Despite a gutsy all-round effort, Connacht were beaten by a thoroughly professional Toulouse side in their first ever home match in the Heineken Cup.
A record crowd of 9,120 turned up at the Sportsground to watch Eric Elwood’s men take on the four-time European champions, who fielded a star-studded line-up.
The French giants managed to quieten the home support with an assured first half display, with Lionel Beauxis tallying up 17 points before the break and Jean Bouilhou claiming a try.
Miah Nikora opened Connacht’s account while Mike McCarthy was in the sin-bin for a high tackle, and the 22-3 half-time deficit grew as Toulouse remained in control.
A controversially awarded penalty try put the result beyond any doubt and although Connacht gained a penalty try themselves, Yannick Nyanga barged through for the visitors’ third and final try.
There were fireworks and a sea of green around the Galway ground at the start, but Toulouse were first to threaten following an opportunist break from Luke Burgess.
His half-back partner Beauxis landed a sixth minute penalty, rewarding his forwards for a solid scrum hit, and returning winger Maxime Medard was called back for a forward pass as he charged over the halfway line.
Connacht hardly put a foot wrong in the opening quarter – their captain Gavin Duffy led by example in that regard – however Toulouse’s quality out wide and at set piece time was glaringly obvious.
Medard got another chance to stretch his legs before Beauxis kicked the visitors 9-0 ahead and worse followed for the Irish province in the 22nd minute.
Toulouse wheeled a Connacht scrum, Thierry Dusautoir put enough pressure on Paul O’Donohoe for the ball to break free and Louis Picamoles and Dusautoir both carried forward before Bouilhou squeezed over from inches out.
Duffy rose highest to claim the restart and young Connacht centres David McSharry and Eoin Griffin sniped in and around the Toulouse 22, raising the decibel level considerably.
But the hosts suffered another setback on the half hour mark when McCarthy caught the onrushing Vincent Clerc with a neck-high challenge and was promptly sin-binned.
Nikora slotted a penalty from in front of the posts to get Connacht off the mark, before Toulouse’s dominant scrum yielded another three points for Beauxis.
Seven minutes into the second half, referee Greg Garner earned the ire of the home fans when he awarded Toulouse a penalty try after just one wheeled scrum.
The French side had the platform of a five-metre scrum and as it spun around the English official gave the verdict to the visitors, with Beauxis adding the extras.
The remainder of the game was played in worsening weather conditions. Credit to Connacht, they exerted more of an influence with McCarthy stealing a few lineouts and their bench having an impact.
McSharry and Duffy showed huge commitment in attack and defence and a Duffy-sparked move almost saw replacement hooker Ethienne Reynecke crash over for a try.
Despite McCarthy spilling the ball in contact with the try-line in sight, the westerners kept the pressure on and their pack forced a penalty try when brilliantly turning the tables on Toulouse at a five-metre scrum.
Nikora converted to close the gap to 19 points but Toulouse answered back in the dying minutes as they maintained their grip on top spot in Pool 6.
Reynecke saw yellow for taking Luke McAlister out as he chased his own kick, and Nyanga, one of a flood of second half replacements, went on a bulldozing run to touch down with three minutes left.
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