Antoine Dupont’s decisive try at the end of the match, Thomas Ramos’ full match but also Baloucoune’s ghostly performance and O’Toole’s expulsion. Find the Tops and Flops after Ulster-Toulouse (23-30).
TOPS
Antoine Dupont, who else?
He only needed one chance to turn the game around. The brand of the greatest. With only 5 minutes left to play, the tricolor scrum half put on his superhero costume to score the winning try for his team. And offer the Stadistes the qualification in the quarter-finals. Inside, he punctures the defense, gets rid of the tackle and rushes to flatten just to the left of the posts. We can obviously mention his loss of ball in the first period which brings the first Irish test. A simple adventure given the scenario of the game and this action at the 75e minute, worthy of the best player in the world.
Thomas Ramos, all-terrain performance
Already excellent in the first leg despite the defeat (20-26) the Toulouse back did it again this Saturday. First against the poles where he did not experience the slightest failure (6/6) but also in the game with this try registered in the 22nd minute when he is at the conclusion of a smoothly carried out action. Overall serene in the air, he was able to manage the tricky balls behind his back. Barred by Melvyn Jaminet in the France team, he showed that he knew how to get up to speed in a major international match.
Romain Ntamack, doubly decisive
First author of a fabulous full-axis breakthrough (22e) which resulted in Ramos’ try, he also stood out in the in-goal 5 minutes later. Showcasing his excellent vision of the game, he intercepted an unsteady pass from Cooney to run 75 meters and score the 2e tricolor test. Accurate on foot and in the distribution of the game, he released a new capital match. One more.
Ethan Mcilroy not rewarded
We expected Robert Baloucoune, author of a hat-trick in the first leg, it was finally his counterpart on the left, Ethan Mcilroy, who distinguished himself. It was even he who opened hostilities after 10 minutes of play by flattening in the corner after an unbalanced pass from James Hume. At the end of the first act, with Toulouse leading by 10 points, he kept the hosts in the game by catching a pass from Billie Burns in the air to conclude. More discreet in the second half, the young winger comes out of this game with his head held high.
FLOPS
Baloucoune to absent subscribers
After his three tries in Toulouse in the first leg, all eyes were on him before this second round. And it’s an understatement to say that the Irish winger disappointed. Excluded 10 minutes at the start of the match after a big foul on Jelonch in the air, his contribution was almost nil on his return to the meadow. Very well muzzled, he didn’t stand out in this part at all.
O’Toole, three minutes and then go!
An express round trip on the lawn and a red card oh so detrimental for his team. This is how to sum up the short game disputed by Martin Moore’s replacement as left pillar. Entered the game at the 62e minute, he stands out three minutes later by tackling Anthony Jelonch far too high. While the tricolor international bends down to play the duel, barely bends his knees and hits the Toulousain violently at the level of the blow. Logical red card. A turning point in this part.