Ulster secured an historic 26-20 win over reigning champions Toulouse in a breathless round of 16 first leg showdown in the Champions Cup in France this afternoon.
Robert Baloucoune recorded a hat-trick of tries as the visitors eked out a crucial six point advantage ahead of next weekend’s return leg in Belfast.
It was only the second time in over 15 years that Toulouse had suffered a home defeat in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup.
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And it could have been even better for Dan McFarland’s men who boasted a 13 point buffer before Romain Ntamack squeezed over for a late converted try.
Toulouse had also been reduced to 14 men early doors when Juan Cruz Mallia picked up a red card for a reckless aerial challenge on Ben Moxham in the 11th minute.
Asked what the mood in the Ulster changing was like after a memorable knockout victory, captain Iain Henderson said: “Enjoyment, excitement and a fair bit of anticipation.
“It’s not often you come here in Europe and win. Toulouse obviously went down to 14 but it almost felt at times that they gained an extra two with their crowd who were amazing.
“It’s maybe frustrating to let one or two of those tries in, but to come over here, get the win and go home with a six point advantage is massive for us.”
On next week’s return leg in Belfast, Henderson told Radio Ulster: “We know there is a huge challenge to back this one up now.
“The pressure is on us now and one slip-up at the start of the game, you’re 7-0 down and that advantage is all out the window.
“But the Ulster fans never let us down, we’re looking forward to having a packed stadium and we’re all relishing it.”
An early Emmanuel Meafou try had Toulouse 7-0 up before Mallia’s red card, with Baloucoune diving over to level the scoreline soon after.
Thomas Ramos, who converted Meafou’s try, kicked two penalties in the 17th and 40th minutes to have the five time champions 13-7 ahead at the break.
Ulster took the lead five minutes into the second period when Stuart McCloskey broke to send Baloucoune in for his second try of the day, Cooney failing to convert.
Andy Warwick then dived over from close range for a converted try to make it 19-13 to the visitors before an intercepted Baloucoune try made it 26-13 in the 67th minute.
A 13 point advantage heading back to Belfast would have been a massive buffer, but French out-half Ntamack dived over for a converted try in the 80th minute.
Remarkably, it was Toulouse chasing a winning try in the final throes and Nathan Doak had to produce a crucial tackle to deny Thomas Ramos as he threatened to race clear.
It would end in a pulsating 26-20 win for Ulster and a result that tees up a mouth-watering return leg at the Kingspan Stadium next Saturday.
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