The five-time champions, who have now taken 15 points from 15 available in Pool 2, were simply a cut above their hosts on a night when the northern province’s three-game winning streak came to a shuddering conclusion.
In truth, this was a game that said more about the gap between Ulster and the very, very best sides in this competition than it did their performance over the 80 minutes with superstars like Antoine Dupont and Thomas Ramos seeming to have the ball on a string at times.
The first of seven Toulouse scores on the night came after nine and a half minutes. Going to the corner off a scrum penalty, Toulouse played off the top of the line-out before Thomas Ramos sent a perfectly measured cross kick into the arms of the waiting Matthis Lebel for the wing to score in the corner.
Having shown his accuracy out of hand, Ramos added the extras from the touchline too.
Ulster, who even at this early stage had lost Dave Ewers to injury, responded immediately, pressurising Toulouse into a penalty concession off the restart which John Cooney duly knocked over to reduce the arrears.
A Ramos penalty from in front of Ulster’s posts quickly cancelled out that kick and as the game edged beyond the 20 minutes mark there was the sense that Ugo Mola’s side were really turning the screw.
Looking to hammer home their considerable size advantage in the maul, a sold-out Ravenhill roared in relief as their team repelled one charge from five metres out.
Toulouse would not surrender a second opportunity, however. Ten minutes before the break, French hooker Peato Mauvaka was mauled across the whiteash to move the visitors into a two-score lead.
With the opposing back-three giving Ulster little change out of their kicking game, five minutes before the half, Toulouse seized full control of the contest with their third try of the game.
A charge-down left Ulster with a goal-line drop-out to deal with and things looked ominous when Anthony Jelonch built up a head of steam.
As space opened up too easily in front of the charging openside, Toulouse were really purring now. Mauvaka this time turned provider, offloading for Dupont to go over untouched.
At 22-3 down, Ulster were in a serious hole against opposition who looked really in the mood.
But, having given their hosts barely a hint of an opening all evening, Toulouse left the door ajar as the first half came to an end and Dan McFarland’s men charged through to haul themselves briefly back into things.
Toulouse were clearly wise to the tap penalties that did for their compatriots Racing 92 here last month but, just as things seemed to be petering out with the clock in the red, Tom Stewart drove through the gap left between Cyril Baille and Jelonch to bring his side back within two scores at the break.
Having done well to stay in the fight against such a strong showing from the visitors, Ulster still had plenty to do if they were to maintain their winning momentum.
But in the end, that score proved only a false dawn.
Matters worsened only minutes after the restart when the luckless Sean Reffell departed through injury. Two back-rowers down, lock Kieran Treadwell was forced into emergency action in the loose forwards.
Again Ulster started the half showing some intent – on one instance boiling over when Hume was penalised for shoving over Lebel when Ulster had the line-out – but after 47 minutes Toulouse had their bonus-point try.
For the second time in the game, Toulouse again had turned nothing into something in the blink of an eye.
Francois Cros ripped the ball loose in a tackle and Scottish international Blair Kinghorn burst alertly through the Ulster line. Dupont was on the shoulder again for his second on the night..
When Mauvaka matched his scrum-half with the second of his brace with 28 minutes to go, Ulster’s race was well and truly run.
Indeed, with the mind already turning to next week’s now must-win clash with Harlequins, Dan McFarland called to his bench.
Roumat was the next man over for Toulouse, although with 20 minutes to go replacement full-back Will Addison went over in the corner to at least raise hopes of a consolation.
When, with 12 minutes to go, Matty Rea broke the line from and sent Nick Timoney across the whitewash, Ulster needed just one more for their try-bonus.
It was not to be, however, with Toulouse instead serving up the game’s final try and Ulster now knowing they will need a result at the Twickenham Stoop next week to progress to the knock-out stages of the competition.
Ulster Rugby: M Lowry: R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; B Burns, J Cooney: S Kitshoff, T Stewart, T O’Toole; K Treadwell, I Henderson (c): D Ewers, S Reffell, N Timoney. Replacements: J Andrew (for Stewart, 54), A Warwick (for Kitshoff, 64), M Moore (for O’Toole, 54), A O’Connor (for Reffell, 41), M Rea (for Ewers, 7), N Doak (for Cooney, 54), W Addison (for Stockdale, 58)
Not used: L Marshall Stade Toulousain: B Kinghorn; J Cruz Mallia, D Delibes, P Ahki, M Lebel; T Ramos, A Dupont (c); C Baille, P Mauvaka, D Aldegheri; R Arnold, E Meafou; F Cros, A Jelonch; A Roumat. Replacements: J Marchand (for Mauvaka, 54), D Ainu’u (for Baille, 50), N Laulala (for Aldegheri, 40), J Brennan (for Roumat, 58), J Willis (for Jelonch, 54), P Graou (for Dupont, 69), S Chocobares (for Ahki, 56), S Bituniyata (for Ramos, 58)
Referee: M Carley (Eng)
Player of the Match: Antoine Dupont
Ulster
24
:
48
Toulouse
Stick with us for Jonathan Bradley’s report from Ravenhill
Two more points for Toulouse
Toulouse finish the game in style. Meafou adds another try
Antoine Dupont has been named man of the match – it was a stunning display from the Toulouse captain
A fourth try, and a bonus point, would be massive for Ulster’s hopes of making the last 16.
Some good play from Stuart McCloskey helps Nick Timoney to score a try
Ulster have a try – Nathan Doak pops it into the hands of Will Addison who crosses the line from close range. Huge roar for the man who missed two years of rugby after a broken leg
It’s a superb team move that is finished by Alexandre Roumat
Peato Mauvaka crosses the line after superb break and pass by Dupont
Ramos converts from under the posts
From a turnover, Blair Kinghorn races forward from the halfway line before popping the ball into the hands from Dupont – who crosses the line.
It’s a bonus point for Toulouse
That’s stupid from James Hume – with the ball out of play he shoved a Toulouse player in the back down by the touchline. Gifts possession back to Toulouse via a penalty.
And we’re back underway at Ravenhill. Ulster trail by 12 points
