April 2022
Ulster exit the Heineken Champions Cup at the Round of 16, having been defeated by a single point on aggregate, and seven points on the night, at the hands of Toulouse at Kingspan Stadium.

The visitors had an early opportunity with two minutes on the clock and Thomas Ramos obliged with the penalty.

In an eventful first few minutes, both Ulster and Toulouse went down to 14 temporarily after Rob Baloucoune collided in the air with Anthony Jelonch, and three minutes later, Dimitri Delibes joined Baloucoune after making a tip-tackle on Ethan McIlroy.

Billy Burns kicked for touch with the penalty, bringing Ulster to a promising area. They looked like they might get through but the pass to Marcus Rea didn’t take just a couple of metres out.

It wasn’t long however till Ulster were on the attack again. They sent the ball wide and the goose-stepping James Hume made the offload to Ethan McIlroy who ran home for the try. John Cooney fired over the extras.

Toulouse and Ulster both exchanged a penalty each through the boot of Thomas Ramos and John Cooney, leaving four points between the two sides, 10 on aggregate.

Toulouse produced a superb score on 22 minutes, with Ntamack and Dupont working in tandem to send Thomas Ramos racing clear to take the lead, and he converted his score.

The hosts were keen to respond and had got to a great area of the field, going through the hands, but Romain Ntamack sniffed out the intercept from deep to bundle over and take the lead on aggregate. Ramos nudged over the conversion. 

The men in red created an outstanding try just before the break. With a free-play, Billy Burns made the cross-field kick to Ethan McIlroy who dotted down for a brace. Cooney nailed the difficult touch-line conversion to re-take the aggregate lead. 

The opening few minutes of the second half saw Ulster quickly out of the blocks, retaining possession well and testing Toulouse defences. Both the hosts and the visitors looked to send the ball sky-wards, but both back lines diffused it well.

Eventually, Ulster had a pop at the posts on 52 minutes, which John Cooney duly obliged with to draw level (46-40 on aggregate). Nine minutes later, Thomas Ramos replied with a penalty to put them ahead for the game, and reducing Ulster’s aggregate lead to three points. 

Ulster had to play the final 15 minutes with fourteen men as Tom O’Toole was sent off for a high challenge on Anthony Jelonch. 

The hosts weren’t deterred, and they worked their way to a good area of the field. Toulouse were penalised for collapsing Ulster’s maul, and John Cooney coolly slotted the three points to draw level (49-43 on aggregate).

Toulouse and captain, Antoine Dupont broke Ulster hearts with five minutes to go, as he spotted a gap to crash over for the try. Thomas Ramos landed the conversion to take the lead on aggregate by a single point. Ulster had to fiercely defend in the final minutes to keep Toulouse out, and they were unable to get back into Toulouse territory to respond. Toulouse quickly kicked the ball out to end the game and progress to the Quarter-Finals. 

Full-time score: Ulster 23 Toulouse 30 (49-50 on aggregate)

Worth Another Look

Scorers

Ulster

Tries: Ethan McIlroy (2)

Cons: John Cooney (2)

Pens: John Cooney (3)

 

Toulouse

Tries: Thomas Ramos, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont

Cons: Thomas Ramos (3)

Pens: Thomas Ramos (3)

Line-ups

Ulster

(15-9) Mike Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Ethan McIlroy, Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8) Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson (Capt.), Marcus Rea, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Brad Roberts, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Jordi Murphy, Nathan Doak, Luke Marshall, Rob Lyttle.

Toulouse

(15-9) Thomas Ramos, Dimitri Delibes, Tim Nanai-Williams, Pita Ahki, Matthis Lebel, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (Capt.);

(1-8) Rodrigue Neti, Peato Mauvaka, Charlie Faumuina, Rory Arnold, Richie Arnold, Rynhardt Elstadt, Anthony Jelonch, Selevasio Tolofua.

Replacements: Guillaume Cramont, David Ainu'u, Dorian Aldegheri, Emmanuel Meafou, Thibaud Flament, Antoine Miquel, Baptiste Germain, Lucas Tauzin.

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Up next at Kingpspan Stadium

Attentions turn back to the United Rugby Championship with Ulster taking on Inter-Pro rivals, Munster on Friday 22 April (7.35pm).

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