There haven't been many nights to match the one at Ravenhill last night, as Ulster defeated European Cup favourites Toulouse in a rip-roaring game at a packed Raven hill.
It was certainly not for the weak-hearted as Ulster hung on right into five minutes of injury time to toss open the race for a quarter-final place. But it was a victory thoroughly deserved and one to match that of the famous success over the 1984 Grand Slam Wallabies. There were many heroes in front of a crowd of 9,000 that cheered non-stop until the Ulster team emerged for an encore 20 minutes after the final whistle.
Once again full-back Simon Mason was the key to success. After his 26 points last week against Ebbw Vale, he collected another 19 by knocking over four early penalties, scoring a try and converting a fine piece of opportunism by centre Clinton van Rensburg.
Mason set the tone with those penalties and a 30th-minute try to match that of Michel Maarfaing when the Frenchmen showed just how dangerous they are from deep. Toulouse edged ahead for the only time five minutes after the restart, but Ulster's riposte was sweet and true.
First the outstanding Stephen McKinty - what a season he's having - was dragged over from a line-out in the 51st minute. Then, after the ball had squirted out from a Toulouse scrum, Bell fed van Rensburg, who showed great presence of mind to find a gap.
The final 10 minutes were agonising, but Ulster tackled hard to keep the French at bay.
Ulster play next week's final interprovincial against Connacht at Ravenhill. In the meantime, all players will savour a victory and one that will last long in the memory.
Scoring sequence: 1st min: Mason pen, 30; 3: Maason pen, 6-0; 7: Mason pen, 9-0; 11: Mason pen, 12-0; 14: Marfaing try, Ougier con, 12-7; 30: Mason try, 17-7; 35: Cazalbou try, Delaigue con, 17-14; 45: Cazalbou try, Ougier con, 17-21; 51: McKinty try, 22-21; 59: van Rensburg try, Mason con, 29-21; 62: Deylaud pen, 29-24.
Ulster: S Mason; S Coulter, J Bell, C van Rensburg, J Cunningham; D Humphreys, capt, S Bell; J Fitzpatrick, A Clarke, R Irwin, G Longwell, M Blair, S McKinty, T McWhirter, A Ward. Replacements: G Leslie for Irwin (53 mins).
Toulouse: S Ougier; P Lapoutge, R Paillat, C Desbrosse, M Marfaing; Y Delaigue, J Caz albou, capt; C Vencheri, W Servat, J-L Jordana, N Spanghero, F Belot, D Lacroix, C Labit, S Dispagne. Replacements: E Ntamack for Deb rosse (43 mins), F Pelon for Belot and P Soula for Servat (48 mins), C Delaud for Delaigue (50 mins), F Tournaire for Vencheri (52 mins). Referee: E Murray (Scotland).
Wales and Lions out-half Neil Jenkins has fuelled the debate on violent play in top-class rugby with a fierce attack on the behaviour of French players at club and national level.
"The French are adept at putting their knees into you and kicking lumps out of you," Jenkins said in his autobiography. "They are very sneaky and their speciality is the double knee in the back, which really hurts. They will do anything to get you out of the way and you have to stand up for yourself."
Jenkins alleged that during an international in 1996 one French player had targeted an injury he had suffered near an eye and had shoved his fingers straight into a cut after the Welshman had made a tackle.
"He was giggling as he ran off to the other side of the field," he wrote.
