[tag=image]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... Toulon.png[/tag][tag=content]Toulon showed their class and qualified for the quarter-finals of the European Champions’ Cup in style with a dominant 60-22 thrashing of Ulster at the Stade Felix Mayol on Saturday afternoon.
Regardless of the scoreline Ulster put up a good fight, especially in the first half, however injuries and the sheer strength of the defending champions shone through as they blew away the Irish province in the second half.
Nicolas Sanchez pulled the strings from fly-half and scored the opening try before Bryan Habana, Mathieu Bastareaud, Martin Castrogiovanni, Mamuka Gorgodze and a hat-trick from Steffon Armitage wrapped up all five points for Bernard Laporte’s men.
Consolation tries from Paddy Jackson and Jared Payne and a brace from Mike McComish at least gave the visitors a point but injuries to Jackson, Louis Ludik and Stuart Olding made a difficult afternoon even worse for Neil Doak.
Toulon signalled their early attacking intent with Steffon Armitage and Martin Castrogiovanni providing some go forward ball, and it took just three minutes for a beautiful delayed pass from Maxime Mermoz to send over Nicolas Sanchez for a try.
Leigh Halfpenny slotted over a penalty five minutes later to extend the home side’s lead to 10-0 before an incisive Ulster attack in the 12th minute saw Mike McComish set Paddy Jackson over for the visitors’ opening score.
Halfpenny landed his second penalty, but Ulster struck straight back and against all the odds they got a second try midway through the half with Mike McComish the benefactor of a rolling maul from 5m out.
Worryingly for Ulster though they lost Louis Ludik and Paddy Jackson to injuries soon after, adding further to the long injury list this season at the Kingspan Stadium.
Then came some foul luck for Ulster as Bryan Habana received what looked to be a forward pass from Bastareaud and scored the French side’s second try in the corner.
Despite the protests of the Ulster players, referee Leighton Hodges declared the pass to be flat and it gave the defending champions the spirit to go on and score a third try before the interval through Mathieu Bastareaud.
The giant centre got the ball inside from a threatening Sanchez break and the French international rolled over the line from close range to give the hosts a 27-10 half-time lead.
Straight after the restart Ulster’s injury woes got even worse with Stuart Olding being brought off four minutes in having landed awkwardly in a tackle.
Five minutes later and Toulon had their bonus point try from a well worked moved which saw Italian prop Martin Castrogiovanni spin over in the corner to guarantee Toulon’s progression to the quarter-finals.
Ulster were fighting bravely, but the depth of Toulon’s squad and the injuries were taking their toll and it was no surprise when they scored three quick tries through substitute Mamuka Gorgodze and then a brace from Steffon Armitage.
There was still time for Ulster to wrap up a try bonus point through a brilliant Jared Payne try after the full-back dove on Ian Humphreys’ grubber kick through, and then Mike McComish scoring his second try from the back of a driving maul.
However, it was very much Toulon’s day and the two-time champions signed off with Armitage’s hat-trick try and progress to the quarter-finals in style.
The scorers
For Toulon
Tries: Sanchez, Habana, Bastareuad, Castrogiovanni, Armitage (3), Gorgodze
Cons: Halfpenny (7)
Pens: Halfpenny (2)
For Ulster
Tries: Jackson, McComish (2), Payne
Con: Pienaar
RC TOULON
(15-9) Leigh Halfpenny, Drew Mitchell, Mathieu Bastareaud (David Smith 58), Maxime Mermoz, Bryan Habana, Nicolas Sanchez (Rudi Wulf 69), Sebastien Tillous-Borde (Eric Escande 58); (1-8) Xavier Chiocci (Florian Fresia 54), Guilhem Guirado (Jean-Charles Orioli 40), Martin Castrogiovanni (Carl Hayman 63), Romain Taofifenua, Jocelino Suta (Konstantin Mikautadze 63), Juanne Smith (Mamuka Gorgodze 58), Steffon Armitage, Chris Masoe.
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Jared Payne, Louis Ludik (Ian Humphreys 23), Darren Cave, Stuart Olding (Michael Heaney 44), Michael Allen, Paddy Jackson (Paul Marshall 33), Ruan Pienaar; (1-8) Andrew Warwick (Callum Black 63), Rob Herring (John Andrew 70), Bronson Ross (Declan Fitzpatrick 50), Alan O’Connor, Franco van der Merwe (Lewis Stevenson 58), Clive Ross, Mike McComish, Roger Wilson (Robbie Diack 50).
Man of the Match: Nicolas Sanchez (Toulon)
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)[/tag]
Match Report: RC Toulon 60-22 Ulster Rugby
Moderator: Moderators
