The Stormers will be hoping to channel their great URC form into their Champions Cup round of 16 tie with three-time winners Toulon at the Stade Felix Mayol on Saturday.
Match context
The Capetonians come off the back of three consecutive URC victories over the Bulls, Dragons and Edinburgh and will be high on confidence as they arrive in the south of France. John Dobson’s squad are a highly ambitious bunch, and with Project 2029 always in mind, they’ll be intent on going as deep as possible in Europe this season – especially after finishing bottom of their pool last term.
Their recent 33-14 win over Edinburgh was emphatic enough, with the likes of Ntuthuko Mchunu and Evan Roos enjoying standout performances, while even Damian Willemse’s sojourn on the wing went well. These are all good signs as they brace for this challenge at the home of the three-time champions, where Dobson’s team will receive a unique litmus test of their overall quality.
Toulon may be languishing in 11th place on the Top 14 table and struggling for form, but they remain a side stacked with quality and belief after their run to the Champions Cup quarterfinals last season. They certainly have the talent to produce big performances, but there’s no denying they’ve been lacklustre of late.
Pierre Mignoni’s side head into this clash off the back of another disappointing domestic defeat, this time a 36-20 result at 13th—placed Perpignan, with the club’s outspoken fans calling for improvement in virtually all areas. Flyhalf Paolo Garbisi is one among many who’ve copped a fair amount of criticism this season, though it remains to be seen whether the Italy international or Argentine counterpart Tomas Albornoz will start this one.
Given the current state of the French club, they could be vulnerable.
Players to watch
Juan Ignacio Brex (Toulon)
The Argentine-born Italy international will be a key player for Toulon as they look to halt the Stormers’ effervescent attacking game. Brex’s experience on defence will be vital in this regard, especially considering the performances of rampaging Springbok duo Mchunu and Roos last week, and his communication must be on point in a backline that has been leaking tries all season long.
Regardless of who Dobson opts to employ in his own midfield, and let’s be honest, he’s not exactly short of options, Brex’s impact for Toulon will go a very long way to deciding the outcome of the encounter.
Ntuthuko Mchunu (Stormers)
The former Hollywoodbets Sharks loosehead was a monster with ball in hand against Edinburgh, causing havoc for the Scottish outfit and managing to bag a try and try assist during his hour on the Cape Town Stadium pitch. Aside from the yellow card he received early on for a silly tactical foul, Mchunu can rightly feel proud of his efforts and will be eager to crack on with similar showings now that he’s back to full fitness.
The 26-year-old is likely to come up against Georgian powerhouse Beka Gigashvili in the scrums this weekend, which will provide the tearaway Maritzburg College Old Boy another chance to enhance his reputation and even give Rassie Erasmus something to think about as the international season draws ever nearer.
Tactical overview
While there are several areas of concern for Toulon heading into this encounter, the most startling would appear to be their defensive system, which has the third worse points difference (-106) in the entirety of the Top 14. Against a free-running Stormers team that loves to score tries, the warning signs are certainly there and Mignoni and his group of players will need to be even more acutely aware of the damage they could take if they aren’t switched on.
What will work in Toulon’s favour of course will be their fans, with French clubs well-renowned for their passionate support at home, especially during European games. If the hosts get an early lead and the crowd gets behind them, they will be even more difficult to stop and it will be up to the Stormers to start strong and dictate matters themselves or risk having the game get out of reach.
That said, the talent and mongrel of this Stormers side is well known, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them tear into Toulon in a similar manner as they did last week. If they are accurate and take their chances, there’s no reason they can’t beat the French club and march on to the last eight.
Prediction
Get on the Stormers to win on the board and dump out-of-sorts Toulon out of the competition.
