Captain Rory Best conceded it was Ulster’s failure to cope with Toulon in the breakdown which led to their downfall against Toulon, leaving Neil Doak’s charges’ European Champions Cup hopes seemingly in tatters.
"They destroyed us at the breakdown. It was something we've talked about and we've been pretty good at the breakdown this season,” said Best after the 23-13 defeat at the Kingspan Stadium this afternoon.
"Chris Masoe and Steffon Armitage were really over the ball all day and we couldn't get any kind of ball, let alone quick ball.
"It's disappointing because we really fancied our chances going into today."
Following last weekend’s 25-18 defeat to Leicester at Welford Road, back-to-back losses mean Ulster have just one point from their first two games in Pool Three and only the remotest chance of progressing to the knockout phase.
Meanwhile Toulon, the 2013 and ’14 Heineken Cup champions, sit in the driving seat with two wins from two.
Toulon’s English winger Delon Armitage was overjoyed to have left Belfast with a notable scalp.
"It's a very satisfying win. Me and my brother spent the whole week trying to explain to the other guys how hard it is to come here and win,” said Armitage.
"I was really impressed with how we played today and the way we kept the ball.
"We knew we had to get points on board in the first half and we then came out in the second half and defended well."
"I was really impressed with how we played today and the way we kept the ball" - Toulon's Delon Armitage.
South African veteran Bryan Habana's try on the cusp of half-time - which gave the visitors a 16-13 half-time lead - and then an interception score just before the hour-mark from Delon Armitage saw Toulon prevail.
Wales star Leigh Halfpenny also contributed with the boot, firing over three penalties and two conversions, while the hosts landed two penalties from Paddy Jackson, who also converted Craig Gilroy's late consolation try – too late to prevent Ulster's bid to make the last eight look effectively over.
