Champions Cup Pool 1: Toulouse v Ulster, 20 December

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Stade Toulousain v Ulster Rugby 
Sunday 20th December 2015
KO: 14:00
Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse

Live on beIN Sports / Sky Sports

Referee JP Doyle (England)
Touch Judge 1 Darren Gamage (England)
Touch Judge 2 Paul Burton (England)
Fourth Official Vincent Chiodi-Schroeder (France)
TMO David Grashoff (England)
Assessor Les Peard (Wales)
Citing Commissioner Buster White (England)

A. Head to Head

8 Played 8
3 Wins 4
4 Losses 3
1 Draws 1
171 Points 188

B. Recent Form

11 December 2015
Ulster 38 - 0 Toulouse

21 January 2007
Toulouse 28 - 13 Ulster

21 October 2006
Ulster 30 - 3 Toulouse

27 October 2000
Ulster Rugby 25 - 29 Toulouse

22 October 2000
Toulouse 35 - 35 Ulster Rugby

C. Teams

Stade Toulousain

Alexis Palisson; Kunatani Kunabuli, Gael Fickou, Florian Fritz, Timoci Matanavou; Jean-Marc Doussain, Sébastien Bézy; Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Census Johnston, Gregory Lamboley, Yoann Maestri, Yacouba Camara, Thierry Dusautoir, Imanol Harinordoquy

Replacements: Christopher Tolofua, Gurthro Steenkamp, Gert Muller, Joe Tekori, Louis Picamoles, Gillian Galan, David Mele, Clément Poitrenaud

Ulster Rugby

Louis Ludik; Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; Kyle McCall, Rory Best, Wiehahn Herbst; Alan O'Connor, Franco van der Merwe; Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy, Roger Wilson.

Replacements: Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Ricky Lutton, Lewis Stevenson, Nick Williams, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys, Rory Scholes.

Just noticed a rather staggering statistic - Kyle McCall made 21 tackles, more than anyone else on the pitch. He has been very impressive.

Kyle McCall appears to have developed despite the Ulster academy thither than because of it. He appears to have had the raw materials all the way through, but they tried to convert them into a hooker and then forgot about him. Les Kiss has a look and here he is!

Alan O'Connor has also been very good. He is physical and aggressive and that is something we have desperately needed in the pack. I do wonder what on earth has went on within the Academy setup and why these players were destined for the Ravens.

marty2086 wrote:The same goes for the Pienaar forward pass, he allowed play to continue in the first half despite a blatant forward pass for Scholes then stops play for McCloskey going through. He sees a replay and says he was right when he was wrong, Ulster get that and they could be looking at a bonus point try and putting a bit of extra pressure on Saracens for their game at Allianz

Tbh although this won't be popular I think Ulster got the rub of the green overall as if the bad call on the scrum had gone the right way not only would it have prevented their first try but Toulouse would have been able to kick for position to apply pressure. The crazy line-out call also denied Toulouse an attacking position. But as I said before once a poor decision is made everything plays out differently from that point so we don't know what would have happened - fair play to Ulster though for pulling off a win in a tough position.

Yep, McCall and O'Connor have been great for us. Just think how good these guys have been considering the lack of Pro12 experience, never mind European level! Crazy to think it's only now they're both getting game time.
Luke Marshall continues on the up. Himself and McCloskey are a fine pairing, and will be putting pressure on those returning.

It really does make you wonder when you see this and last weeks performance and in gneral the performances under Kiss what the coaches are doing? As people have said McCall was destined for hooker, lutton was frozen out, O'Connor too and we had no cutting edge. In comes Kiss and it steadily improves week by week until we are turning in performances like the past 2 weeks. Doak and Clarke must be stealing a living

neilthom7 wrote:It really does make you wonder when you see this and last weeks performance and in gneral the performances under Kiss what the coaches are doing? As people have said McCall was destined for hooker, lutton was frozen out, O'Connor too and we had no cutting edge. In comes Kiss and it steadily improves week by week until we are turning in performances like the past 2 weeks.  Doak and Clarke must be stealing  a living

Couldn't agree more. I think Doak can do a limited job, Clarke I don't even know

Ulster looking good now specially with 10 extra points to come from their Oyonnax games. Should be enough to finish best runner ups. here's how the qualified teams would look:

1. Sarracens
2. Leicester
3. Racing
4. Toulon
5. Clermont

6. Stade Français
7. Ulster
8. Glasgow / Wasps

whocares wrote:Ulster looking good now specially with 10 extra points to come from their Oyonnax games. Should be enough to finish best runner ups. here's how the qualified teams would look:

1. Sarracens
2. Leicester
3. Racing
4. Toulon
5. Clermont

6. Stade Français
7. Ulster
8. Glasgow / Wasps

It'll be interesting to see how Ulster approach the final three games, two bonus point wins against Oyannax surely sees them through but if they can beat Saracens then they can progress as group winners and maybe get an easier draw. So do they go all out against Sarries and try to get the win or do they rest players and hope to do the job the following week?

I'm not sure, but if the group finishes as whocares predicts, I think that means we would take on Leicester. That's the draw I would like, and two of the French sides knocking the other two French sides out would be the cherry on top

Finishing top though could mean a home quarter but a game against Leicester would be a great match up and one I'd fancy Ulster to win if they at least maintain their current levels

True, a home quarter would be nice. I think I'm resigned to not beating Sarries away, and really not seeing past a last three finish. I'm probably being a little pessimistic, based on our home game with them. We are a better team than that result suggests.

I'm not complaining about a best 2nd place spot either. Considering our season, and our start to the cup, any place in the quarters would be a great result.

If we go to Sarries and lose its as expected but a win could be the making of the team and leave them feeling capable of beating everyone this year and going forward

I want us to beat Sarries more than any team on the planet, although Toulon run a close second. They will face a different Ulster to the one they faced at Ravers, and with injuries at a minimum I wouldn't right off our chances. They are a good side, and very difficult to beat at home.

Fantastic performance again - the tight scoreline didn't reflect our superiority for most of the game.

Very impressive across the board.

McCloskey and Marshall look like a great pairing and seem to have a telepathic understanding with each other and Jackson.

The pack have really fronted up - Robbie Diack has gone under the radar a bit but has been in great form. Good game from Wilson too.

Hard to see us not making the QF, which was unthinkable a few weeks ago - amazing turn around in form.

Anyone know why Toulouse shirt has the batman logo on it??

Limited edition of the BLK Kit ahead of the next batman movie (out next year). I understand BLK bought the rights from Warner for that and already made a superman kit for the Rebels as well as Green Lantern one for Connacht.
Well spotted Yappy! One for the rugby quizz in a few years time.