Summary

  • FT: Ulster 24-48 Toulouse

  • Radio Ulster coverage presented by Gavin Andrews with commentary from Jim Neilly and Tony McWhirter

Live Reporting

Orla Bannon

  1. That's a wrap

    FT: Ulster 24-48 Toulouse

    That is all from us as Ulster suffer a blow to their hopes of reaching the Investec Champions Cup knockout rounds after a clinical performance from Toulouse.

    The result leaves Ulster fourth in Pool 2 with one game remaining.

    A second defeat in three games, coupled with Harlequins' bonus-point win over Cardiff tonight, leaves the Irish province in a precarious position with Racing able to knock them down to fifth if the French side beat Bath on Sunday.

    Toulouse, meanwhile, are assured of a place in the last 16 with a game to spare after three successive bonus-point wins.

    You can read Matt Gault's match report from the Kingspan Stadium here.

    We will be back next week for Ulster's crunch Champions Cup clash with Harlequins.

    See you then, goodnight.

    Toulouse score a tryGetty Images

  2. 'Harlequins game so important'

    FT: Ulster 24-48 Toulouse

    Chris Henry
    Former Ulster & Ireland flanker on BBC Radio Ulster

    Ulster have realised they have got themselves out of a hole with their block of wins in the last four or five weeks and now next week becomes so important. It has the making of another good game.

  3. "We are very happy with five points away from home" - Kinghorn

    FT: Ulster 24-48 Toulouse

    Toulouse's Blair Kinghorn speaking to TNT Sports after the game: "Parts of it were really good. The start of the second half was brilliant, but we fell off it in the last 20 which was disappointing but five points away from home? We are very happy.

    "He (Dupont) is a quality player, all the boys work well around him but we are happy with the team performance and five points away from home.

    "That (qualification) is our goal, to get a home quarter-final or a home knockout game, so it's all to play for."

    Blair KinghornInpho

  4. 'Brutally clinical from Toulouse'

    FT: Ulster 24-48 Toulouse

    Tony McWhirter
    1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster

    It has been brutally clinical from Toulouse. That was a different beast with Dupont, they had every string to the bow. It has been a privilege to see them in full-flow this evening, they are the complete package.

    Toulouse celebratein

  5. Full-time

    Ulster 24-48 Toulouse

    Ulster were outclassed tonight but at least they don't have to play the five-time Champions Cup winners every week.

    The accuracy was not there for Ulster against a powerful side who can play it with power, with poise, and any way you like.

    They look to be cruising to a home quarter-final while defeat is not fatal for Ulster, who go to Harlequins next week in a huge concluding Pool 2 game.

    UlsterGetty Images
  6. converted try

    Converted try - Ulster 24-48 Toulouse

    Emanuel Meafou

    The lock Emanuel Meafou crashes over under the posts for a seventh Toulouse try as the clock slips into the red.

  7. Toulouse shutting it down

    Ulster 24-41 Toulouse

    Ulster were daring to think about losing bonus points and got the fans back into the game with some brave resistance in the face of a relentless onslaught by Toulouse.

    But in the last few moments the French visitors have wrestled the momentum back again and look in no mood to give the home side anything here.

  8. 'Timoney deserves that'

    Ulster 24-41 Toulouse

    Tony McWhirter
    1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster

    That just feeds the hope, Ulster are back to 17 points. Timoney deserves that this evening, he has been their standout player. Do we dare to dream? Ulster must keep the game fluid. They have to go for it.

  9. converted try

    Converted try

    Nick Timoney

    Well well well. Is the comeback seriously on??

    Can Ulster amass not one, but two, bonus points? Timoney picks off where he left off in scoring against Leinster by rampaging over for a third Ulster try.

    One more try and they'll have something tangible to take from what looked at one stage like becoming a horrible evening.

    Ramos has just gone off, much to the Ulster fans' relief.

  10. converted try

    Converted try

    Ulster 17-41 Toulouse

    Ulster are hammering away on Toulouse's 5m line. Timoney is stopped short but Doak finds Will Addison and a nice moment for him to score in the corner after several years plagued by injury.

    Nathan Doak adds the extras. Is it mere consolation or the start of an unlikely comeback?

  11. Replacements

    Ulster 10-41 Toulouse

    Addison replaces Stockdale, with Doak, Moore and Andrew on for Cooney, O'Toole and Stewart respectively.

  12. converted try

    Converted try - Ulster 10-41 Toulouse

    Alexandre Roumat

    Alexandre Roumat, the big number eight, profits from yet another assist from Antoine Dupont, who's made a superb 17 carries in this match.

    Faced with nothing on, he uses his pace to burn Ulster's midfield with Matthis Lebel switching the point of attack coming inside and leaving Roumat with the easiest of finishes. An astonishing six tries now.

    Thomas Ramos converts Roumat's try in a hushed Kingspan.

    Alexandre RoumatGetty Images
    Nick TimoneyGetty Images
  13. try

    Try - Ulster 10-34 Toulouse

    Peato Mauvaka

    Peato Mauvaka with his second try.

    He spins off the back of a maul and plays a quick one-two with Antoine Dupont who's hugging the sideline. It wasn't an obvious score but the pair combine brilliantly before the hooker skates in for a fifth Toulouse try.

    Peato MauvakaGetty Images

  14. 'Ulster must throw caution to the wind'

    Ulster 10-29 Toulouse

    Tony McWhirter
    1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster

    The first score in this second half was always going to be crucial and Ulster must throw caution to the wind now to try and get something out of this game.

  15. converted try

    Converted try

    Ulster 10-29 Toulouse

    Ramos converts Toulouse's fourth try. That's the bonus point wrapped up with over half an hour still to play.

    Ulster look stunned as the Kingspan falls silent.

    Jacob StockdaleGetty Images
  16. try

    Try - Ulster 10-27 Toulouse

    Antoine Dupont

    Antoine Dupont strikes again for his second try of the evening.

    Toulouse come up with a turnover and while Ulster come up to the line quickly in defence, the visitors spot a gap and steam through with Blair Kinghorn raking clear down the left wing before passing back inside to Dupont steaming through the middle. Pure class.

    Antoine DupontGetty Images
    Antoine DupontGetty Images

  17. Replacement

    Ulster 10-22 Toulouse

    Alan O'Connor replaces Sean Reffell who limps off in the early stages of the second half.

  18. Kick-off

    Ulster 10-22 Toulouse

    We're underway again for the second half.

  19. 'Ulster need precision'

    HT: Ulster 10-22 Toulouse

    Tony McWhirter
    1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster

    Ulster need to be more clever with the ball. They have kicked too much and kicked badly. They need precision. We haven't seen McCloskey or Hume foraging from midfield. That last phase of play was good from Ulster, the multi-phased attack and tiring out their opponent.

    Stuart McCloskeyInpho

  20. Half-time

    Ulster 10-22 Toulouse

    Cooney converts Stewart's late try to boost Ulster hopes right on the stroke of half time. How important could that try be?

    The home side have shown they can create, but gaining parity with a huge Toulouse pack and curbing their lethal attack looks a daunting prospect for Dan McFarland's side in the second half.

    John CooneyInpho