RC Toulouse stuttered their way to an easy 33-9 Heineken Champions’ Cup victory over the Vodacom Bulls on Sunday, booking themselves a home tie against the Cell C Sharks in the quarterfinals next weekend.
The scoreline was flattering to both sides because Toulouse were extraordinarily average, but the Bulls showed little to no attacking intent and were the masters of their own demise in a very hostile environment.
Referee Matthew Carley added to their misery, especially in the first half, only seemingly being able to find one side to blame for every offside call, while ignoring the home side’s indiscretions, and while the Bulls were on the wrong side of some very harsh calls, even if that changed, they weren’t likely to win the game in any case.
Qualif’ pluvieuse, qualif’ heureuse ?????#STBUL pic.twitter.com/hXCwqpJAU3
— Stade Toulousain (@StadeToulousain) April 2, 2023
Unfortunately given where the side currently are, and the downward spiral for the Pretoria franchise, you have to wonder if they lost the game before they even arrived in the French city.
Coach Jake White has been talking all week about how difficult it would be, and it seemed the message went straight to the Bulls' heads.
Because while there were always going to be iffy hometown calls going against them, their own attacking play was non-existent.
This could be characterised as one of the worst attacking performances for the Bulls under White, especially as they never showed one glimpse of being able to score a try.
Every single time they had a promising attack, they either tried to chip the ball over the defence or kicked it away, and made it easy for the Toulouse back three to cover the ball and exit.
Add to that indiscipline in the first half - and here they deserved a bit more leeway from Carley, but never got it, and it became quite clear they would always be up against it.
At one stage the penalty count was 8-1 against them in the first half and it was surprising that Toulouse didn’t lead by more than the 12-6 scoreline at the break.
SOMETHING SERIOUSLY AMISS
In the second half the Bulls were better, but one passage of play summed up their day in France perfectly. The Bulls scrum demolished Toulouse’s pack and marched forward, causing the home side to break up and the ball to spout out. Instead of a penalty, Carley ruled the ball is playable and Toulouse turned the ball over, went 40 metres and scored.
Thibaud Flament ??
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 2, 2023
?? Initial break…beautiful
?? Pick up…divine @StadeToulousain with another cracking score, any more to come? #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/UsqExtDHhg
But even though things were going against them, there was still a willingness to try and do something. Unfortunately all their play showed was the growing concern that something is seriously amiss in Pretoria at the moment that is bigger than just exiting European Cup competitions.
White now sits with a quandary. There are likely to be some massive discussions on his return to Loftus Versfeld this week. And somehow the team need to arrest the decline.
Other than good performances by Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw and Kurt-Lee Arendse, the rest of the side never rose to the occasion and never got close to the level of form needed to make the game a contest.
But it was nothing more than the same problems that have bugged the Bulls for a while now, except even when average, Toulouse managed to easily run away with the game.
It was a frustrating end after the side started positively and put the first points on the board. But for the next 30 minutes Toulouse camped in their half and came away with penalties but nothing else.
How they weren’t 20 points ahead by the break was their own doing.
The second half saw the Bulls narrow the lead to three points, again through Smith’s boot. But other than the glimpses of an attack, they had nothing else to offer.
It was all too easy to see what was coming next as Toulouse surged upfield and Antoine Dupont put Emmanuel Meafou over for the first try.
Toulouse then exploited the blindside to precision, breaking away and again Du Pont put his winger away, with Mattis Lebel executing a superb finish despite a desperate tackle by Louw to basically settle the game.
Tries ?? Buses
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 2, 2023
You wait for one, and two come along at once! ????@StadeToulousain showing why they are 5?? x #HeinekenChampionsCup holders in the second half ?? pic.twitter.com/rZLuYRmt1W
The salt in the wounds came from the scrum that should have been a penalty, but which saw Thibaud Flament score next to the posts as a loose ball was kicked through.
It was a day the Bulls would rather forget. A moment that Toulouse won’t overly celebrate and a real low point for the Loftus Versfeld faithful.
Some tough conversations will happen this week. How the Bulls react to them will see if they can arrest the slide, or have their season deteriorate further.
Scorers
RC Toulouse - tries: Emmanuel Meafou, Mattis Lebel, Thibaud Flament. Conversions: Thomas Ramos (3). Penalties: Ramos (4).
Vodacom Bulls - penalties: Chris Smith (3).