Bulls veteran Bismarck du Plessis believes his side will have to adapt to a different rugby mentality when they face Toulouse in France this weekend.
The Pretoria men have not been in the best form of late and are on an eight-match losing streak in all competitions, making their trip to one of Europe’s most elite much more daunting.
Fortunately for the Bulls, some figures in the set-up have experienced French club rugby, led by boss Jake White and Du Plessis.
“Totally different”
The former Springbok hooker admits the rugby mindset is very different in France whilst also recalling the hostile environment that awaits in Toulouse.
“Oh! It’s a totally different mindset compared to how we approach rugby. When I was in France, you had these super professional players who have been at the top of their game for a very long time, and then you almost come into certain places where it’s very amateur – the way it’s run,” Du Plessis said.
“The supporters are hostile. At Toulouse, it’s a 150-metre walk towards the change-room, and you walk in this small path and the supporters are shouting and screaming – you don’t understand a word of French …
“So, it’s a big gauntlet you have to overcome to arrive in the changeroom. Then you put your boots on, and this mass of supporters of the club is shouting at you like you can’t believe.
“They are at the top of the Top 14, about eight or nine points ahead of the second guy. When I was young, these are the games where you can make your name – these are the games that you can change your whole future (in). These are the games that stories are made of …
“That’s our main focus. To be really successful this weekend, we really need a team performance from one to 23, and 23 to 28. We need the buy-in from every person, from top to bottom. We need a few better tricks; we need to stop their offload game. We need to stop their physical runners.”
Maul battle
The hooker may also face the impressive France star Julien Marchand, but Du Plessis believes the battle is about the whole team and that maul defence will be key against the French giants.
“I’ve played a few times against Julien – I’ve played here when we’ve beaten them and lost to them. The challenge is not me against Julien … It’s from our loosehead to Kurt-Lee (Arendse) at the back. Each and every person has to win their personal battles in every small aspect of the game,” he said.
“It (maul defence) is something we really prepped well for last week, and I think we have to give a guy like Duane (Vermeulen) and the whole Ulster team (credit). They really took that front ball and put us under pressure.
“We stopped them a few times, but they did make metres and got some points off that. It was difficult to concede points when we were doing so well. It’s definitely something we need to work on this week.
“But in France, they drive a lot differently … Their maul is a lot different – it’s all about weight and power rather than technique, like Ulster. We must just be able to match their weight and power.”
No comment
Meanwhile, in the wake of his yellow card against Ulster last weekend, the veteran refused to comment on match officials and claims he will talk openly once he hangs up his boots.
“I think we should keep ourselves to the game on Sunday, rather than talk about officiating and the IRB rulings and stuff like that, because like I said, if you phone me in a few months’ time and I am on the farm with my kids, I will give you my 100% co-operation,” he said.
“I’ve never been somebody who looks at my own decisions, and how things are made while being a rugby player. When I’m retired, I will give you my full co-operation … my full heart of what I think about it. But at the moment, I can’t be talking about the officials.”
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