Halfpenny makes a quick return to Toulon... bidding for Euro glory with Scarlets
LEIGH Halfpenny will make his much-anticipated return to Toulon tomorrow, just a few months after being shown the exit door by the French giants.
Halfpenny has overcome a hamstring niggle that forced him to miss last weekend’s Guinness PRO14 derby against the Ospreys and starts in a Scarlets side showing four personnel changes from that hardearned victory at the Liberty Stadium.
Halfpenny was part of the Toulon side that were crowned European champions for a third time at Twickenham in 2015 and was a favourite with fans during his three seasons at the Stade Mayol.
However, his stay on the Cote d’Azur ended in acrimonious circumstances when Toulon’s controversial owner Mourad Boudjellal decided to withdraw a contract offer in the summer.
Halfpenny was fully expecting to extend his stay in France, but was told of Boudjellal’s change of heart while he was the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand.
What followed was a scramble for a new club and that led him to the Scarlets on a National Dual Contract. Stade Mayol Tomorrow, 3.15pm TOULON v SCARLETS
“I’m looking forward to going back out to Toulon with the Scarlets and after the game catching up with some of the guys that I played with during my time there,” he told Sky Sports News.
“But during the game it’ll be a huge battle, that’s the exciting part.
“When I made the decision to go (to Toulon) it wasn’t an easy decision to leave Wales, but I felt at the stage of my career, and how things were, that was the right time to go and win silverware.”
Pivac’s selection for the Pool Five opener has been influenced by the testing five-day turnaround between the opening two matches, with Bath due to arrive in Llanelli next Friday.
Halfpenny’s return means Johnny McNicholl moves to wing in place of Paul Asquith; Scott Williams is back to partner Jonathan Davies in midfield, while Aled Davies starts at scrum-half. Up front, Ryan Elias gets the nod at hooker with Ken Owens dropping to the bench. Williams will captain the side.
“It is a tricky situation, it is a big start and we want to do well in Europe, but we have to be smart in how we manage the boys,” said Pivac. “There have been some interesting discussions had.”
The Scarlets are no strangers to what awaits in Toulon this weekend – this will be their third visit to the south of France in four seasons.
Last December, they were beaten 31-20, outmuscled early on by the relentless power game of the hosts.
Centre Mathieu Bastareaud was a one-man wrecking ball that day, while Halfpenny finished with a 16-point haul thanks to a try, four conversions and a penalty.
Toulon may have been usurped as kings of Europe by Saracens in recent seasons, but they still boast a squad brimming with vast international experience.
They also have a formidable record at home with only one defeat – against Saracens last season – in their last 21 European ties at their Mayol fortress.
“There are two Toulons, just look at the French competition this season,” added Pivac.
“There is a Toulon who play at home and a Toulon who play away. We are playing them in their own back yard, they are big, they are powerful and they have a lot of talent in their squad. If you underestimate them, it is at your peril.
“We certainly won’t be doing that. It is going to be a big day at the office trying to contain some big men. Last year they got a bit of a roll on early, we regathered and gave a good account of ourselves for the rest of the game, but we can’t afford to have a start like that again.
“We want to be contenders in this competition, we want to test ourselves in this group phase and get out of the group for the first time in a long time.” Toulon: H Bonneval; J Tuisova, M Bastareaud (capt), M Nonu, C Ashton; A Belleau, E Escande; F Fresia, G Guirado, M Van Der Merwe, S Rebbadj, M Gorgodze, J Fernandez Lobbe, F Isa, R Lakafia Reps: A Etrillard, X Chiocci, L Chilachava, R Gahetau, S Radradra, F Trinh-Duc, S Tillous-Borde, J Kruger Scarlets: L Halfpenny; J McNicholl, J Davies, S Williams (capt), S Evans; R Patchell, A Davies, W Jones, R Elias, S Lee, J Ball, L Rawlins, A Shingler, T Beirne, W Boyde Reps: K Owens, D Evans, W Kruger, D Bulbring, J Macleod, G Davies, P Asquith, H Parkes. Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng).