FT: Ulster 24-48 Toulouse
Radio Ulster coverage presented by Gavin Andrews with commentary from Jim Neilly and Tony McWhirter
Ulster 10-22 Toulouse
Tony McWhirter
1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster
Quote MessageSomething out of nothing for Stewart. He goes off on his own, cuts inside and somehow, with the reach, he gets over the whitewash and gives Ulster a lifeline. How Ulster needed that.
Image source, Getty Images
Ulster 8-22 Toulouse
Tom Stewart does it again.
Ulster found some rhythm when they needed it.
Cooney takes a tap penalty and Henderson sets up the maul. A great side-step by Stewart who strained every sinew to find the whitewash.
More than justifies the decision to turn down the three points in front of the posts and throws Ulster a lifeline.
Image source, Getty ImagesUlster 3-22 Toulouse
Ulster finally string a few phases together.
Can they get the try they desperately need before the break?
Image source, Getty ImagesAntoine Dupont
It's that man Antoine Dupont who crosses underneath the posts for a third Toulouse try.
Mauvaka has punched so many holes in the Ulster defence and his no-look pass, after the initial break by Anthony Jelonch, put the little magician away. They're starting to make this look easy.
Thomas Ramos taps over the conversion.
Image source, Getty ImagesUlster 3-15 Toulouse
Tony McWhirter
1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster
Quote MessageBeautifully worked try, the set-up play is outstanding and that is as easy as it comes for Mauvaka. Ulster didn't get a hand near him and Toulouse stretch their lead. They have been so good, 15-3 doesn't reflect their dominance.
Image source, inPeato Mauvaka
Ulster have often used the maul as weapon but this time it's Toulouse who show they have the power as well as the class, thundering over from the lineout maul and Peato Mauvaka falls over the line.
Ulster 3-10 Toulouse
Ulster have absorbed so much pressure yet Nick Timoney rips the ball out of French hands when the visitors looked destined to score.
Next up is a big hit by Jacob Stockdale.
That's brought the home crowd to life.
Ulster 3-10 Toulouse
Ramos with the simplest of penalties right in front of the posts to stretch Toulouse's lead.
Ulster 3-7 Toulouse
The visitors are knocking at the door pressing for a second try.
Ulster are under the pump and Sean Reffell has conceded a penalty.
Image source, Getty ImagesUlster 3-7 Toulouse
John Cooney with a settling score for Ulster after Stewart wins a penalty on the deck. Exactly the response they needed to that early Toulouse try.
Image source, Getty ImagesUlster 0-7 Toulouse
Tony McWhirter
1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster
Quote MessageMagnificent from Toulouse, that is champagne rugby. The set-piece was majestic and so was the drive, but that kick from Ramos was as good as Burns at the RDS against Leinster. Lebel didn't even have to break stride to get that try.
Matthis Lebel
Matthis Lebel dots down in the corner after a brilliant cross-field kick by Thomas Ramos, starting at fly-half rather the more familiar full-back position he plays for club and country.
Ramos nails the conversion.
Image source, InphoUlster 0-0 Toulouse
Both teams probing and feeling each other out in these early stages.
We've stopped for an injury to Dave Ewers. He looks to be going off the field for a Head Injury Assessment. Matty Rea is on.
Image source, InphoUlster 0-0 Toulouse
Ulster seeing a lot of possession in the first couple of minutes with a lot of players getting their hands on the ball, but the visitors have won an early scrum.
Image source, Getty ImagesUlster 0-0 Toulouse
Tony McWhirter
1999 Ulster European Cup winner on BBC Radio Ulster
Quote MessageThis place is rocking, it is great to see the terrace full and rippling.
Ulster 0-0 Toulouse
We're underway at the Kingspan.
The fans are in good voice, they're pumped and ready with the terraces absolutely packed.
Let's hope this is one to remember.
Image source, Getty ImagesUlster v Toulouse (20:00 GMT)
Antoine Dupont is the one they've all come to see.
The French maverick broke Ulster hearts in Belfast two years ago with a late try to snatch a one-point aggregate win for Toulouse in the two-legged Round of 16 tie.
Three of the last four meetings between these teams in the last three and a half years have been won by seven points or less so in what's expected to be another titanic battle tonight, a little sprinkle of magic from the 2021 World Player of the Year could be the difference.
Image source, Getty ImagesUlster v Toulouse (20:00 GMT)
Ulster hooker Rob Herring is not available tonight after sustaining an injury in training during the week and has his arm in a sling at Kingspan Stadium tonight. It remains to be seen how long he will be out of action.
The try-scoring machine that is Tom Stewart starts in the number two jersey.
Ulster v Toulouse (20:00 GMT)
Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI at Kingspan Stadium
On the back of a well-earned rest following a rare win on the road at Leinster, Ulster host a Toulouse side captained by one of the biggest rugby stars on the planet: Antoine Dupont.
Dupont, who will soon embark on his Olympic journey as part of the France Sevens team which will rule him out of Six Nations duty, headlines a Toulouse team that also features his Les Bleus team-mate Thomas Ramos and Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn.
Image source, Getty ImagesUlster v Toulouse (20:00 GMT)
Ulster scrum-half John Cooney admits that he initially struggled to comprehend why he was left out of the Ireland squad. Now, though, he says he has come to terms with the extraordinary circumstances that contributed to the demise of his Test career.
The last of Cooney's 11 caps came against England in the Six Nations in February 2020.
"I would be honest and say I was quite bitter for a while," the 33-year-old told BBC Sport Northern Ireland.
"I always used to compare myself to the other nines and go in to games off stats and performances and think I should be up there.
"But it is what it is. I've really enjoyed it here and I've always fallen back on representing Ulster, playing the best rugby that I can do."
Read more of the in-depth interview with Cooney here.
Image source, Inpho