The Irish outfit had stunned the continent’s most-successful side by winning 16-14 at the Stade Ernest Wallon last Sunday but a much-improved Toulouse ensured there would be no repeat at the Sportsground.

Toulouse scored five tries in a 37-9 success with Maxime Medard grabbing a brace and Christopher Tolofua also touching down in the first half, with Louis Picamoles crossing after the interval and Gael Fickou scoring at the death.

Lionel Beauxis added 12 points with the boot courtesy of two penalties and three conversions as Toulouse regained top spot in Pool 3 after Saracens had leapfrogged them earlier in the day with another big win over Zebre.

The visitors led 22-9 at the break, although it was Connacht who had opened the scoring after just two minutes courtesy of a Dan Parks penalty.

Beauxis levelled the score two minutes later and Toulouse were celebrating the game’s first try after 10 minutes when Medard won the race to a chip out on the left. Beauxis’ conversion gave Guy Noves’ troops a 10-3 advantage but Parks cut the deficit with his first drop goal three minutes later.

Both kickers missed shots at goal before Medard claimed a cross-kick to grab his second try with 26 minutes on the clock. Beauxis failed with the attempted extras and Parks slotted a second drop but Toulouse were 13 points to the good when their fly-half converted a close-range score from hooker Tolofua three minutes before the break.

Beauxis was short and wide with a penalty attempt four minutes after the restart but Toulouse had the bonus point in the bag 10 minutes later through No8 Picamoles. A short lineout from Tolofua to Yannick Nyanga put Picamoles in space and he powered through Ffion Carr’s last-ditch tackle.

The conversion was missed but Connacht were left with a mountain to climb at 18 points down. That substantial task was made even harder as Beauxis was lining up the extras when replacement fly-half Craig Ronaldson limped off with a hamstring injury just moments after coming on for Parks.

Connacht refused to give up the ghost and were keen to keep the ball alive at every opportunity but it was Toulouse who came closest to scoring next when only the finger tips of Eoin Griffin prevented Medard from claiming a hat-trick after a clever kick and chase.

Beuaxis struck a second penalty seven minutes from the end before replacement centre Fickou put an even greater gloss on the scoreline by scything through for a converted try with the final play.