Toulouse's French fly-half Romain Ntamack takes on the Bulls in a lasst-16 Champions Cup match on Sunday. Picture: Charly Triballeau / AFP
The Bulls conceded three tries in 14 minutes in the early stages of the second half of their Champions Cup last-16 match against Toulouse in France on Sunday to crash to a 33-9 defeat.
The win by Toulouse means the Sharks, who beat Munster in Durban on Saturday in their last-16 match, will take on the French giants in their Champions Cup quarter-final this coming weekend.
It was another patchy performance by the Bulls, who have struggled in the United Rugby Championship and the Currie Cup as well this season.
While Jake White’s men held their own in the set-pieces and defended well at times in a tight first half in Toulouse, they struggled at the breakdowns and battled to hang on to the ball for long periods, while their indiscipline also cost them dearly.
It must be said though many close decisions went the way of the home, among them a forward pass in the build-up to the home team’s first try, which rocked the Bulls, who up to that stage in the 51st minute were very much in the contest.
In all, Toulouse scored three tries, while the Bulls failed to get close to their hosts’ tryline.
After a tight first half, when neither side created any good try-scoring chances, Toulouse led 12-6, with Thomas Ramos kicking four penalties for the hosts and Chris Smith two for the Bulls.
Harold Vorster of the Bulls was yellow-carded for his team transgressing too many times.
Straight after half-time the Bulls were very much in the contest after a third Smith penalty, but between the 51st minute and the 65th minute Toulouse pulled ahead after converted tries by Emmanuel Meafou, Matthis Lebel and Thebaud Flament.
The five-time champions were deserved winners; they created more chances and gave the Bulls few opportunities to test them in their own 22m area.
They will now host the Sharks in the one quarter-final this coming weekend.
Neil Powell’s Sharks beat Munster 50-35 in a 12-try fest in Durban on Saturday, but there will be some concern about the injuries picked up by key players Jaden Hendrickse and Eben Etzebeth.
The Sharks were much-improved from their URC defeat to Scarlets the week before, but they will need a far better defensive effort in Toulouse if they are to stand any chance of progressing to the semi-finals.
The Stormers meanwhile will be on their way to England later this week to take on Exeter Chiefs, who drew 33-all with Montpellier but advanced to the quarters after a superior try count of five to four.
John Dobson’s men beat Harlequins 32-28 in a riveting last-16 match in Cape Town on Saturday.
In other matches, Leicester beat Edinburgh 16-6, Leinster beat Ulster 30-15, La Rochelle edged Gloucester 29-26 and Saracens beat Ospreys 35-20.
Friday: Leinster v Leicester
Saturday: Toulouse v Sharks, Exeter Chiefs v Stormers, La Rochelle v Saracens
ends
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