Bulls head coach Jake White knows a huge test awaits his team in Toulouse. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile/Gallo Images
Bulls boss Jake White says Sunday’s Champions Cup match against Toulouse is another great test for his side and an opportunity for the Pretoria-based team to measure themselves.
The Bulls go into the match on the back of a number of poor results, while Toulouse sit atop the Top 14 points table and they have a number of French internationals in the ranks, including French captain and No 9 Antoine Dupont.
White on Thursday likened the match to his team’s United Rugby Championship semi-final against Leinster in Dublin last season.
The Bulls were not given a chance going into the game but shocked the favourites 27-26 to qualify for the final.
The Leinster team on the day was full of Ireland internationals.
“Last year we played against a whole Irish team (in the URC semis), and again we don’t have a long list of internationals,” said White from Toulouse.
“Toulouse have won the (Champions Cup) title five times and played in other finals; they are one of the best teams in Europe. But, we can’t control that … we must play well and again, this is a great opportunity to measure ourselves.
“We know how big rugby is in Toulouse and it’s a big ask … but we’re looking forward to it. We had a better performance against Ulster (in the URC last weekend) and this is knockout rugby. We need to get a result.”
Toulouse have moved the game from their regular home ground which seats 19,000 to the city’s football stadium to get 33,000 fans in. White says the change of venue is an indication of this being a “big game”.
“They obviously see the Bulls as a big game. It’s going to be an incredible occasion for all of us. We’re looking forward to it.
“There are a lot of positives to take out of that game last year against Leinster. This Bulls squad is good enough and if we play well enough there’s no reason why we can’t get a result (this weekend).
“The thing is winning creates confidence and losing creates doubt. We need to just keep working hard and keep believing.”
Asked how the Bulls planned to stop Six Nations player of the tournament and French captain Dupont from pulling the strings, like he usually does, White said: “There are ways … one way is to build pressure … that’s how you can change the actions of a player.
“Decision-making changes when one is under pressure, it’s like that in all sport.”
Sunday’s match kicks off at 4pm.
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