Heineken Champions Cup result: Bulls flop against Toulouse

The Bulls headed into this clash aiming to join the Sharks and Stormers in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup, but it wasn’t meant to be as a horror run of form continued, with Toulouse claiming a resounding victory.

Toulouse vs Bulls

The Bulls aimed to replicate their extraordinary URC semi-final win away to the imperious Leinster last season, and although they trailed by just three points at the break, Toulouse ultimately pulled away in the second half.

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Bulls coach Jake White expected Toulouse to assert their dominance with their big pack of forwards.

“They got incredible power as well. If you look at what Lyon did to us with their power game, we struggled,” White explained.

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“The one thing you got to do is almost play a bit like them – you got to almost match them in terms of keeping the ball up and moving them around.

“You can’t get into a physical fight with them either.

“I would prefer it to be dry and a game where both teams can express themselves. Generally, poor weather is a leveller for the teams, but if you are playing against a really big pack of forwards, it is not really a leveller.

“They got a massive pack of forwards.

“They got one of the best players in the Six Nations on the bench in [Thibaud] Flament who is a flank and lock. Not many teams can put that calibre of player on their bench.”

Teams

Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Juan Cruz Mallía, 13 Santiago Chocobares, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Francois Cros, 6 Jack Willis, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille.

Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 David Ainu’u, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Alban Placines, 21 Joshua Brennan, 22 Paul Graou, 23 Dimitri Delibes.

Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortjé (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.

Replacements: 16. Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Morné Steyn, 23 Stedman Gans.

Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

Assistant referees: Hamish Smales (England); Peter Allan (England)

TMO: David Rose (England)