Wigan Warriors pose a season defining test for struggling Toulouse

Toulouse Olympique’s Super League survival bid faces yet another huge challenge on Friday night when they travel to the DW Stadium in Wigan.

The French outfit are desperate for wins in their remaining four Super League fixtures. They require a minimum of four points, and that’s if Wakefield fail to win any of their last four games.

It is also worth noting that on paper Toulouse have a much tougher run in. After Wigan, they face more challenges from rivals Catalan Dragons, Hull FC and league leaders St. Helens, so it is hard to see where the required points will come from.

Toulouse come into this game off the back of two damaging defeats. Both of which they led at half time but failed to see through. Now on a streak of four losses in a row they need a win, and quickly.

Their loss to Warrington last weekend saw them fall six points behind the Wolves, with the gap to 11^th place Wakefield also growing to four points, after Trinity’s brilliant win against none other than Wigan.

The French side have already faced the Warriors twice this campaign, losing on both occasions.

However, they have proven that they can compete with the big names in English rugby league. They defeated St. Helens once this campaign and their first loss to Wigan was only by a one point margin, in one of the thrillers of the season.

There’s no doubt that we could see an upset at the DW on Friday. Although Wigan remain unbeaten at home this season, they have lost three of their last six games, including the shock defeat last weekend to another relegation threatened side.

At times the Warriors have been a class above the rest of the field, with some of their star players lighting up the division. Nevertheless, they are also prone to showing too many weak spots, and errors have cost them many vital points. Coach Matty Peet, will be hoping his side can find a bit of consistency heading into the playoffs.

Wigan have already secured a top six spot, but they will want to consolidate their place in the top two of the league, meaning they can receive an automatic path into the playoff semi-finals.

As for the team news, the home side make two changes to the squad that lost to Wakefield. They are boosted by the return of their utility forward John Bateman, who returns from injury.

They also add James McDonnell to their 21 man squad, with Mike Cooper dropping out after receiving a one match suspension and Harvie Hill also missing out.

Iain Thornley, Tommy Leuluai, Sam Powell and Ethan Havard remain side-lined through injury.

The visitors were hit with a huge blow coming into this fixture. Star signing Corey Norman, who came out of retirement to help the French side, has been slapped with an eight game ban that is set to see him miss the remainder of the campaign. This comes after he was found guilty of a Grade F charge of Other Contrary Behaviour.

Olly Ashall-Bott also picked up a one game suspension in the match against the Wolves. He and Norman are two of four changes made by Toulouse. With Latrell Schaumkel, Dominique Peyroux and Olly Ashall-Bott also dropping out of the 21 man squad. They are replaced by James Cunningham, Ilias Bergal, Guy Armitage and Hugo Pezet.

Kick-off is at 8pm Friday night at the DW Stadium in Wigan.

 

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