Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said his side’s basics were not at the level required for the challenge of a “European juggernaut” after they suffered a heavy defeat in Toulouse.
The visitors shipped nine tries in their Champions Cup opener at the Stade Ernest-Wallon and were beaten 61-21 by the holders.
“Very tough,” said Murphy of the experience.
“Conceding 61 points wasn’t part of the plan. A lot of our basics weren’t at the level they needed to be.
“Some of our defence and our breakdown just wasn’t at the level we needed.”
Ulster have won just two of their past 11 games in the Champions Cup and have conceded at least 30 points in eight of those fixtures.
Murphy said it is important for his squad to continue to focus on gradual improvement.
“We also need to be careful that we don’t listen to too much stuff that’s happening outside.
“We have to concentrate on our own game and make sure that we’re getting better.
“We’ve shown signs that we’re improving all through the season from where we were last year and we’ve run into a European juggernaut and we weren’t at the races.”
Ulster face another of the competition’s favourites, Bordeaux-Begles, back in Belfast on Saturday.
“Obviously we’re disappointed, the players are disappointed,” Murphy added.
“We don’t go out there to get those basic errors wrong.
“You start there and you work towards getting a performance in six days’ time against Bordeaux.”
