Loose forward Willie Engelbrecht is relishing the opportunity to make an impact in his milestone DHL Stormers appearance against French giants Toulon on Saturday.
The 32-year-old is set to earn his 50th cap for the Cape franchise in the Champions Cup round 1 clash at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
He was a key figure in the Stormers’ journey to the Vodacom URC final during his first full season in 2022-23, after captaining the Pumas to their first Currie Cup title in 2022.
“It’ll be a massive privilege to play my 50th, and it would be nice reaching the milestone playing in South Africa,” Engelbrecht told reporters this week.
“Going up against a big pack is always something I look forward to. We’re expecting a very physical game so I’m excited if I get the chance.”
“From the beginning, my journey with the Stormers has been exciting,” he added. “I always dreamt of playing for a big union, and what I’ve learnt from coaches like Rito Hlungwani, Norman Laker and Dawie Snyman is something I’ll take with me even after rugby.
“I’m just excited for this weekend and look forward to bringing my X factor.”
Saturday’s fixture in Gqeberha presents the seasoned campaigner with a formidable challenge against three-time Champions Cup winners.
MORE: Stormers to fight Toulon ‘fire with fire’
“Toulon have a rich history as a club of big-name players, with big forwards and a big pack, so coming up against them is another opportunity to measure myself against the best in the world,” Engelbrecht said.
“Winning against a team like Toulon will give any team some motivation and a little ‘oomph’.”
Drawing from his leadership experience, Engelbrecht adds, “It’s always a privilege to be captain. The things you learn being a part of this squad, and from the coaches, you realise you have a big role to play.”
Following a tough coastal derby against the Sharks last week, Engelbrecht remains optimistic. “It’ll always hurt if you lose but you can take confidence from all the good things that happened in the game,” he said.
“You could see our plans coming together and it was just one or two unlucky moments that cost us.”
Comparing rugby styles, Engelbrecht sees striking similarities between SA and French approaches. “French rugby and SA rugby are quite close to one another, because we’re big players who like the physical part of the game,” he noted.
“With French rugby I can’t say it’s slower, it’s just hard, with the pack working especially hard.”
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
