BULLS head coach Lee Greenwood can see why winning in Toulouse has become so difficult for Championship sides, but has not necessarily ruled out the tactics that brought his side a memorable win when the sides met at Odsal in February.
The French side have been a little shaky on the road this season, and they lost their discipline somewhat in Bradford throwing away a lead to lose 28-18.
Greenwood was Mark Dunning’s No.2 that day, and said: “It’ll be totally different to how it was at Odsal.
“But if you’re the underdogs and don’t necessarily feel you can go toe-to-toe with a side at rugby, you can go down that route of upsetting that side’s rhythm and changing the momentum of the game.
“We saw that it can rock them but we just have to look at ourselves and focus on what we do best, and it’s not like we’ll be putting hands in faces in training looking for a reaction.”
Toulouse have not lost a regular season Betfred Championship game on home soil since Bulls won there in 2019, with Greenwood reflecting: “No-one has done it this year and they’ve been winning games comfortably, including last weekend against (fourth-placed Sheffield).
“They’re generally better than their opposition because they’re full-time not part-time, and a lot of the games, their opposition can’t take their best side for that reason.
“It does disrupt the usual plan, because you need a day off work, to fly out the day before, and then stay in a hotel.
“It sounds nice and it can be good to get away, but we’re off to play a game.
“There are those challenges and we have plenty to deal with.”
Another challenge will be overcoming the loss of Bodene Thompson, who is leaving the club to return to New Zealand on compassionate grounds after the upcoming games against Toulouse and Keighley.
Greenwood said: “Bodene had missed several games but he’s been back for the last few.
“When he’s played, he’s shown confidence and been tough, while his experience has been handy.
“His loss will leave a big hole and it’s up to us as staff and players to fill that.”
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