Toulouse crushes Ulster 61-21 in shocking Champions Cup opener
- Toulouse started their Champions Cup campaign with a convincing 61-21 victory over Ulster.
- The match featured nine tries from Toulouse, with key players contributing to the offensive effort.
- Ulster's coach expressed disappointment and acknowledged the need for improvement as they prepare for their next game.
On December 8, 2024, Toulouse, the defending champions, commenced their Champions Cup campaign with an emphatic victory over Ulster, winning 61-21 in Pool 1. The match, which took place at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, saw Toulouse establish a strong lead with a halftime score of 40-14. The team scored a remarkable nine tries during the game, showcasing their offensive prowess. Key contributions came from French stars Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, both scoring tries, along with two tries each from Emmanuel Meafou and Angel Capuozzo. Matthis Lebel, Santiago Chocobares, and a last-minute penalty try rounded out the impressive scoring for Toulouse. Ulster, despite being the 1999 champions, struggled to match Toulouse’s intensity, managing only three tries while falling short of securing a bonus point. This defeat prompted Ulster's head coach, Richie Murphy, to express disappointment with the team's performance and stress the need for improvement ahead of their next match against Bordeaux-Begles. On the same day, Bordeaux-Begles also marked their campaign with a victory over English side Leicester, winning 42-28 in another dynamic match where they displayed resilience and tactical skill. Bordeaux ran in six tries total with standout performances from Pete Samu and Matthieu Jalibert. This initial round of matches demonstrated the strong performance of French teams in the Champions Cup, with Toulouse and Bordeaux looking to capitalize on their momentum in the upcoming fixtures.