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After the euphoria of their five try
After the euphoria of their five try, 38-0 demolition of four-time European champions Toulouse at the Kingspan Stadium last weekend you won’t find anyone in the Ulster camp who isn’t expecting a fierce backlash this weekend.
Having scored only one try and seven points in two trips overseas in Pool 1 this season – they have conceded 70 points at Saracens and Ulster – Ugo Mola’s Toulouse side are arguably one more defeat away from oblivion, especially with Saracens boasting a perfect three wins from three matches at the top of the table.
That means the pressure will be on the home side to prove to their home fans they can still compete with the best club sides in Europe by avoiding a double dose of misery against the Irish province. History may be on their side – they have two wins and a draw to their credit against Ulster at home – but Les Kiss’ side are starting to show signs of reaching their true potential.
With Ruan Pienaar back to his best form at scrum half, and the back line operating to its full potential, Ulster look like a match for anyone once again after their heavy home defeat at the hands of Saracens. But it is one thing to become the first team in European history to hold Toulouse to zero points, but another to back it up with another victory.
“We know there is going to be a backlash, we are fully expecting it. But we are confident that if we play with the same intensity we can turn them over again,” said Ulster’s Irish international centre Luke Marshall.
“It really is a must-win game for us with Saracens nine points clear at the top, but I don't see a reason why we can't progress from the pool. The quality of rugby we played last Friday night, against a top European team, shows where we are as a group – so we're confident of getting to the quarter-finals and then who knows what can happen.”
Toulouse are unbeaten at home this season and are bound to raise their game at Stade Ernest Wallon. They have won five Top 14 fixtures on their own patch and beat Oyonnax in their only Pool 1 match to date.
Ulster have only ever managed to do the double over a French club twice before in 20 seasons of European Cup rugby – against Castres Olympique in 2012/13 n Montpellier a year later.
Match Facts
- Ulster were the first team in Champions Cup history to keep Toulouse scoreless in a match when they beat them 38-0 in round 3
- Toulouse are still just 21 points shy of their 4000th in the Champions Cup.
- Toulouse have lost just twice in 10 home matches against Irish opponents in the Champions Cup.
- Toulouse have averaged the most (19) and Ulster the fewest (3.5) offloads per game this season in the Champions Cup.
Encore battus par l'Ulster
Ulster made it back-to-back Champions Cup wins over Toulouse with a 25-23 triumph at the Stade Ernest Wallon to keep their quarter-final dreams alive.
Tries from Ruan Pienaar, Andrew Trimble and Luke Marshall secured Ulster’s third win on French soil. Gael Ficou and Louis Picamoles hit-back, but it was not enough to stop Ulster from claiming their second win in three Champions Cup outings.
Ulster got of to the perfect start as they searched for a repeat of last weekend’s famous 38-0 thumping. Toulouse lock Gregory Lamboley offended at a ruck as the Irish province forced their way towards the Toulouse 22, and Paddy Jackson made no mistake with the penalty for a 3-0 lead after as many minutes.
Missed penalties from Ruan Pienaar and Jackson stopped Ulster from making the breeze at the backs count. But Pienaar struck seven minutes before half-time to give the visitors a 10-0 lead. Ulster turned up the tempo with some patient phase play, and after Weihahn Herbst was stopped just short, Pienaar spotted a gap to dot down, with Jackson converting.
But the Ireland playmaker put his side under pressure moments later when he deliberately knocked on and was shown yellow, allowing Sebastien Bezy to cut the gap to 10-3. Bezy landed another to cut the gap to four, before Trimble looked to have wrapped it up. Stuart McCloskey cut through the defensive line and got down to the five metre line, before the ball was worked to van der Merwe and then Trimble, who finished at the corner.
But the hurting hosts hit back through Gael Ficou on 50 minutes. Toulouse were camped on the Ulster line and finally worked it out to the France centre who waltzed over. And Bezy hit another penalty to hit the front for the first time.
But Ulster hit-back once again through the boot of Jackson on the hour mark to retake a two point lead. And the points were guaranteed in the 75th minute when Luke Marshall was found on the inside to crash over, before Louis Picamoles scored a consolation with the dying moments.
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