Toulouse 59 Bristol Bears 26
Holy Saturday? Apposite because, in this nine-try demolition of Bristol, Toulouse reached god tier.
Few expected anything other than a handsome home victory but, in sun-kissed south-west France, Toulouse reminded everyone of their title credentials. The Top 14 leaders might have only scraped into the Champions Cup’s knockout stages, after defeats at both Glasgow and Saracens but, in this scintillating form, in front of an almost manically enraptured home support, who could possibly bet against them adding a seventh European title to their six previous stars?
Away from their spiritual home at the Stade Ernest-Wallon, at the Ville Rose’s football stadium, nicknamed “petit Wembley” by the locals, Toulouse played with a joie de vivre which should be the envy of all sides worldwide. Thomas Ramos broke English hearts last month in the blue of France, but here the full-back was again, in the red and black of Toulouse, vanquishing anglophones left, right and centre.
Ramos’s kicking off the tee was exemplary – missing just twice – but as a secondary playmaker, outside of Romain Ntamack, he was immense. It meant that the likes of Teddy Thomas, Matthis Lebel and Kalvin Gourgues – all scoring twice – ran riot out wide, an area in which Bristol thought they might have had the ascendancy given their lethal trio of Louis Rees-Zammit, Gabriel Ibitoye and Kalaveti Ravouvou. In the Toulousain sunset, those Bears were chasing shadows.
Trailing by 33 points, Bristol’s challenge was over before half-time, in what finished as their seventh straight loss in all competitions. Bristol, who have not won in France in the top-tier European competition since 2003, are known as the Prem’s free-wheelers but, in the Concorde Derby – both these two cities played an integral role in the conception of the airliner – it was Toulouse who hit the speed of sound. The Bears, regrettably, were deafened by it. Paralysed, even.
By the time Toulouse were running in their sixth try before the interval, Bristol had descended from fire to farce. The early optimism whipped up by Fitz Harding’s opener had evaporated as the visitors lost their attacking shape and started to lose their accuracy and tempo – and tempers with it. It would have been churlish to not have marvelled at the spellbinding, cut-throat nature of the Toulouse attack but, equally, there surely must be a Bristolian inquisition. There were notable absentees up front –Joe Batley, Pedro Rubiolo and Bill Mata – but, at times, this performance left a lot to be desired: abject, ragged and often naive.
The positive for Bristol was that there was no lack of heart or courage – the Bears were simply outclassed in almost all facets. That, at least, gave the 1,200 fans who had travelled to the de facto capital of French rugby something to cheer in the second half, given their side are now clinging on in the Prem play-off race. Bristol did not lie down, with Ravouvou adding a second to Harding’s opener – admittedly, aided by an Ntamack yellow card – and both James Williams and Noah Heward managing late consolations, the former intercepting Paul Graou and racing 70 metres to score.
“We’ve seen the best of Toulouse,” Pat Lam, Bristol’s director of rugby, said. “Quality players, quality team, a lot of history. For us to come here was a privilege, we’ve never played them before.
“[At half-time it was a case of] let’s just park that, let’s show a bit of fight and go out there and try to be a better version of ourselves. I loved the fight, we scored a couple more tries, we hung on in there, but today we just weren’t good enough, simple as that.”
But Bristol’s three second-half tries all came with the game done and dusted. After that early score from the Bristol captain, in the fifth minute, Toulouse delivered a clinic. Jack Willis and Peato Mauvaka both crossed from close range – the first of two for the hooker – before Ramos started to purr. In the first half, Gourgues, one of the game’s pre-eminent players, crossed twice, with Lebel joining him, as Toulouse notched up 40 points before the interval.
Ramos was ubiquitous in the Toulousain assault, offering one sumptuous offload from an audacious counter for Gourgues’s first –but Bristol often did not help themselves. Williams, often distributing beautifully, had a couple of howlers which led to two tries while Ibitoye and Rees-Zammit never quite looked comfortable in the backfield against a Dupont-Ntamack-Ramos three-pronged aerial bombardment.
Thomas added a quickfire double to a rapidly increasing scoreline, but what made it more remarkable was that it was during the period in which the hosts had been reduced to 14 players. Toulouse were in cruise control, knowing the game was over, while the Bears attempted to salvage some pride. Thankfully, the visitors managed it.
For Toulouse, with the crowd jumping to the sounds of the stadium’s sunset DJ, the victor of Bordeaux’s hosting of Leicester awaits; for the Bears, some claw-sharpening and wound-licking is required.
Match details
Scoring sequence: 0-5 Harding try, 0-7 Williams con, 5-7 Willis try, 7-7 Ramos con, 12-7 Mauvaka try, 14-7 Ramos con, 19-7 Gourgues try, 21-7 Ramos con, 26-7 Mauvaka try, 28-7 Ramos con, 33-7 Lebel try, 38-7 Gourgues try, 40-7 Ramos con, 45-7 Lebel try, 45-12 Ravouvou try, 50-12 Thomas try, 52-12 Ramos con, 57-12 Thomas try, 59-12 Ramos con, 59-17 Williams try, 59-19 Williams con, 59-24 Heward try, 59-26 Heward con.
Toulouse: T Ramos; T Thomas, K Gourgues (Kinghorn 61), P-L Barassi (Chocobares 4), M Lebel; R Ntamack, A Dupont (capt, Graou 58); D Ainu’u (Mallez 50), P Mauvaka (Lacombre 66), D Aldegheri (Merkler 50), T Flament (Brennan 58), E Meafou, F Cros, J Willis, A Jelonch (Banos 54). Sin-bin: Ntamack.
Bristol: L Rees-Zammit (Heward 61); K Ravouvou, B Janse van Rensburg (Moroni 47), J Williams, G Ibitoye; T Jordan, H Randall (Marmion 51); E Genge (Woolmore 51), G Oghre (Thacker 51), G Kloska (Lahiff 51), J Dun, J Owen, S Luatua (Taylor 41), F Harding (capt, Ivanishvili 56), B Grondona.
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy).
Attendance: 33,150.
Pat Lam speaking to Premier Sports
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“We started really well. We spoke about not giving anything up for free but unfortunately we did. I am proud of the boys for staying in the fight as it could have got very ugly. We made too many errors and against teams like this you get punished. You cannot give Toulouse the sort of foothold we gave them with our mistakes. The last three weeks have not been the way we wanted so we now have a few weeks to reset. It is a big couple of weeks for us.”
Up next
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Having thrashed Bristol, Toulouse will have to wait and see who they will play next weekend in the quarter-finals. They will take on the winner of the game between Bordeaux and Leicester tomorrow. It will be a tall order for Leicester over in France tomorrow so we could be all set for a mouth-watering all-French contest between Toulouse and Bordeaux in the final eight.
Bristol’s next five games
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All their focus now is on the Gallagher Prem:
April 17: Bristol vs Gloucester
April 24: Newcastle vs Bristol
May 9: Bristol vs Saracens
May 15: Northampton vs Bristol
May 29: Bristol vs Bath
They are fifth in the Prem, seven points off the top four.
Crumb of comfort
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Bristol were thrashed in the end but they had a better second half than first, when all the damage was done. Toulouse were 40-7 up at half-time so the second half was level at 19-19. Not much to take but a crumb of comfort.
Last-16 ties
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Friday:
Northampton 49 Castres 41
Today:
Bath 31 Saracens 22
Toulon 28 Stormers 27
Glasgow 25 Bulls 21
Toulouse 59 Bristol 26
Harlequins vs Sale 8pm
Sunday:
Bordeaux vs Leicester 3pm
Leinster vs Edinburgh 5.30pm
Full time
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Willis steals possession inside his own 22 and Toulouse counter. The ball is knocked on though at halfway and that brings the game to an end.
Toulouse book their place in the quarter-finals in emphatic fashion with a thumping 59-26 win over Bristol.
79 mins: Toulouse 59 Bristol 26
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Bristol win a penalty on halfway as Toulouse fail to roll away and there will be one final chance for Bristol.
TRY! Heward gets Bristol’s fourth
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Bristol are on the receiving end of a real thrashing but they are still going. Williams’ pass on halfway puts Heward through a gap and the latter shows great pace to go all the way to the line. Williams adds the extras.
73 mins: Toulouse 59 Bristol 19
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Bristol do well to disrupt the Toulouse maul and then pounce on a loose ball.
72 mins: Toulouse 59 Bristol 19
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Another scrum penalty goes the way of Toulouse, this time on the Bristol 22, and Ntamack puts it into the corner.
TRY! Williams scores intercept try from inside his own 22
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It has been a chastening afternoon for Bristol but a moment of joy for the travelling fans. Toulouse are on the attack inside the Bristol 22 but Williams brilliantly reads Graou’s pass, intercepting it and running most of the length of the field to score under the sticks. The extras are added.
68 mins: Toulouse 59 Bristol 12
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Toulouse win a scrum penalty on halfway and Ntamack takes the hosts into the Bristol 22.
64 mins: Toulouse 59 Bristol 12
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Dupont’s day is over as he is replaced by Graou.
62 mins: Toulouse 59 Bristol 12
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Rees-Zammit is off and replaced by Heward. With this game long gone, presumably that is Bristol protecting one of their star men.
Toulouse have brought on Kinghorn on Gourgues, a sign of just how strong this Toulouse squad is.
TRY! Thomas at the double
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After a lengthy TMO check, Thomas has his second score in quick succession. Dupont’s chip ahead forces Williams to scamper back towards his own line. Williams attempted to dot down but he never had it under control. Thomas then pounces on the loose ball and scored. The TMO says that Williams never had control of dotting it down so the try is given. Ramos gets the relatively simple conversion and Toulouse are approaching the 60-point mark.
TRY! Thomas over for Toulouse’s eighth
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Despite being a man down, Toulouse score. Ramos’ long, looping pass out to his right and suddenly Toulouse have a shot at a two-on-one. Gourgues lures Ibitoye in and, at the right time, passes outside to Thomas for the winger to score. Ramos adds the extras and Toulouse are now past the 50-point mark.
52 mins: Toulouse 45 Bristol 12
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Bristol have changed their entire front-row as Thacker, Woolmore and Lahiff come on.
51 mins: Toulouse 45 Bristol 12
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Bristol have stolen possession and the chance is gone for Toulouse.
50 mins: Toulouse 45 Bristol 12
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Harding slips too high on a tackle on Ramos on halfway and gifts Toulouse an easy penalty, allowing the hosts to kick into the Bristol 22.
48 mins: Toulouse 45 Bristol 12
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Bristol are being forced into a change as Janse van Rensburg has taken a blow to his face. Bristol believe this should be checked for contact to his head. The try is not at risk but the TMO is going to take a look at a high shot from Ntamack on Janse van Rensburg before the try. It was Genge who was checking with the referee to make sure the incident was checked and there was definitely head contact. Ntamack was the secondary tackle but his shoulder clearly hits Janse van Rensburg in the face and Ntamack is always upright. This will surely be at least a yellow card and maybe a red, although Chocobares being the primary tackler may save him.
Ntamack is shown yellow and might be a touch fortunate it was not red.
TRY! Ravouvou over for Bristol
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On his 50th appearance for the club, the Fijian scores in the corner. Bristol are inches short of the line and then shift the ball into the hands of the backs, where Williams flings a long pass out to Ravouvou, who is in space to dot down in the left corner. Williams cannot add the extras.
44 mins: Toulouse 45 Bristol 7
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After a Toulouse knock-on on the edge of their 22, Bristol’s pack then dominates the scrum to win the penalty. No choice for Bristol but to put it into the corner.
TRY! Lebel at the double
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Perfect start to the second half for Toulouse, the worst possible one for Bristol. Whatever was said at half-time in the Bristol dressing room clearly did not get through as that was far too easy. The ball is shipped down the line to Lebel on the left touchline, who cuts back inside and finds his way through some gaps to score. Ramos cannot add the conversion but Toulouse’s dominance continues.
Second half
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We are back under way in Toulouse. Is it going to get even uglier for Bristol in this second half or can they restore some pride? Pat Lam has made a change at the break as Taylor has replaced Luatua.
What do Bristol do?
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Even the most optimistic of Bristol fans must be resigned to defeat now, 33 points down to the mighty Toulouse. The home side have been fantastic but the visitors have really not helped themselves. They will know a win is not on the cards and they will be heading out of the competition but they will not want to be on the receiving end of an absolute thumping. You wonder what is being said in the Bristol dressing room at half-time.
Last-16 ties
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Friday:
Northampton 49 Castres 41
Today:
Bath 31 Saracens 22
Toulon 28 Stormers 27
Glasgow 12 Bulls 14 HT
Toulouse 40 Bristol 7 HT
Harlequins vs Sale 8pm
Sunday:
Bordeaux vs Leicester 3pm
Leinster vs Edinburgh 5.30pm
A long, long way back
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That half could not have gone much worse for Bristol. The contest is surely finished and now it is about salvaging some pride for the Bears.
Half-time
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That is the final act of the half and barring the most remarkable of comebacks from Bristol, Toulouse are essentially already into the quarter-finals. Bristol had taken an early lead through Harding’s try but it has been one-way traffic ever since. It has been one of the most one-sided halves of rugby you will ever see as Toulouse lead 40-7 at the break.
TRY! Gourgues punishes Bristol error
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Toulouse have been fantastic in this first half but Bristol have shot themselves in the foot time and time again. Bristol attack from deep but Williams’ pass is easily intercepted by Lebel, who offloads to Gourgues, who has the footwork and gas to score his second of the game. Ramos adds the extras.
39 mins: Toulouse 33 Bristol 7
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The pressure is off Bristol for now as Oghre repeats what Willis did a few moments before, winning a penalty at the breakdown.
38 mins: Toulouse 33 Bristol 7
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Bristol are not helping themselves right now. Their discipline is not good and then when they do get their hands on the ball they are sloppy. Some poor offloads result in Jordan being brought down and Willis then gets over the ball quickly to win Toulouse the penalty. The kick is sent into the Bristol 22.
37 mins: Toulouse 33 Bristol 7
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On the one hand, you have to say, with that fifth Toulouse try, this game is over; on the other, you do just have to sit back and admire these French troubadours, playing rugby which is, at times, out of this world.
TRY! Lebel finishes with aplomb in the corner
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A fifth try of the afternoon for Toulouse has been coming for a little while and now it comes. Bristol repel the maul to a solid extent but Dupont pulls it out before whipping the pass out to Lebel on the left touchline. There is not much space for Lebel to work in but somehow manages to dot down right in the corner. For the first time this afternoon, Ramos cannot add the extras but Toulouse’s lead grows out to 26 points.
33 mins: Toulouse 28 Bristol 7
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Toulouse once again are on the attack inside the Bristol 22 and earn themselves a penalty as the visitors fail to roll away. Bristol have been under massive pressure ever since Harding’s early try. Back to the corner Toulouse go.
31 mins: Toulouse 28 Bristol 7
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What a tackle from Janse van Rensburg! Toulouse get the ball into the hands of the backs from the lineout and a thumping hit from Janse van Rensburg on his opposite number Gourgues dislodges the ball and forces a knock-on.
30 mins: Toulouse 28 Bristol 7
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Toulouse are playing some lovely, free-flowing rugby and look like they might get their fifth try courtesy of some stunning offloads but the ball goes to ground and is gathered up by Bristol. However, a few phases later, Bristol are penalised on the edge of their 22 and the pressure is still on as Ntamack puts it into the corner.
28 mins: Toulouse 28 Bristol 7
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Nearly a fifth try for Toulouse but they are denied by great work from Rees-Zammit. Thomas kicks ahead and the race is on to see who will get to the ball first. Rees-Zammit, who has probably been Bristol’s best player thus far, gets to it just ahead of Thomas and the ball comes off Rees-Zammit and goes dead so it will be a goal-line drop-out. Toulouse think it was a deliberate slap down from Rees-Zammit but there was an attempt to put the ball down.
26 mins: Toulouse 28 Bristol 7
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Bristol take a quick throw and make good progress into the Toulouse 22 after a good break from Rees-Zammit but Jordan then knocks on into contact. Interestingly, when Bristol took the quick throw, you could see hooker Oghre visibly frustrated that his team took the decision to take it quickly. Bristol are trying to play at a million miles an hour, which is playing into Toulouse’s hands.
TRY! Mauvaka at the double
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This is getting very ugly, very quickly for Bristol. They got off to the perfect start but have conceded four tries in the opening 20 minutes. Toulouse stole possession five metres out from the Bristol line and just a few phases later Mauvaka powers his way over from close range to score his second of the game. The conversion is added.
19 mins: Toulouse 21 Bristol 7
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Bristol are under pressure as Ibitoye scampers back towards his own line to gather up a grubber kick. Toulouse then counter ruck well and steal possession just five metres out from the Bristol line...
TRY! Gourgues extends Toulouse’s lead
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A sublime try from the hosts, from one end to the other. Instead of clearing their lines after taking the kick-off, Toulouse counter. Ramos grubber kicks ahead and is fortunate to re-gather after the ball comes off Ravouvou’s back. He passes to Gourgues, who takes play into the Bristol half. He has a man outside him but completely deceives Jordan with a sublime dummy pass before sprinting to the line. The extras are added by Ramos and suddenly Toulouse now lead by 14.
TRY! Mauvaka puts Toulouse in front
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From seven points down, the home side now hit the front. Toulouse win the lineout and set the maul, which cannot be stopped by Bristol, with Mauvaka the man to go over at the back of the rolling maul. That all came from a brain fart from Randall. Ramos gets the conversion and Toulouse now lead by seven.
13 mins: Toulouse 7 Bristol 7
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That is brainless from Randall. Bristol win a penalty inside their own half and Randall takes it quickly. However, his pass out to his right is dreadful and the ball is loose on the ground. There is then a Bristol knock-on on the edge of their 22 and Bristol have gone from what should be an attacking linoeut in the Toulouse half to defending on their own 22.
Toulouse then win the scrum penalty, which Ntamack puts into the corner.
11 mins: Toulouse 7 Bristol 7
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If you had pre-match money on the first two tries of the game being scored by the respective openside flankers from about two yards out then you’ll have made a pretty penny just now!
TRY! Willis hits back for Toulouse
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The hosts have a penalty advantage but do not need it. Willis takes a pass from Dupont just over five metres out from the Bristol line and he powers through a couple of tackles to find his way to the line. It looked like he may have been just short initially but the momentum takes him to the line. Ramos, trusty with the boot, adds the extras and we are all square at 7-7.
8 mins: Toulouse 0 Bristol 7
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Bristol’s defence is being properly tested for the first time today and are caught offside deep inside their own 22...
6 mins: Toulouse 0 Bristol 7
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An early change for Toulouse as Chocobares comes on for Barassi in the centres.
TRY! Harding crashes over to give Bristol lead
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The perfect start for Pat Lam’s side. It was all set up by Rees-Zammit’s break and is finished off by Bristol captain Harding, who powers his way over under the posts from just a few metres out. Williams adds the easiest of conversions and Bristol lead by seven.
Bristol will be buoyed by that start, but how James Williams will wish he could replay that pass to Kalaveti Ravouvou. It was a walk-in! Chances which need to be taken when you’re in the lion’s den...
4 mins: Toulouse 0 Bristol 0
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The weather is absolutely perfect for two sides that love to throw the ball around. There is a great atmosphere inside the stadium.
From a scrum just inside their own half, Rees-Zammit shows his wheels by speeding through the Toulouse half and into the hosts’ 22. Bristol are making great progress inside the 22 and now have a penalty advantage a few metres out...
1 min: Toulouse 0 Bristol 0
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A chance for Bristol inside the opening minute that they cannot take. Williams is the man to make the break to take Bristol towards the Toulouse 22 but his pass outside him towards Ravouvou is not the best and the chance is gone. Had that pass found Ravouvou’s hands, Bristol may have had a shot at a very early try.
Kick-off
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We are under way in the Toulouse sunshine. Will it be Toulouse or Bristol to book their place in the quarter-finals?
Reminder of the teams
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Toulouse starting XV: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont, 1 David Ainu’u, Peato Mauvaka, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 4 Thibaud Flament, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Jack Willis, 8 Anthony Jelonch.
Replacements: 16 Thomas Lacombre, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Leo Banos, 21 Paul Graou, 22 Santiago Chocobares, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
Bristol starting XV: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Harry Randall, 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 3 George Kloska, 4 James Dun, 5 Joe Owen, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Fitz Harding, 8 Benjamin Grondona.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 George Taylor, 20 Luka Ivanishvili, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Noah Heward.
Pre-match thoughts of Toulouse assistant coach Jerome Kaino
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The former New Zealand back-row spent the final years of his playing career at Toulouse and is now a coach there.
This Toulouse side would probably beat French national team
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Good afternoon from a sun-kissed south-west France, where Toulouse and Bristol meet for the first time in Europe in what should henceforth be known as the Concorde Derby (the airliner’s first flight departed Toulouse and the last one landed in Bristol).
Make no mistake, however, should Bristol triumph today against what is, frankly, an obscene team selection from Toulouse, it would be a victory of stratospheric proportions. Notwithstanding the game’s knockout nature and the fact that this Toulouse side would probably beat the French national team, Bristol have not won a match in this competition in France since they were the Shoguns, not the Bears, in 2003. Would victory today be the finest hour in the club’s history? In the professional era, certainly.
Using personal experience
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As a player, Pat Lam tasted success in this competition. Twenty-six years ago, he captained Northampton to a 9-8 victory over Munster.
“I played against a few of the French teams but never against Toulouse,” Lam said. “The only time I ever came close was when I was at Northampton. We thought we were going to play them when they were the favourites to beat Munster. And Munster beat them in the Heineken Cup semi-final in 2000. And we played Munster in the final instead of Toulouse.”
Last-16 ties
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Friday:
Northampton 49 Castres 41
Today:
Bath 31 Saracens 22
Toulon 28 Stormers 27
Glasgow vs Bulls 5.30pm
Toulouse vs Bristol 5.30pm
Harlequins vs Sale 8pm
Sunday:
Bordeaux vs Leicester 3pm
Leinster vs Edinburgh 5.30pm
Pool-stage results
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Toulouse
Round one: Toulouse 56 Sharks 19
Round two: Glasgow 28 Toulouse 21
Round three: Saracens 20 Toulouse 14
Round four: Toulouse 77 Sale 7
Bristol
Round one: Scarlets 16 Bristol 17
Round two: Bristol 61 Pau 12
Round three: Bulls 49 Bristol 61
Round four: Bristol 15 Bordeaux 27
Teams
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Toulouse starting XV: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Kalvin Gourgues, 12 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Antoine Dupont, 1 David Ainu’u, Peato Mauvaka, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 4 Thibaud Flament, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Jack Willis, 8 Anthony Jelonch.
Replacements: 16 Thomas Lacombre, 17 Paul Mallez, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Joshua Brennan, 20 Leo Banos, 21 Paul Graou, 22 Santiago Chocobares, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
Bristol starting XV: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 James Williams, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Harry Randall, 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Gabriel Oghre, 3 George Kloska, 4 James Dun, 5 Joe Owen, 6 Steven Luatua, 7 Fitz Harding, 8 Benjamin Grondona.
Replacements: 16 Harry Thacker, 17 Jake Woolmore, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 George Taylor, 20 Luka Ivanishvili, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Matias Moroni, 23 Noah Heward.
Odds stacked against Bristol’s attempt at making history
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Bristol face one of the most daunting trips in European rugby as they travel to Stade Ernest-Wallon to face six-time winners Toulouse in the last 16 of the Champions Cup in what will be the first meeting between the clubs. Toulouse are having a fine season in the Top 14, comfortably top of the table by a massive 12 points through 20 games, and come into this game off the back of a 45-29 home win over Montpellier last weekend.
Bristol’s preparations for this crunch tie have not been ideal; they have lost both games since the resumption after the Six Nations, losing at Leicester before falling to defeat again by Harlequins at the Principality Stadium last weekend. That leaves them fifth in the Gallagher Prem, seven points off the top four with six rounds remaining.
“This is the biggest competition in the northern hemisphere,” Pat Lam, Bristol’s director of rugby, said. “That is why you want to be in it. And if you are in it, you have got to back yourself to win it. And that was our mentality in the pool stage. You know, you do all the hard work the year before to qualify and then get there, and we are going as strong as we possibly can be with the guys injured to try to win this game.
“But the odds are stacked against us, and in the history of Bristol, we have never played Toulouse, and when you consider who Toulouse are, what they have done and the club that they are, it is a massive privilege for us to go and play them. We are going to find out where we are against them, albeit not at full strength.”
Not only have Bristol lost the two games building into this one, they have also been dealt a huge blow with the news that No 8 Bill Mata will miss the remainder of the season with an ACL injury.
“Losing a player of Bill’s quality and experience for the remainder of the season, especially alongside injuries to other front-line forwards Pedro Rubiolo and Joe Batley in our pack, is a tough blow and reflects the kind of season we have had with injuries to date,” Lam said. “With all of the injuries, it just creates opportunity for other players to step up and perform for the team.”
Toulouse were uncharacteristically sloppy during the pool stage of this competition, losing back-to-back games on match days two and three, but found a way to finish second in Pool One with two wins to claim a home game in the last 16. Bristol actually won more games (three) and claimed more points (14) during the pool stage than Toulouse, but are away from home as they finished third in Pool Four behind Bordeaux and Northampton.
Kick-off from Toulouse is at 5.30pm.