Antoine Dupont, Defending Champ Toulouse Crush Ulster Rugby In ...

The No. 1 club team in the world was up 12-0 before the 10-minute mark and led 40-14 at halftime en route to a 61-21 win in Round 1 (Pool 1) of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup, as Toulouse quickly dispatched Ulster Rugby back to Belfast in Stade Ernest Wallon on Dec. 8. 

Led by the No. 1 player in the world, Antoine Dupont, who had a first-half try, and powered by more stars, including Roman Ntamack and Thomas Ramos, the defending Champions Cup titlists and six-time winners overall, started 1-0-0 in their quest for back-to-back titles. 

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Dupont, the star of the Olympic gold medal-winning rugby sevens French team, has made Toulouse, 8-0-3 in Top 14, nearly unbeatable. The losses Toulouse has suffered this season came with Dupont out of the lineup. 

Ulster came into the game missing Jacob Stockdale, the Irish Rugby national who suffered an injury during the Autumn Nations play. Without Stockdale in the lineup, Ulster couldn't match the Toulouse firepower. 

Toulouse Jumps All Over Ulster Rugby

Toulouse wasted no time asserting its dominance, with Matthis Lebel crossing the line in the first minute, followed by Romain Ntamack’s try in the eighth minute. Thomas Ramos converted to give the hosts an early 12-0 lead.

Ulster responded with James McCormick scoring and Nathan Doak converting to narrow the gap to 12-7. However, Toulouse surged ahead with tries from Emmanuel Meafou, Ange Capuozzo and Antoine Dupont, all converted by Ramos, taking the score to 33-7.

Stewart Moore’s try for Ulster, converted by Doak, provided a glimmer of hope for the visitors, but Emmanuel Meafou’s second try, converted by Ramos, closed the half at 40-14 in favor of Toulouse.

Toulouse Coasts In Second Half To Win

Toulouse continued its clinical display, with Santiago Chocobares and Ange Capuozzo scoring tries, both converted by Ramos, extending the lead to 54-14.

Ulster’s Iain Henderson managed a late try, converted by Doak, but it was merely a consolation, as Toulouse comfortably closed out the match with a dominant 54-21 scoreline.

What's Next For Toulouse Rugby, Ulster Rugby?

Toulouse travels to Exeter Chiefs in Round 2, while Ulster hosts UBB Rugby. 

UBB Vs. Leicester Tigers Scoring Summary

Toulouse: Tries: Lebel (1’), Ntamack (8’), Meafou (14’, 40’), Capuozzo (27’, 56’), Dupont (29’), Chocobares (50’), Penalty Try (80'); Conversions: Ramos (8’, 14’, 27’, 29’, 40’, 50’, 56’)

Ulster Rugby: Tries: McCormick (12’), Moore (36’), Henderson (67’); Conversions: Doak (12’, 36’, 67’)

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 1La Rochelle 24, Bath Rugby 20ASM Clermont Auvergne 28, Benetton Rugby 0Hollywoodbets Sharks 39 Exeter Chiefs 21Northampton Saints 38, Castres Olympique 8RC Toulon 24, DHL Stormers 14Munster Rugby 33,  Stade Francais Paris 7Saracens 27, Vodacom Bulls 5Glasgow Warriors 38, Sale Sharks 19, Sat, Dec 7Racing 92 23 Harlequins 12, SatUnion Bordeaux-Bègles 42, Leicester Tigers 28Stade Toulousain 54, Ulster Rugby 21Bristol Bears vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 12:30 PM, Ashton GateInvestec Champions Cup 2024-2025  Round 2Sale Sharks vs. Racing 92, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Salford Community StadiumCastres Olympique vs. Munster Rugby, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-FabreVodacom Bulls vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 8 AM, Loftus VersfeldUlster Rugby vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 10:15 AM, Kingspan StadiumLeinster Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Aviva StadiumLeicester Tigers vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford RoadStade Rochelais vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Marcel DeflandreHarlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Twickenham StoopRC Toulon vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Felix MayolBenetton Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stadio MonigoStade Francais Paris vs. Saracens, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Jean BouinExeter Chiefs vs. Stade Toulousain, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 12:30 PM, Sandy ParkInvestec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 3Glasgow Warriors vs. Racing 92, Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3 PM, Scotstoun StadiumDHL Stormers vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 AM, DHL StadiumExeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy ParkHollywoodbets Sharks vs. Stade Toulousain, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Hollywoodbets Kings ParkMunster Rugby vs. Saracens, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Thomond ParkStade Francais Paris vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stade Jean BouinLeicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford RoadCastres Olympique vs. Vodacom Bulls, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-FabreRC Toulon vs. Harlequins, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Felix MayolStade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel DeflandreBristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Ashton GateBath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 PM, The RecInvestec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 4Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan StadiumVodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus VersfeldNorthampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's GardensASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-MichelinBenetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio MonigoLeinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva StadiumHarlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham StoopRacing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense ArenaUnion Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-DelmasSaracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX StadiumStade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest WallonSale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community StadiumInvestec Champions Cup Format 

Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:

A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of sixSporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stageFour highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.Investec Champions Cup WeekendsRound 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 20252025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, CardiffChampions Cup Qualifications 

Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup as follows:

United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.TOP 14 (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will take the place of the eighth-ranked club in its league.Investec Champions Cup Qualifiers TOP 14 – Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont AuvergneGALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester TigersUNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Ulster Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Hollywoodbets SharksWhen Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?

The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4. 

The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup). 

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Investec Champions CupEPCR Challenge CupCurrie CupTop 14Super RugbyAnd more

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