[tag=image]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... Toulon.png[/tag][tag=content]Ulster suffered a massive blow to their Champions’ Cup hopes as they were soundly beaten 23-13 at the Kingspan Stadium by defending champions Toulon in their Pool Three clash.
The defending champions showed all of their quality as they blew away their hosts at the breakdown and then tore them to shreds in the backs, earning a priceless away victory in this tight pool.
Bryan Habana scored just before half time while Delon Armitage’s intercept score made sure of the win, with Leigh Halfpenny also contributing thirteen points to the French side’s cause.
Paddy Jackson’s two penalties and Craig Gilroy’s late try weren’t enough to even secure a losing bonus point against Bernard Laporte’s men and leaves Ulster with a monumental task to qualify for the knock-outs.
Despite losing Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe in the first minute to a nasty looking leg injury, Toulon found themselves six points to the good after just thirteen minutes through two Leigh Halfpenny penalties.
Despite this it was the hosts who had the lion’s share of possession and more territory too as they sought to claw back the 6-0 deficit, with Craig Gilroy’s foray into the Toulon 22 from his own half the closest they got.
Paddy Jackson did manage to get Ulster on the scoreboard midway through the half with a penalty of his own, finally converting Ulster’s dominance into points.
Toulon’s excellent work at the breakdown was suffocating the Irish province’s efforts to launch any sort of meaningful attack, forcing several key turnovers when Ulster were looking their most threatening.
The French side were then to suffer another injury blow as Australian playmaker Matt Giteau was forced from the field with a leg injury, with fellow countryman James O’Connor replacing him.
Delon Armitage thought he had the game’s opening score after half an hour, sliding over in the corner following a strike move from a Toulon line-out, however the move was called back correctly for a forward pass in the build-up.
Leigh Halfpenny extended Toulon’s lead to six with his third penalty of the afternoon before the defending champions struck with a beautifully worked try with the last play of the half.
The move wound its way across the pitch before a beautiful backhand offload from man of the match Chris Masoe set Bryan Habana over for the opening try of the match giving the French side a 16-3 half-time lead.
With the crowd significantly silenced, Toulon picked up in the second half where they left off in the first – attacking the Ulster defensive line ferociously, with Mathieu Bastareaud the ever present danger.
Despite that it was Ulster who opened the second half scoring with a Jackson penalty six minutes in following a high tackle from Delon Armitage.
Halfpenny and Jackson both missed efforts at goal within the next ten minutes, but the home crowd were given renewed hope with the sight of Nick Williams jogging onto the pitch after fifty-three minutes.
That renewed hope lasted all of five minutes as the home side sought to move the ball wide in a counter-attack, only for Delon Armitage to intercept a looping pass out wide and run the length of the field to score the try.
It was a hammer blow for Ulster, who had been increasingly more of a threat to their visitors as the half went on, and from there Toulon pushed on in the belief that a four-try bonus point was a possibility.
Despite being seventeen points down on the scoreboard Ulster were still forcing turnovers late on, although it did look like Toulon were going to close out the game in relative comfort.
It was not as comfortable as they expected it to be. Despite their resolute defence, Toulon were eventually carved open by Craig Gilroy who ran a superb line to cross for Ulster’s only try two minutes from time.
And at the death, Ulster had the opportunity to snatch an unlikely losing bonus point with a long-range penalty, however Ian Humphreys’ effort was wide of the mark, ending a dismal day at the office for Neil Doak’s men.
The scorers
For Ulster
Try: Gilroy
Con: Jackson
Pens: Jackson (2)
For Toulon
Tries: Habana, D Armitage
Cons: Halfpenny (2)
Pens: Halfpenny (3)
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Louis Ludik (Ian Humphreys 66), Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Stuart Olding (Darren Cave 48), Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall (Michael Heaney 77); (1-8) Andrew Warwick (Callum Black 53), Rory Best (Rob Herring 76), Wiehahn Herbst (Declan Fitzpatrick 67), Lewis Stevenson (Nick Williams 53), Franco van der Merwe, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson (Clive Ross 76).
RC TOULON
(15-9) Leigh Halfpenny, Delon Armitage, Mathieu Bastareaud, Maxime Mermoz, Bryan Habana, Matt Giteau (James O’Connor 27), Michael Claassens; (1-8) Alexandre Menini (Fabien Barcella 59), Guilhem Guirado (Craig Burden 69), Carl Hayman (Levan Chilachava 49), Jocelino Suta (Bakkies Botha 49), Romain Taofifénua (Ali Williams 67), Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Juan Smith 1), Steffon Armitage, Chris Masoe.
Sub not used: Sébastien Tillous-Borde.
Yellow card: Bryan Habana (79)
Man of the Match: Chris Masoe (Toulon)
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)[/tag]
Match Report: Ulster Rugby 13-23 RC Toulon
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