The Irish province were victorious in the first leg against the reigning European champions and were leading on aggregate heading into the closing stages of the return fixture at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday.

But Antoine Dupont’s converted try on 75 minutes saw Toulouse edge into a 50-49 lead over the two legs – an advantage they would hold onto to knock Ulster out of the competition.

“When we look at the loss for us it is with incredible frustration, rather than previous years where we have looked at it and went ‘we were well-beaten out there’ or ‘they were able to run away with it’,” Henderson explained.

“It felt out there that we were in relative control, two red cards and a few yellows over both games certainly changes a few bits and pieces.

“We talk about cutting out those breakaway tries, if we cut one of those out over those 160 minutes it is a different story.

“But we know Toulouse have striking power from anywhere on the pitch and they used that.

“It is frustrating for us, we tried to concentrate on building pressure and not let them get those easy tries. But they managed to get a few of them.”

A key moment in the match was a red card for Ulster’s Tom O’Toole on 64 minutes, and though he will be “devastated” about the dismissal, Henderson believes the whole team will feel responsible for the defeat.

“Tom is the type of character that will really affect him, and he will be down about that,” he said. “But it’s everyone else who will feel that they maybe made an impact to that loss.

Ulster Rugby captain Iain Henderson has admitted that his side’s defeat to Stade Toulousain in the Heineken Champions Cup Round of 16 will be difficult to move on from.