ULSTER WERE A much more purposeful outfit today than they were in the opening round against Leicester.
Yet every time they worked their way into a good position, every time it seemed like they might build up a head of steam; Steffon Armitage, Chris Masoe and the rest of Toulon’s brilliant defence were on hand to pull the plug.
While the focus is so often on the sheer size of one or two of their players, Toulon’s breakdown efforts are what have made them an immovable object in the dying years of the Heineken Cup. And on today’s evidence there’s no reason to think the Champions Cup will be any different.
Forcing the game costs Ulster dear
Small things win big games. And though you couldn’t accuse many Toulon men of being small, they certainly trusted in the small decisions that they made.
It looked like an easy decision for Rory Best in the first half with a 30 metre penalty in the offing, but instead Paddy Jackson was asked to kick for the corner. A straightforward penalty would have put Ulster level. It was a desperate measure for a not so desperate time.
Advertisement
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Even just three points up, the French club looked like they had a wobble in them after losing pivotal figures in the form of Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Matt Giteau. Had Ulster been patient and simply pulled level, who knows how the pressure might have manifested itself.
Ulster’s second moment of forcing the game was a small factor. Franco van der Merwe rose to try and knock a restart back to a team-mate after Halfpenny had kicked the scores to 3 – 9.
Instead, Toulon claimed the ball and embarked on the set of phases that resulted in the killer Bryan Habana try.
Line-out improvements
Most reviews of the loss in Welford Road pin-pointed the line-out as a problem area. But to credit Best, there wasn’t much wrong with that set-piece today and it was what followed the platform that undid the hosts.
This week, the scrum was Ulster’s problem. Andrew Warwick was simply unable to live with the great Carl Hayman and the primary set-piece was the source of crucial penalties that set Toulon on their way to victory.
More reasons to feel aggrieved with officials
A reckless flying boot at a second half ruck left Stuart Olding concussed and one of Ulster’s brightest attacking talents was forced out of the game.
Whether there was intent or not in the action, it was dangerous play. And the modern referee has plenty of support available to help him make tough decisions in game.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Whether or not Ulster could have closed the gap against 14-man Toulon is a futile discussion. Ever since the Jared Payne red card, Ulster fans have been baying for a a decision to help make amends – sometimes they are sensible appeals, others not so much – but none are forthcoming.
Time to focus on the Pro12?
Mathematically it’s still possible, but Ulster will have to do what has never been done before to escape this pool and go into the knock-out stages of the Champions Cup.
They will publicly say that they will not give up the chase, but maybe discretion might be the better part of valour this season. Once the back-to-back fixtures against Scarlets are done with, Ulster may be well served to follow the lead of so many French clubs and rank the European competition as secondary to the bread-and-butter of the domestic competitions.
5 talking points after Toulon send Ulster tumbling
Toulon still the breakdown kings
ULSTER WERE A much more purposeful outfit today than they were in the opening round against Leicester.
Yet every time they worked their way into a good position, every time it seemed like they might build up a head of steam; Steffon Armitage, Chris Masoe and the rest of Toulon’s brilliant defence were on hand to pull the plug.
While the focus is so often on the sheer size of one or two of their players, Toulon’s breakdown efforts are what have made them an immovable object in the dying years of the Heineken Cup. And on today’s evidence there’s no reason to think the Champions Cup will be any different.
Forcing the game costs Ulster dear
Small things win big games. And though you couldn’t accuse many Toulon men of being small, they certainly trusted in the small decisions that they made.
It looked like an easy decision for Rory Best in the first half with a 30 metre penalty in the offing, but instead Paddy Jackson was asked to kick for the corner. A straightforward penalty would have put Ulster level. It was a desperate measure for a not so desperate time.
Even just three points up, the French club looked like they had a wobble in them after losing pivotal figures in the form of Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Matt Giteau. Had Ulster been patient and simply pulled level, who knows how the pressure might have manifested itself.
Ulster’s second moment of forcing the game was a small factor. Franco van der Merwe rose to try and knock a restart back to a team-mate after Halfpenny had kicked the scores to 3 – 9.
Instead, Toulon claimed the ball and embarked on the set of phases that resulted in the killer Bryan Habana try.
Line-out improvements
Most reviews of the loss in Welford Road pin-pointed the line-out as a problem area. But to credit Best, there wasn’t much wrong with that set-piece today and it was what followed the platform that undid the hosts.
This week, the scrum was Ulster’s problem. Andrew Warwick was simply unable to live with the great Carl Hayman and the primary set-piece was the source of crucial penalties that set Toulon on their way to victory.
More reasons to feel aggrieved with officials
A reckless flying boot at a second half ruck left Stuart Olding concussed and one of Ulster’s brightest attacking talents was forced out of the game.
Whether there was intent or not in the action, it was dangerous play. And the modern referee has plenty of support available to help him make tough decisions in game.
Whether or not Ulster could have closed the gap against 14-man Toulon is a futile discussion. Ever since the Jared Payne red card, Ulster fans have been baying for a a decision to help make amends – sometimes they are sensible appeals, others not so much – but none are forthcoming.
Time to focus on the Pro12?
Mathematically it’s still possible, but Ulster will have to do what has never been done before to escape this pool and go into the knock-out stages of the Champions Cup.
They will publicly say that they will not give up the chase, but maybe discretion might be the better part of valour this season. Once the back-to-back fixtures against Scarlets are done with, Ulster may be well served to follow the lead of so many French clubs and rank the European competition as secondary to the bread-and-butter of the domestic competitions.
Ulster’s European hopes take major blow with home defeat to Toulon
As it happened: Ulster v Toulon, Champions Cup
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
All-Ireland Senior HC European Rugby Champions Cup Opinion suftum Toulon Ulster Ulster