Rugby World Cup hero Kolbe returns to action in France

Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe is set to return to play with his club Toulouse this weekend.

Kolbe dazzled in the Green and Gold in 2019, but it was his club form that convinced Erasmus to recall the versatile former Stormers back.

Now predominantly deployed on the wing, Kolbe’s quick feet wrought havoc in the 2018/19 season of the Top 14, and he was named the player of the season at the league’s awards.

The scrapping of the cap-limit previously imposed on foreign-based Springboks paved the way for Kolbe’s return alongside a gang of players plying their trade in the Northern Hemisphere.

Kolbe has improved his game while in France, expanding his already top-notch attacking skills while also developing his defensive game. Kolbe and fellow lightweight Faf ce Klerk proved to be among the Springboks most tenacious and effective defenders at the Rugby World Cup.

Kolbe returns on the continental stage

The Bok wing makes his return to Toulouse colours after a few extra weeks of rehab to ensure he had fully recovered from the ankle niggle that dogged him in the latter stages of RWC Japan 2019.

The European Champions Cup is the stage on which Kolbe returns, although the contest is an all-French affair with Toulouse taking on Bismarck du Plessis’ Montpellier in the third group stage match for both sides.

Kolbe faces the prospect of lining up against fellow Rugby World Cup winner Frans Steyn, who returned to the fray in Montpellier’s 30-27 win over Gloucester in late November. In the same match South African lock Jacques du Plessis was shown a red card and he will not participate this weekend.

In eight matches in Europe last season Kolbe scored two tries and notched a conversion as Toulouse progressed to the semi-finals before coming unstuck against Leinster in Dublin.

Toulouse share the record for the most European Champions Cup titles with the Irish province Leinster, who missed out on an opportunity to win their fifth title with a loss to England’s Saracens in the 2018/19 final.

Toulouse this season

Kolbe’s Toulouse are unbeaten in Europe this season having seen off Gloucester in week one before cruising past Connacht. Montpellier came out on top when the sides met in the Top 14 in October, though both sides have since been bolstered by internationals returning from the World Cup.

The club are fifth on the Top 14 standings having gathered 24 points from the first ten matches, the same number as three other teams occupying places 3-6 among them are Montpellier who are in fourth.