Two wins from two on the road, and one more to come. Thomas du Toit on what Munster bring in Limerick, the scrum combinations still bedding in, and the newborn daughter waiting at home.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks take on Munster in their third tour match on Saturday, and following their EPCR Challenge Cup win over Lyon and Vodacom United Rugby Championship victory over Cardiff, could pull off a remarkable and enviable record on the road this Saturday.
For prop Thomas du Toit coming back to the Hollywoodbets Sharks after a lengthy stint with Bath in the UK, this is the kind of opportunity he relishes.
“My experience has been great coming back, the guys have been very welcoming and I’ve come back to what felt natural and familiar,” he explains.
“A team culture is something you build over time, working towards something good and positive that works well for the team; you can definitely see a change and that’s evident in the way we’re playing and the important thing for us is to build on that culture, add to that style of play and hopefully keep winning.”
Back-to-back victories in France and Cardiff for two wins on the trot can only build self-belief that nothing like winning does, but it’s more than just the results as he points out.
“There’s a plan in place and everyone is buying into it, which gives us a lot of confidence, and gives the coaches confidence in the way they are approaching the game.
“Ultimately in an 80 or 85 minute effort [against Lyon], the guys just never gave up. To come to Cardiff and get a win like that is quite special, getting the job done away from home builds a lot of confidence.
“But we have to return to normality and start from zero again as we encounter a new opportunity and challenge [against Munster].
“Everyone is excited for this week, we have a new challenge and we’re all working really hard in preparation for the game.”
What does he expect from Munster, knowing that playing them is no easy task?
“There are two special things about Munster: Limerick is a proud city and Munster are a proud rugby club with an incredibly rich rugby history.
“This unbelievable support uplifts the players quite a bit. They have die-hard supporters who sit in the stands in the wind and rain, and they continue to support their team in the tough times as well. That’s something special and the players feel a sense of responsibility to themselves, to the crowd and to the city. That must give them a lot of energy.
“As a team, they have a group of players who have been together for a long time, so there’s a lot of continuity because the majority of the squad has been together for a long time.
“That continuity is admirable and makes them a very tough opponent to deal with. We understand the challenge that lies ahead and we’re very excited for it.”
Talking challenges, the set-piece is always an area of interest, and a sector of the game the Hollywoodbets Sharks pride on getting right.
“Each season you start from zero and new combinations take time, it doesn’t matter how many training sessions you have and building blocks you do, it’s about time in the saddle.
“It’s a definite focus area for us, somewhere we try to do as well as possible at, but it will take time for us to get used to each other because there are so many different aspects to the scrum.
“I’m excited to play with each and every one of the guys in the pack.”
For a family man like du Toit, touring can be tough, although he accepts that this is the sacrifice a professional rugby player must make and a means to support his family.
“It’s very difficult being away from home, I have a wife and three kids, my youngest daughter is three weeks old and I’ve only known her for a week, so it is incredibly difficult,” he admits.
“But as the head of the home, we need to provide for our families.
“Everyone has their different ‘why’; my big why is providing for my family and it’s a privilege to be able to do what we do.”
