Toulouse add to Bulls' misery
MATCH REPORT: Toulouse march into the Champions Cup quarterfinals with a commanding 33-9 win over Bulls on Sunday.
Emmanuel Meafou, Matthis Lebel and Thibaud Flament went over in a dominant second-half display from the five-time champions, Thomas Ramos adding a further 18 points from the tee.
*To recap all the action CLICK HERE!!!
Bulls’ maiden EPCR campaign ends in the Round of 16 stage, with three Chris Smith penalties all they could muster in France.
The first half was a fascinating, tactical battle in the south-west of France, flyhalf Smith putting Bulls ahead with a penalty after a minute before fullback Ramos struck three quick-fire efforts of his own.
Toulouse wrestled control of the contest as the half wore on, piling on the pressure and ultimately forcing a yellow card for Bulls centre Harold Vorster as he was punished for a string of offences in the red zone.
But the visitors would defend superbly to survive the 10-minute period with a man less, Toulouse opting to take three points through Ramos as they were met with stubborn resistance.
And Bulls would cancel out that effort immediately after as Smith slotted a second penalty following the restart, before they battled to half-time and returned to their full complement after the break.
Smith slotted a third penalty early in the second half, but Toulouse began to click into gear, lock Meafou punching through from close range on 50 minutes after their best attacking move of the game.
Ramos’ conversion established a 10-point gap and that widened further four minutes later as wing Lebel finished brilliantly in the corner after being teed up scrumhalf Antoine Dupont.
Flank Flament notched a third score on 64 minutes, starting the move with surge through midfield before diving on Dupont’s chip over the Bulls' defence.
Toulouse pushed for a fourth try over the remaining minutes, but Bulls stuck to their task and repelled the hosts on several occasions.
Man of the match: Antoine Dupont always managed to put in a good performance and this Sunday was not difference. Lock Richie Arnold also deserves a mention for his contribution. However our nod goes Thomas Ramos, the Toulouse fullback kept his team in the contest with his boot adding 18 points to the team's tally.
The scorers:
For Toulouse
Tries: Meafou, Lebel, Flament
Cons: Ramos 3
Pens: Ramos 4
For Bulls:
Pens: Smith 3
Yellow card: Harold Vorster (Bulls, 29 - repeated infringements)
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)
Source: @ChampionsCup