Toulouse 61-21 Ulster: Harsh lessons as Ulster learn ‘real level’ of Dupont’s Toulouse

After a day in the cold and rain, and a match that was over almost as soon as it started, the flight back to Belfast wasn’t exactly full of glee.

But, as everyone was boarding, one supporter jovially proclaimed on the flight back, “Smile, it’s nearly Christmas!”.

Now, it’s up to Ulster to show they have learnt lessons from Sunday’s humbling defeat and head into the festive period on a more positive note.

It may have been a bruising opening night, but progression in Europe is still in their own hands.

Bordeaux come to Belfast for their second fixture and Ulster will have to swiftly regroup against another top-level French opponent.

As full-back Stewart Moore said, Ulster have “not got time to feel sorry for ourselves”. That could be a blessing in disguise.

“Yes, we’re a young side but we have to go into next week all guns blazing.

“In terms of progression, we just want to perform well. We’re coming up against big French teams, English teams, and we’re trying to do that every week.”

There has been consistent talk of progress since Murphy took over at the start of the year, and there’s a challenge to make sure the result in Toulouse was a speedbump and not a road block.