The French side, winners in 1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010, proved more than able to deal with the partisan crowd and positively revelled in it to record their second victory in Pool 6.

Connacht, who celebrated their 100th game in European competition but their first home game in the Heineken Cup, welcomed a star-studded line up from the aristocrats of the tournament.

The home side, playing in front of a record sell-out 9,120 crowd at the Sportsground, struggled to get their hands on the ball and to contain their illustrious visitors in the opening exchanges and soon found themselves 9-0 down midway through the first half.

Fly-half Lionel Beauxis proved deadly with the boot landing three penalties and a drop goal and converted Toulouse’s first try by flanker Jean Bouilhou before the home side had flanker Mike McCarthy sin-binned for a high-tackle on Vincent Clerc.

The Irish province struggled with 14-men for the rest of the first half but No 10 Miah Nikora landed a penalty before his opposite number Beauxis landed a third penalty to put the French giants comfortably ahead 22-3 at half-time.

After the break, Toulouse turned the screw and dominated territory and possession and were awarded a penalty try after they demolished a Connacht scrum in the shadow of the home side’s posts.

Connacht did manage a consolation score of their own when they were awarded a penalty try but the former champions just proved too strong for their hosts.and replacement flanker Yannick Ntanga sealed the win with his side’s third try.