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Stephen Ferris believes Ulster should have enough to overcome Toulouse this weekend and progress to the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup.
Ferris was speaking on the Buildup with Ladbrokes.com. Ulster take a six-point lead into the second leg after a frantic game in Toulouse. A hat-trick from Robert Baloucoune secured a famous 26-20 win over 14-man Toulouse.
In a frantic game that saw six tries scored between the sides, Ferris believes both sides errors added to the excitement.
"Some of the areas of the game I was massively concerned about was the scrum, there wasn’t a scrum in the game until the 35th minute.
"It was a frantic game, end to end, lots of errors and mistake which actually made it enjoyable to watch.
"When there was a turnover one team just played, and then there was another turnover it was just played again.”
Home Advantage
While the reigning champions have World class talent all over the pitch, Stephen Ferris believes Ulster’s home form could give them the edge in Belfast.
"Ulster haven’t lost at home all season in any competitions. They very rarely lose at home; they very rarely lose at home to French opposition.
"All the odds are stacked towards Ulster to get a result.”
Second in the URC and leading the European champions on aggregate, the win away in Toulouse showed just how far this young Ulster side have come.
Ferris claims the confidence this side is showing is behind Dan McFarland’s men great performances.
"The thing with this Ulster team now is that they play with no fear. Lots of young guys who haven’t experienced the dull old days of not being even to win away from home at Wales, never mind away from home at the European Cup.
"Every single year winning away from home and then at home it’s a bit of a fortress. “
Toulouse Backlash
Despite defeat last week, the former Ulster flanker is expecting a response from the French champions, with Antoine Dupont central to everything they do.
“I’m expecting a bit of a fightback, redemption maybe from the Toulouse team.
"Dupont has to play better. He was unbelievable in ten things he done at the weekend, and then absolutely shocking in then other things he done at the weekend. He’s got to make sure his game is on point at the weekend.
"If I’m Toulouse, you revert back to the old French win the battle up front. Maul the life out of Ulster strangle the life out of Ulster, win penalties, seed a plant of doubt in the referee’s mind."
It will be a fascinating encounter.
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