Belfast (AFP)
Toulouse, solid on its foundations and rewarded by its individualities Cheslin Kolbe and Antoine Dupont, reversed a badly embarked situation on Friday in Ulster to ideally begin its European mission with an enhanced victory (29-22).
What a fight at Kingspan Stadium!
Condemned to achieve at least three exploits against the Irish province and Exeter, champion of Europe and England, the Toulouse have climbed the first step.
And will receive the title holders in the best conditions on December 20 in an Ernest-Wallon stadium still behind closed doors, while the first spectators point the tip of their noses in the United Kingdom.
Especially in Belfast, where Ulster shot first by pushing Joe Tekori twice at fault (13th) to choose the penalty and register the first attempt on a carried ball (14th).
Not in his plate, Thomas Ramos, placed at the opening, in turn committed a return directly into touch and behind the scrum, Ulster hit the nail (12-0, 17th) with a superb movement of three- right side quarters, doubled in support and concluded by Ian Madigan.
When Ulster scores with its collective, Toulouse responds with its individualities.
In the process, Cheslin Kolbe opens the Toulouse counter by taking advantage of a turnover: his kick over the defense is unstoppable, and the rain allows him to slide to the line despite the return of Madigan (12-7 , 21st).
A crossover begins, while the Toulouse take the upper hand in the game A progression validated by Antoine Dupont, who appears behind the scrum to put the opposing defense in the wind (12-14, 38th).
His 10th attempt in the competition.
Despite the double hooker Rob Herring who escapes from the maul to flatten (22-21, 57th), Ulster will miss his chance in the second half: rude forward from John Cooney (50th) as he approaches the line, 3rd penalty for his scrum sanctioned by a try from Rory Arnold (53rd), try ball missed by Jacob Stockdale (56th) and sterile numerical superiority at the end of the match ...
Above all, Kolbe, designated man of the match, further unblocked the situation for Toulouse by smoking his vis-à-vis Stockdale, getting up after his hook to conclude (22-26, 64th).
With the decisive contribution of his substitutes - stolen touch and scratched ball from Louis-Benoît Madaule - Toulouse held on for the last ten minutes, despite the yellow card from Maxime Médard (70th).
© 2020 AFP