Stormers Go “Full Tilt”: Dobson Braced for Toulon Challenge

If the words of DHL Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson are any indication, rugby fans are in for a spectacle.

The Stormers’ head honcho has confirmed his side will go “full tilt” against Toulon in their Investec Champions Cup clash at Stade Mayol this Saturday.

Fresh off back-to-back home victories in the United Rugby Championship, the Stormers turn their attention to Europe’s premier competition.

The Cape-based side travels to the glamorous, sun-drenched French Riviera, a region where the local supporters possess an insatiable appetite for the game.

Despite the monumental task ahead, Dobson spoke with a blend of enthusiasm and composure, hinting at a potential upset.

“We are looking forward to playing Toulon,” said Dobson. “We want to respect the competition and go as far as we can. No South African team has made the semi-finals.”

“We feel like we have depth, and I think we have worked quite hard on the depth. Despite the injuries at lock, I feel we have more capacity than we had a few years ago,” he added.

“We will have a full crack. It’s a really good Toulon team, but what an experience for us and for part of our growth.”

The Stormers have had one previous encounter with Toulon – when they played the French side in the same tournament in December 2024 in Gqeberha.

On that occasion, the blue and white stripes succumbed to a 24-14 defeat in an ill-tempered affair which saw three yellow cards brandished as well as a red card for the French outfit.

Reflecting on that clash, Dobson admitted that they were caught out by the speed of the three-time European champions, but also made it clear that he is well aware of the assets they have in their arsenal. 

“Baptiste Serin was playing, and I could never work out why they dropped him from France, but then a guy by the name of Du Pont came along,” as he spoke glowingly of the scrum-half. 

“They have a really good scrum, and they are fast – it’s a glitterati of a team,” Dobson said in admiration.

“To win there, the set piece will be important. Our scrum is important, but they win every scrum battle. I think they are number two in France, and then we are going to have to spin and win.”

“I don’t think we are going to grind out against that size pack as we have against Edinburgh. I do think the contestable game is an area we can exploit – but we will have to get into those transitions of play,” admitted Dobson.

Captain Ruhan Nel also weighed in on the conversation and reiterated how massive an occasion it will be.

“I was told it’s quite an experience to play in Toulon. Even playing them in the Eastern Cape a couple of years ago – just to face a French team of that magnitude was a special occasion for us,” said Nel. 

“Now we’ll play them in front of their home crowd, and it’s no secret how passionate they are. It’s a kind of environment that we are looking forward to getting into.” 

“We have not been to that stadium before, so it’s very exciting for us as well.”