Details

Date Time Competition Season
16 April 2022 8:00 pm European Champions Cup 2021/22

Match Report

Ulster’s European dream ends

Ulster's European dream came to an end in the last-16 as Toulouse edged a dramatic Heineken Champions Cup last-16 tie 50-49 on aggregate after a 30-23 win at Kingspan Stadium.

Tom O'Toole's late red card for a high tackle on Anthony Jelonch with 15 minutes remaining proved decisive as it allowed Antoine Dupont to dive over with five minutes remaining for the killer score to send the defending champions into the quarter-finals, where they will meet Munster.

It was a thrilling tie in front of a sold-out crowd at Kingspan Stadium, with Ethan McIlroy's double seemingly enough for Ulster to win before the late double hammer blow of O'Toole's sending-off and Dupont's game-winner.

Thomas Ramos kicked Toulouse into an early lead before both teams were reduced to 14 men, Robert Baloucoune seeing yellow for taking out Anthony Jelonch in the air before Dimitri Delibes was dismissed for a tip-tackle on McIlroy.

The winger then struck, sent over in the corner by James Hume to give Ulster the lead, and Ramos and John Cooney then traded penalties before Toulouse ran in two quick tries of their own as a fine team effort saw Ramos cross before Romain Ntamack intercepted a Cooney pass and ran it back.

Ulster would lead the tie at the break, though, when McIlroy took Billy Burns' cross-field kick over and then Cooney extended their lead with a penalty shortly after the restart, although they were perhaps fortunate not to see Mike Lowry sanctioned for taking out Ramos in the air.

But after the full-back sent over a third penalty, they were taken down to 14 men as O'Toole saw red for his hit on Jelonch, and Dupont broke home hearts with his try just five minutes from the end to send the visitors through to the quarter-finals.

Ulster

15Michael Lowry Fly-Half
14Robert Baloucoune Winger 3'
13James Hume Centre
12Stuart McCloskey Centre
11Ethan McIlroy Back 11', 38'
10Billy Burns 23 Fly-Half
9John Cooney Scrum-Half 12', 40'
19', 53', 69'
1Andrew Warwick 17 Prop
2Rob Herring Hooker
3Marty Moore 18 Prop
4Alan O’Connor 20 Lock
5Iain Henderson Lock
6Marcus Rea 19 Flanker
7Nick Timoney Flanker
8Duane Vermeulen Loose Forwards
16Bradley Roberts Hooker
17Eric O’Sullivan 1 Prop
18Tom O’Toole 3 Prop 65'
19Kieran Treadwell 6 Lock
20Jordi Murphy 4 Flanker
21Nathan Doak Back
23Luke Marshall Centre
23Rob Lyttle 10 Winger

Past Meetings

(Round of 16 - 1st Leg)
20 - 26
European Champions Cup
Stadium de Toulouse

Toulouse v Ulster

Ground

Kingspan Stadium
Kingspan Stadium, Ravenhill Park, Belfast, County Down, Northern Ireland, BT6 0BW, United Kingdom