Toulouse sink toothless Bulls to book Champions Cup quarter-final date with Sharks

French club Stade Toulousain secured a comfortable 33-9 victory over the Bulls, who couldn’t lay a glove against the men in red in the Champions Cup last 16 at the Stade Ernest-Wallon on Sunday.

The victory means Toulouse will host the Sharks, who overpowered Munster at Kings Park on Saturday, in next weekend's quarter-finals. 

This was a clash of French rugby royalty versus South African royalty but only one side was still in their pomp.

AS IT HAPPENED | Toulouse v Bulls

The record 21-time French Top 14 champions and most-ever, five-time European Champions Cup winners strong-armed their way to the victory that might have been tougher had the Bulls come into the clash with better form and confidence.

The Bulls came into the match having not won a European competition game since beating Exeter Chiefs in the middle of January, a run of six straight defeats for Jake White’s team.

The former three-time Super Rugby champions were some distance from their provincial international pedigree, while Toulouse looked every bit the team propping up Rugby World Cup challengers, France.

The Bulls were getting belted in key specialist positions: hooker, tighthead and scrumhalf. Without a Springbok in either of the positions, Toulouse offset them with their French internationals.

White was better off starting as much Springbok experience as he could, especially at scrumhalf, where Zak Burger looked every bit a former Griquas player.

Embrose Papier might have acquitted himself better, although up against the eminent world scrumhalf, Antoine Dupont.

At hooker, the hosts boasted two France No 2s, Julein Marchand and Peato Mauvaka, while their second-rowers read Johan Grobbelaar’s throw-ins like a cheap pamphlet.

Moments before the break, the Bulls