Toulouse are still in search of their first-ever Super League win and things don’t get easier for the newly-promoted side when they host a rejuvenated Wigan side on Saturday tea-time.
The French outfit have been comfortably beaten in their first three matches against Huddersfield, Salford and Warrington with their squad still looking thin on the ground as they look to become a competitive top-flight team.
It has been a honeymoon period for Wigan under their new coach Matty Peet with three wins from three, with impressive wins over Hull KR and Leeds backed up with a hard-fought defeat of Huddersfield last Thursday.
Team News
Ellis Robson, who arrived on loan from Warrington this week, is the only change to the Toulouse squad with the 23-year-old forward expected to be at least named on the bench. Olly Ashall-Bott was exceptional on debut against the Wolves last Saturday and he will take up the no.1 role again this week looking for a repeat performance.
Abbas Miski will make his Wigan debut in this one but Peet has named an unchanged squad and may well start with the same 13 players that proved too strong for the Giants – with Miski likely featuring from the bench.
Match Preview – Key battles:
Olly Ashall-Bott vs Jai Field: Two players with very similar attributes who are looking to make up for lost time. Ashall-Bott looked sensational with ball-in-hand against Warrington and if he can keep that level of performance up throughout the season, he will become one of the competition’s stand-out players. Speaking of stand-out players, Field has been one of the best in Super League so far and if Wigan make it four wins from four here, expect him to be at the heart of it.
Tony Gigot vs Cade Cust: Former Lance Todd Trophy winner Gigot has tried his best this season in a struggling side, but the maverick playmaker has had a mixed return to Super League playing at stand-off. He comes up against new Wigan signing Cade Cust here who has been solid so far for the cherry and whites and looks as though he will only get better. Both are capable of doing off-the-cuff things capable of winning any game, so look out for both producing moments of magic in this one.
Where the game will be won and lost:
Last week, Toulouse faced an understrength Warrington team and still came up well short. Here they face a resurgent Wigan who will be almost at full strength, so the signs are ominous. The Warriors are playing some good stuff under new coach Matty Peet and their expansive style will likely carve open their French opponents. Toulouse do have some exciting attacking players, but Wigan’s defence has looked solid so far and this combined with their improved attack should equal a resounding away win.
Score prediction: Toulouse Olympique 10-44 Wigan Warriors
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