Ulster’s winning run ended by Toulouse in Champions Cup opener

Ulster had raced into a 12-0 lead but moments of brilliance from South African winger Cheslin Kolbe and Antoine Dupont helped the French to a bonus point win while Dan McFarland’s side got a losing bonus.

Hooker Rob Herring, returning from international duty with Ireland at the Autumn Nations Cup, broke the deadlock with a try in the first 14 minutes.

Toulouse lock Joe Tekori conceded a penalty which Ulster kicked to the corner, Sam Carter took the lineout, the forwards set the driving maul and Herring was propelled over with John Cooney converting.

Ulster carved the French open again four minutes later, from a scrum in midfield Cooney linked up with Ian Madigan, the scrum half got the ball back and made a sniping break before putting Matt Faddes into space.

The Kiwi sprinted do the touchline before popping the ball inside to James Hume, who lined the last defender up before off-loading to Madigan who used the wet turf to glide over but Cooney failed to convert.

Toulouse responded immediately and after scrappy play the ball found its way to winger Cheslin Kolbe, the South African world cup winner kicked in behind the Ulster defence and had enough pace to gather his own kick and held off Madigan to slide over with Ramos converting.

Toulouse took the lead with the final play of the first half.

From a scrum just inside the Ulster half the French pack marched forward. Cooney tried to disrupt the ball but scrum half Antoine Dupont set off on a mesmerising break, Madigan missed him and the French pivot sold Lowry a dummy before out-sprinting the covering defenders. Ramos converted to give Toulouse a 14-12 lead at the interval.

Ulster regained the lead three minutes after the restart as Cooney slotted over a penalty from straight in front of the posts after Toulouse flanker Rynhardt Elstadt was punished at the breakdown.

Cooney was off-target with another penalty attempt two minutes later.

Australian lock Rory Arnold got Toulouse’s third try on 52 minutes.

Ulster conceded a scrum penalty, the visitors kicked for touch, and from the lineout Terkori charged through the home defence.

Ulster looked to have held the maul up but Arnold managed to surge over and Ramos converted.

Herring got his second try five minutes later, Ulster turned down a kickable penalty to go to the corner, the hooker broke off the back of the maul to rumble over and Cooney’s conversion put Ulster back in front by a point.

Kolbe wrapped up Toulouse’s bonus point with his second try on 65 minutes, the French side produced a flowing move before moving the ball across the pitch.

Kolbe side-stepped Stockdale and stumbled but was still able to get over the line, but Ramos couldn’t convert.

Toulouse full back Maxime Medard was yellow-carded for killing the ball on 70 minutes, Ulster kicked the penalty to the corner but lost the lineout.

Ramos sealed the game for Toulouse with a monster penalty from the half-way line.

Ulster: M Lowry, M Faddes, J Hume, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; I Madigan, J Cooney, E O’Sullivan, R Herring, M Moore; A O’Connor, S Carter, M Rea, S Reidy, M Coetzee. Replacements: J Andrew for Herring 58 mins, A Warwick for O’Sullivan 74 mins, T O’Toole for Moore 51 mins, D O’Connor for Carter 50 mins, G Jones for Coetzee 43 mins, A Mathewson, S Moore, C Gilroy for Madigan 74 mins.

Toulouse: M Medard, M Lebel, S Guitoune, R Ntamack, C Kolbe; T Ramos, A Dupont, C Baille, J Marchand, C Faumuina, R Arnold, J Tekori, R Elstadt, A Placines, S Tolofua: Replacements: G Marchand, R Neti for Baiile 54 mins, G Ainu’u for Faumuina 59 mins, E Meafou for Tekori 58 mins, L Maudale for Placiners 58 mins, Y Youyoutte for Arnold 56 mins, P Ahki for Lebel 54 mins, A Bales for Dupont 58 mins,

Referee: M Carley (England).