Sport

Ulster in Champions Cup whitewash against Toulouse

Ulster's Andrew Trimble scores his side's second try during the European Champions Cup match at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night<br />Picture by PA&nbsp;
Ulster's Andrew Trimble scores his side's second try during the European Champions Cup match at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night
Picture by PA 
Ulster's Andrew Trimble scores his side's second try during the European Champions Cup match at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night
Picture by PA 

European Champions Cup Pool One: Ulster 38 Toulouse 0

ULSTER took control of their European destiny with a bonus-point destruction of a hugely disappointing Toulouse.

Two unanswered first-half tries in a period that saw three players sent to the bin offered a 17-0 interval lead that the woeful visitors never really threatened to overcome. The gap only ever stretched as the Kingspan crowd saw their side run another three tries in the second-half - two of them in the opening 12 minutes - to secure what may prove to be a vital bonus point.

Les Kiss’ side were good in the first-half but, more importantly, they were clinical. While they did dominate much of the half, chances were few and far between. But when they came, Ulster invariably took them. That was in some contrast to a Toulouse side that created nothing at all until just past the hour mark, though they still should have had six first-half points had Toby Flood’s boot not let them down from identical range on either wing.

Once Nick Williams ploughed over off Robbie Diack’s quick hands five metres from the line, it opened the floodgates. That came just past the midway point, at which stage the game remained scoreless and flat. But when Williams crashed beside the posts and Jackson added the extras, it sparked Ulster into life. There was only one team in it from there.

Sébastian Bezy looked to have saved a try with a brilliant tap tackle on Stuart McCloskey but, seconds later, he was binned for a deliberate offside and Jackson kicked Ulster 10-0 ahead. They were in control, though that was threatened by Nick Williams’ inexplicable decision to surge into a ruck with no arms. The yellow card came out to even it up, but Toulouse slammed the door in their own faces minutes later.

Ruan Pienaar was tripped by Yacouba Camara, which led to him going to the bin, but not before Andrew Trimble had run in a superb individual try. The visitors went to sleep on Pienaar’s slip and a huge gap appeared for Trimble. The winger looked to have taken the wrong decision by kicking ahead when Paddy Jackson was screaming for the ball on his shoulder, but Trimble had the pace to get there and back it up.

Highlights of Ulster Rugby v Toulouse #ChampionsCup #Pool1 #R3 : Watch highlights of Ulster Rugby Official's victory over Stade Toulousain - Officiel Posted by EPCR Champions Cup on Saturday, December 12, 2015

The second-half was just seconds old when Gilroy looked certain to score in the corner, only to be denied by a brilliant last-ditch tackle on the line. Respite, however, was brief for the stunned Top 14 team. Man-of-the-match Ruan Pienaar landed a superb crossfield kick into the arms of Luke Marshall, who had little to do to come in and touch beneath the posts.

By that stage, they were rampant, showboating almost. The ease with which Stuart McCloskey burnt into Clément Pointreneaud’s territory and past him was almost embarrassing as the extra point was secured with almost half an hour still to play.

It was 62 minutes into proceedings before Toulouse troubled the Ulster tryline but, just as Jean Marc Doussain looked certain to score, Trimble produced a magnificent try-saving tackle. Ulster retaliated by rumbling a fifth try, Chris Henry getting across in the driving maul as the game crept towards the realm of the unbelievable.

The Top 14’s meanest defence, annihilated. Suddenly qualification for Ulster looks more than just possible.

MATCH STATS


Ulster: L Ludik; A Trimble, L Marshall, S McCloskey, C Gilroy; P Jackson, R Pienaar; K McCall, R Best, W Herbst; A O’Connor, F van de Merwe; R Diack, C Henry, N Williams; Replacements: R Wilson for Williams (52), R Herring for Best (56), A Warwick for McCall (59), P Marshall for Pienaar (64), I Humphreys for Jackson (64), R Lutton for Herbst (64), C Ross for van der Merwe (72), R Scholes for Trimble (78); Tries: N Williams, A Trimble, L Marshall, S McCloskey, C Henry; Penalties: P Jackson; Conversions: P Jackson (4), I Humphreys.


Toulouse: C Poitreneaud; V Clerc, G Fickou, T Flood, A Bonneval; L McAlister, S Bezy; V Kakovin, C Flynn, C Johnston; Y Maestri, J Tekori; Y Camara, T Dusautoir, L Picamoles; Replacements: J Marchand for C Flynn (blood replacement, 14), G Galand for Picamoles (22), C Flynn for J Marchand (blood sub reversal, 24), G Lamboley for Galand (ht), J Marchand for Flynn (50), C Baille for Johnston (50), D Aldegheri for Kakovin (50), JM Doussain for Bezy (56), A Palisson for Fickou (64), E Maka for Maestri (66).


Referee: W Barnes (England).