Toulouse exacted retribution at Ravenhill last night in the most galling fashion, aping Ulster's remarkable late fightback last Sunday at Les Septs Deniers. This time, the visitors scored two tries, one three minutes from time and the other two minutes into stoppage time through Yann Delaigue and Cedric Desbrosse respectively both of which were converted, to steal victory.
Ulster had led 25-15 and appeared on course to revive memories of 1998 but with tiring limbs could not thwart a strong running Toulouse side: the visitors exploited some fallible defence, running from deep and this paved the way for their late revival.
The home side will be heartbroken, now effectively relying on favours from others to pursue European Cup ambitions. Their ability to live off a modicum of possession and force the concession of penalties allied to the wonderful right boot of David Humphreys - the Ulster captain gave a magnificent display - allowed them to come within touching distance of victory.
Jonathan Bell and Tyrone Howe were superb, Tony McWhirter, Andy Ward and Russell Nelson hugely effective in what was collectively a fine display from the Ulster pack. But one must credit Toulouse: they played most of the rugby and only valiant defence coupled with an occasional lack of composure kept the Ulster line intact for large periods.
Delaigue scored 22 points, but it was the hard running of right wing Stephane Ougier that caused Ulster most problems. Toulouse looked sharper in the opening exchanges, dominating territorially and just shading the possession stakes. They were rewarded on two minutes when out-half Delaigue landed a 28-metre penalty after Ulster infringed at a ruck.
However, the Toulouse outhalf was less popular two minutes later when with his side attacking close to the halfway line he threw a reckless pass back inside and Ward anticipated superbly, was favoured by a kind bounce and then raced 40 metres to score close to the posts. Humphreys added the conversion.
Toulouse exploited the channel between Humphreys and Ward, through the clever use of the blindside wing or a marauding forward. To their credit Ulster's defence may have creaked but there was invariably a player on hand to make the saving tackle. Humphreys and Delaigue swapped a brace of penalties each as an increasing number of errors pockmarked the game.
Humphreys was desperately unlucky not to grab a try when he charged down opposite number Delaigue's attempted clearance inside the Toulouse 22 but was beaten to the touchdown, by the fingertips of fullback Clement Poitrenuad. The out-half extended Ulster's lead, however, with a superbly struck 40 metre penalty four minutes after the re-start.
Ulster were living off scraps of possession but crucially they were forcing the concession of penalties and Humphreys continued to offer a wonderful display of place-kicking.
He posted the first from 35 metres and then another from five metres inside the Toulouse half and a third also from long range: unfortunately Ulster's propensity to infringe at rucks, allowed Delaigue to land three penalties to keep the visitors within touching distance at 25-15. Tony McWhirter, who was having a superb game, was harshly sin binned on 55 minutes and this coupled with the arrival of Christian Califano, Michel Marfaing (43 minutes) and Willie Servat galvanised Toulouse.
They reduced the deficit to just three points when Delaigue touched down in the midst of a forward drive from a tap penalty close to the Ulster line on 77 minutes and added the conversion. Ulster were by now clinging on by their fingernails.
Toulouse recognised that gaps were appearing out wide and two minutes into injury time, a searing break by Cedric Desbrosse inside his own half allowed the visitors to sweep into the Ulster 22 and the Toulouse centre looped round to finish the move himself by touching down in the corner. Marfaing kicked the conversion to seal a deserved victory.
Scoring sequence: 2mins: Delaigue penalty, 0-3; 4: Ward try, Humphreys conversion, 7-3; 11: Delaigue penalty, 7-6; 14: Humphreys penalty, 10-6; 19: Delaigue penalty, 10-9; 31: Humphreys penalty, 13-9. 44: Humphreys penalty, 16-9; 47: Delaigue penalty, 16-12; 54: Humphreys penalty, 19-12; 60: Humphreys penalty, 22-12; 62: Delaigue penalty, 22-15; 70: Humphreys penalty, 25-15; 77: Delaigue try, Delaigue conversion, 25-22; 82: Desbrosse try, M Marfaing conversion, 25-29.
ULSTER: G Henderson; J Topping, R Constable, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys (capt), B Free; J Fitzpatrick, R Weir, C Boyd; M Blair, G Longwell; R Nelson, T McWhirter, A Ward. Replacements: D Topping for Nelson (70 mins).
TOULOUSE: C Poitrenaud; S Ougier, X Garbajosa, C Desbrosse, P Bondouy; Y Delaigue, J Cazalbou; C Soulette, Y Bru, F Tournaire; D Gerard, F Belot (capt); M Lievremont, C Labit, J Bouilhou. Replacements: M Marfaing for Poitrenuad (43 mins); W Servat for Bru (48 mins); C Califano for Tournaire (57 mins); H Miorin for Belot (57 mins); J Fillol for Cazalbou (78 mins); D Lacroix for Gerard (78 mins).
