Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba will run out in his 50th match for the Stormers this weekend, and hopes to celebrate the milestone in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with a victory.
The Cape side will kick off their campaign for Champions Cup glory against three-time winners Toulon in Gqeberha (5.15pm kick-off) in a home tie that will hopefully bring some winning momentum back to the Stormers.
They are on a run of two losses after their narrow 21-15 United Rugby Championship defeat to the Sharks this past weekend, and now have an uphill to try and bag some winning momentum in the Friendly City when they face the French giants.
Dweba, who joined the Stormers in their debut season in the URC – as well as loose forward Willie Engelbrecht – are set to earn their half-century of caps this weekend.
“I didn’t think I would reach 50 caps, but it will be a special moment for me,” the Bok hooker said after training at Bishops yesterday.
“My experience has been fantastic with the Stormers. In the first season, we ended up in the final (of the URC and winning) and reached the quarters in the second. So, I am excited for this new season.”
But it hasn’t all gone the way of the inaugural URC champions at the start of their new campaign.
They’ve lost four of their six matches in the URC and after falling to the Sharks, they face Toulon with little momentum.
The Cape side will also be without two influential players in captain Dan du Plessis and the versatile back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Springboks Damian Willemse, Steven Kitshoff and Evan Roos are also out with long-term injuries, while fellow Boks Deon Fourie, Frans Malherbe and Salmaan Moerat are only expected back later this month.
Moerat has been training alongside Fourie, and the lock could make his return for Western Province in a friendly against Griquas this week.
Dweba, meanwhile, expects a tough clash against the French giants, and said that they had to reset after the loss to the Sharks.
“The focus shifted to ourselves. The mistakes we made, we had to fix up. We want to play our brand of rugby, the way we know. We got a bit loose, and had to tighten those things up.
“We have been focusing on our set-pieces, and that is where we feel Toulon will challenge us this weekend. They are a big pack of forwards, and have shown they can scrum.
“But we are also happy with how we are going in the scrums. Those connections you make weekly with the players next to you help a lot.”
Dweba, loosehead prop Ali Vermaak and tighthead Neethling Fouché had a massive scrum battle against Boks Ox Nche and Vincent Koch, as well as Scotland hooker Dylan Richardson – last weekend in Durban, and ended on top against the Sharks internationals.
But facing the giants of Toulon will be a different challenge.
The hooker said that he’s also been working hard on his lineout-throwing, and that has shown in the accuracy the Cape side have enjoyed in this facet of the game this season – having received severe criticism in the past.
“Touch wood, but yes, it is going well,” Dweba added about the lineouts.
“We are working hard on it. As a player, you never go to the field to stuff up or anything. You always go to do your best.
“Unfortunately, you are not playing against robots, but against a team. The aim is to do well in your lineouts, but things happen on the field.
“JD (Schickerling) has added a lot to our lineout. Having him and guys like Ruben (van Heerden) and Adré (Smith) there helps a lot.
“You get that sense of relief as a hooker when they are in the team.”
Meanwhile, wing Seabelo Senatla is set to make a spectacular return to rugby after his career was almost ended following a car accident.
Independent Newspapers have it on good authority that the speedster will make his return off the bench against Toulon on Saturday.
Stormers director of rugby John Dobson will announce his team tomorrow afternoon.