Here it is:
[ Jordie Barrett makes try-scoring Leinster debut in Champions Cup win over BristolOpens in new window ]
Good night!
80 mins: A scrum issue is delaying the end of the game, story of the game in that set piece. An uncontested scrum and then one last attack, Ringrose can’t keep control of the ball.
Then Bristol play on even though after 80 minutes, Leinster steal the ball and Doris puts it over, looks offside but referee has TMO check. After all that, it’s a penalty to Bristol, who don’t seem to want the game to end!
Into 82 minutes, Bristol after playing on and they kick it out over the endline. Sums up their day.
Full-time: Bristol 12 Leinster 35
Big win in the end by Leinster then, in a game that was a tough watch for long spells but 10-15 minutes of quality in the second half was enough for the bonus point win.
Van der Flier: “It was really tough, first half, they were good. We dug deep when we were down to 13 men. A good second half, we came out pretty well. We had some very good defensive effort and got some opportunities in the second half.”
Stay tuned for Gerry Thornley’s match report on the website.
76 mins: Almost another Leinster try in the corner, by O’Brien but van Rensburg made a super saving tackle. A 5-metre lineout for Bristol.
Bristol 12 Leinster 35
73 mins: Leinster win a turnover from the scrum and Bristol get nothing from that long attack.
But a few moments later, Try for Bristol! Ibitoye gets his try and shows his pace after a clever grubber kick by Marmion. Conversion is missed by van Rensburg.
Bristol 12 Leinster 35
70 mins: Bristol power forward and get the crowd going, getting within a few metres of the line. Eventually Leinster give way and Clarkson concedes a penalty. Tap and go, but a few minutes later they are 10 metres from the line. Leinster with great defence.
Bristol 7 Leinster 35
66 mins: Try for Leinster! Josh van der Flier gets the try his performance deserves. Great carry again as they up the gears. Referee had said no but checks TMO and changed the decision. Prendergast converts.
Bristol 7 Leinster 35
58 mins: Try for Leinster! Offload to Snyman who makes 30 or 40 metres and lays off to Prendergast who dummies and scores again. Super try. Brilliant 10-minute spell by the young man. He converts.
Bristol 7 Leinster 28
57 mins: Try for Leinster! Leinster really getting going as Gibson-Park makes significant ground with a break. Within a few metres of the line. Then it’s Barrett with a brilliant run to the line. Quality counts. His first try in a Leinster shirt. Prendergast converts.
Bristol 7 Leinster 21
53 mins: Try for Leinster! Prendergast with a moment of magic. The young outhalf shows why he’s so highly rated. A complete scrum, Barrett gives a nice sharp pass to Prendergast who runs through, then dummies through to the line. He converts his own try and Leinster take the lead. That’s more like it!
Bristol 7 Leinster 14
50 mins: Ball dropped, scrum, scrum collapses, penalty. Rinse repeat today. Finally a decent scrum for Leinster but really struggling to make any ground with the backs. They win a penalty though around the middle of the pitch.
Bristol 7 Leinster 7
48 mins: Two yellow cards as the referee loses his patience with the scrum. Lahiff and Porter, one for both teams. Scrums have been a bit of a farce today.
Bristol 7 Leinster 7
46 mins: Ball knocked forward by Leinster, another error, but four big subs by Leinster. Porter, Snyman, Doris and Clarkson are all on. It comes at yet another scrum fails and Bristol win a penalty.
Bristol 7 Leinster 7
44 mins: High tackle by Thacker on Ringrose gives Leinster a penalty advantage near the middle of the pitch. Leinster’s attack doesn’t go any further and Prendergast kicks to touch.
Bristol 7 Leinster 7
42 mins: Lucky one for Leinster at the start of the half, as Joe McCarthy gets a warning from the referee, could have got a card. Meanwhile, Jordie Barrett is on for his debut. He will replace Frawley at fullback.
Bristol 7 Leinster 7
40 mins: Another chance of a break for Bristol that is misplaced as the half comes to an end.
Half-time: Bristol 7 Leinster 7
You won’t see many worse halfs than that in the Champions Cup, but at least came to life a bit in the last 10 minutes. Leinster with much to improve in the second half, but have the players on the bench like Doris, Barrett and Synman to make that happen.
38 mins: Intense tackling from Bristol, particularly by James Dun and force a knock-on, O’Brien getting isolated. Gus McCarthy in for a scrum. More poor play by Bristol, they try to go outside but knock the ball forward. They haven’t taken advantage of 13 men as Kelleher comes back on.
Bristol 7 Leinster 7
36 mins: Leinster somehow looking like a better team with 13 men. Van der Flier picking it up a gear and the backs getting going. Another penalty for Leinster, Prendergast into touch.
Bristol 7 Leinster 7
33 mins: Try for Leinster! With 13 men of all times. Very sloppy play from Bristol, poor restart, Leinster keep the ball, Lane misjudges the bounce after a Prendergast kick and Larmour takes advantage to run through and score. Prendergast takes his time with the conversion, killed 20 seconds.
Bristol 7 Leinster 7
30 mins: Yellow card for Leinster! Oh dear. Deegan trips up Fitz Harding very cynically and lucky enough to avoid a red card but another player was covering. Down to 13 men.
Try for Bristol! Lahiff gets it over, big carry by Mata. The numbers were too much as they pushed to the line. Leinster out of sorts. Van Rensburg converts.
Bristol 7 Leinster 0
28 mins: Yellow card for Kelleher! That could open a bit of space where defences are on top. Bristol were on the attack and pushing towards the line, but they lose the ball, as is the standard in this game so far.
Bristol 0 Leinster 0
22 mins: Poor quality game this, constant infringements and turnovers from both teams, but the weather is at least a decent excuse. Needs some sort of spark. Now Prendergast kicks down the middle of the pitch, Lane slips and in the end the ball goes over the end line.
Bristol 0 Leinster 0
19 mins: Both teams turning each other over too easily, this time it’s Leinster, best chance of the match, Kelleher to van der Flier near the line, bludgeons his way through to the line but can’t keep a hold on the ball and knocked on.
Jack Conan gets a warning for the Leinster team after Gibson-Park gives away a needless penalty from the scrum. Wind causing problems throughout the field, particularly in the lineouts.
Bristol 0 Leinster 0
14 mins: Scrums haven’t been smooth so far for either team and Bristol penalised, Prendergast kicks to touch. A few moments later, a better moment it seemed for Leinster with Prendergast with a nice kick to O’Brien on the wing but it’s turned over again.
Bristol 0 Leinster 0
12 mins: Bristol win a penalty from the scrum and kick to touch. The win the lineout but the maul was clumsy and Leinster turn over the ball.
Bristol 0 Leinster 0
8 mins: Stop-start beginning to this one, Leinster have barely touched the ball in possession. They finally turn the ball over when Kelleher takes it. But Henshaw miskicks straight to Lane and he pulls off a 50-22. Opportunity lost for the Bears though as they knock it on. Good work from James Ryan.
Bristol 0 Leinster 0
5 mins: AJ MacGinty getting treatment after a big hit by Leinster’s Ringrose, HIA assessment and and comes off.
Bristol 0 Leinster 0
3 mins: Early possession for Bristol but being pushed back and they have to clear out early. Long throw from the lineout from Kelleher. Long pass from Gibson-Park but Deegan gets stuck and Bristol turn over.
Bristol 0 Leinster 0
Here is the match preview from Gerry Thornley before this one kicks off in 10 minutes.
“This Sunday evening opener could be as tough, albeit in a very different way, than the January renewal of hostilities with La Rochelle and it lands on Leinster when they have had the most disruptive preparation of any team in the competition.
“The net effect of Ireland’s additional autumn match against Australia last week is palpable. In addition to having only a week together again, Leinster are without Hugo Keenan for four weeks due to a wrist injury and James Lowe with a calf strain for an indeterminate amount of time, while Cian Healy and Ryan Baird miss out.”
Prospective Leinster debutant Jordie Barrett is named on the bench.
Next up is Leinster against Bristol Bears. Here are the teams:
BRISTOL BEARS: Rich Lane; Jack Bates, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Gabriel Ibitoye; AJ MacGinty, Harry Randall; Ellis Genge, Harry Thacker, Max Lahiff; James Dun, Joe Owen; Santiago Grondona, Fitz Harding (capt), Viliame Mata.
Replacements: Gabriel Oghre, Jake Woolmore, Lovejoy Chawatama, Steven Luatua, Benjamin Grondona, Kieran Marmion, Joe Jenkins, Benjamin Elizalde.
LEINSTER: Ciarán Frawley; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack Boyle, Rónan Kelleher, Rabah Slimani; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Max Deegan, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (capt).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson, RG Snyman, Caelan Doris, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jordie Barrett.
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France).
80 mins: Penalty try for Toulouse! One more for the road to bring them beyond 60 points.
Full-time: Toulouse 61 Ulster 21
What a performance by Toulouse, Ulster overwhelmed and outplayed in what was a mismatch. You can see why they’re favourites, it’s like an all-star team with the talent they have, led by the best player in the world Antoine Dupont, who was magic as always. It was an uncomfortable margin of defeat for Ulster, even if away from home and missing key players, they will be disappointed to have conceded 40 points in the first half in particular. But their future in the tournament will be decided by more winnable games than that one.
77 mins: Toulouse turn over the ball again and they maul to 10 metres, but they won’t get to 60 points as they’re penalised.
Toulouse 54 Ulster 21
69 mins: Try for Ulster! Iain Henderson gets it, well deserved after a strong give minutes. Henderson shows his strength after the ruck. Nice strike by Doak from the conversion. Gives Ulster a chance of a bonus point.
Toulouse 54 Ulster 21
In 2015, Ulster lost 60-22 to Toulon, in 1998, they lost 56-3 to Wasps. They lost 64-7 to Munster in an interpro in 2018. This defeat could end up in that category.
66 mins: Although they have a chance in a try and get to within five metres, with a penalty. Another try and they would close in on the four tries point, even if it’s been a thrashing. Timoney is held up on the line.
Toulouse 54 Ulster 14
62 mins: It’s just attack after attack as Ulster lose heart. Kok is one who is still trying his best and he intercepts a Ntamack kick trying to get Toulouse tries to nine.
Toulouse 54 Ulster 14
57 mins: Try for Toulouse! Ulster defence all over the place but more magic from Toulouse. Dupont with a beautiful measured kick to Capuozzo on the wing who catches and touches down. Ramos score the conversion once more.
Toulouse 54 Ulster 14
54 mins: Try for Toulouse! Complete mismatch, as Toulouse run the whole length of the pitch as Lebel on the wing lays off for Chocobares to score. Ramos converts.
Toulouse 47 Ulster 14
48 mins: Toulouse still dominating the game but just making a few more mistakes this half and still yet to score.
Toulouse 40 Ulster 14
Second half is under way.
44 mins: Dupont continuing where he left off, box kick 50-22, because why not? Lineout doesn’t lead to anything though and Ulster’s scrum is better and the backs getting going with some better running and passing to halfway. But once again Toulouse turn it over.
Toulouse 40 Ulster 14
40 mins: Try for Toulouse! Ulster drop a kickoff and from that eventually Toulouse end up five metres from the line, with Dupont going touch and go and getting obstructed by the referee as Ulster can’t touch him. Toulouse’s Meafou thinks it’s over the line, TMO check, looks like it’s over the line. Ramos converts.
Half-time: Toulouse 40 Ulster 14
The defending champions have scored six tries and blown Ulster away. Quite the performance by the French side, Dupont, Ntamack, Meafou at the heart of it.
36 mins: Try for Ulster! That’s better, nice play, ruck slowed it down close to the line and then great pass by Morgan to Moore who runs over the line. Doak converts.
Toulouse 33 Ulster 14
31 mins: Try for Toulouse! Dupont gets his try. Toulouse pick up the counter ruck, Dupont pushes the tackle off, bursts through, to Lebel nearly on the line and then back to Dupont to score. Ramos converts. This is a mauling.
Toulouse 33 Ulster 7
29 mins: Try for Toulouse! Capuozzo gets the bonus point try and Ulster are punished. Dupont goes wide from the scrum. Ntamack to Ramos to Lebel who picks the right moment to go back to Capuozzo. World-class players making hay.
Toulouse 26 Ulster 7
27 mins: Ulster really struggling in the breakdown against the aggressive and powerful Toulouse, but this time it’s a penalty. Then Morgan misses touch with a kick, that’s poor.
Toulouse 19 Ulster 7
23 mins: Toulouse try ruled out. Ulster survive. Ntamack had a lovely feint from the try, scrum strong, Dupont laid to Ntamack, the outhalf dummied pass to the wing and straight ahead over the line. But Ntamack was offside, but a penalty advantage for Toulouse. Ntamack into touch. A brief respite?
Toulouse looked set for a try as they had numbers forward but it was knocked forward and scrum to Ulster.
Toulouse 19 Ulster 7
20 mins: Nearly another try for Toulouse after a delightful grubber kick from Dupont after the scrum. Ntamack kicks towards the line but just goes out of play and Ulster survive briefly but are turned over from the lineout. Attacking scrum for Toulouse.
Toulouse 19 Ulster 7
16 mins: Try for Toulouse! Very difficult to stop Toulouse and they are immediately within about 10 minutes from kickoff. Then Meafou just bludgeons his way through two Ulster defenders and gets across the line. Ramos converts nicely from a tricky kick on a windy day.
Toulouse 19 Ulster 7
14 mins: Try for Ulster! Good attack from Ulster, solid lineout and they get within five metres with a penalty advantage. They choose to tap and go. Wilson is almost there, right on the line, not clear if it got down. TMO check, McCormick gets the try! Doak converts.
Toulouse 12 Ulster 7
9 mins: Try for Toulouse! Brilliant kick by Ntamack right in the corner for a 5-metre lineout. Clean lineout and Toulouse push for the line. Dupont pinged it to Ntamack five metres out and another one. Different class. Ramos converts.
Toulouse 12 Ulster 0
6 mins: Ulster had turned over the ball in a good area but a poor lineout leads to a Toulouse scrum. Ulster win the ball back after a loose pass by Toulouse but Meafou turns it over again and Toulouse are clear.
Toulouse 5 Ulster 0
2 mins: Try for Toulouse! A solid set piece and then some beautiful and typical Toulouse rugby, flowing and a try already. Dupont right involved with a superb run and few passes later Lebel scores on the wing, right in the corner. Ramos misses the conversion but was a difficult one.
Toulouse 5 Ulster 0
The match is about to start...
Here were the other results in the Champions Cup so far:
Bath 20 La Rochelle 24
Sharks 39 Exeter 21
Clermont Auvergne 28 Benetton 0
Stormers 14 Toulon 28
Northampton 38 Castres 8
Munster 33 Stade Français 7
Saracens 27 Bulls 5
Glasgow Warriors 38 Sale Sharks 19
Racing 92 23 Harlequins 12
Bordeaux Begles 42 Leicester 28
Here is the match preview from Johnny Watterson for today’s Ulster match:
Stuart McCloskey did not make light of the task facing Ulster on Sunday. The province takes on the reigning European and French Top 14 league champions in France in the first match of this season’s Champions Cup.
Not easily forgotten, Toulouse beat Leinster last season in extra-time to win the trophy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“It’s basically the full France team, isn’t it?” said the Ireland and Ulster centre this week. Well almost, with one or two strengthening additions like England flanker Jack Willis, Argentinian centre Santiago Chocobares and Italian fullback Ange Capuozzo, who starts on the right wing with French international fullback Thomas Ramos at number 15.
Daunting.
[ Ulster’s Champions Cup opener against Toulouse a daunting away fixtureOpens in new window ]
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Champions Cup on Sunday, with two interesting games ahead involving Irish provinces in Europe, looking to follow in the footsteps of winners Munster and Connacht yesterday. To achieve that for Ulster, however, would require one of their best performances in many years as they face defending champions Toulouse away from home at the Stade Ernest Wallon, kick-off there is at 3.15pm. Later, Leinster will go away to Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate, with a much more realistic aspiration to come with the spoils, kickoff there is at 5.30pm. Here are the Toulouse and Ulster teams for now:
TOULOUSE: Thomas Ramos; Ange Capuozzo, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Santiago Chocobares, Matthis Lebel; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (capt); David Ainu’u, Peato Mauvaka, Dorian Aldegheri; Thibaud Flament, Emmanuel Meafou; Jack Willis, Leo Banos, Alexandre Roumat.
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Rodrigue Neti, Joel Merkler, Joshua Brennan, Théo Ntamack, Paul Graou, Paul Costes, Juan Cruz Mallia.
ULSTER: Stewart Moore; Werner Kok, Ben Carson, Stuart McCloskey, Michael Lowry; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Andrew Warwick, James McCormick, Scott Wilson; Alan O’Connor (capt), Harry Sheridan; Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, James McNabney.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Cormac Izuchukwu, Dave Shanahan, Jude Postlethwaite, Nick Timoney.
Referee: Adam Leal (RFU).
