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Watch: Cheslin Kolbe's Toulon debut against Zebre
By Sam Smith
Toulon's star Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe made his much-awaited debut for his new club after leaving heavyweights Toulouse in the off-season.
The 28-year-old South African hasn't been able to play for the first four months of the season, but made his first start on the left wing against the Italian club Zebre in the Challenge Cup on Friday night.
Kolbe showed flashes of his game-breaking ability, showing off the trademark footwork to threaten the defence on multiple occasions but Zebre kept him largely in check. He wasn't able to get any try-scoring opportunities on the night.
His best chance came in the 42nd minute but he was chased down from behind and the ball was dislodged as he tried to offload back inside to his support.
Club captain and French international Baptiste Serin praised Kolbe's communication on the pitch and said that whenever 'he touches the ball, there is fire'. Serin said the plan was for Kolbe to play 60-minutes but he ended up playing the full match after moving to centre to cover an injury to Julien Hériteau.
"I found him clean and good in communication. You can't see it but he communicates a lot. Now he needs to move on ," said Baptiste Serin in his post-match comments on BeInSport.
"We feel someone reliable who will bring us consistency. You feel that, as soon as he touches the ball, there is fire, " reassures Serin.
Toulon ultimately cruised to a 28-14 win but will have a much tougher assignment when the Top 14 resumes against the Bordeaux-Bègles who are top of the league table after 12 games.
Watch Cheslin Kolbe's debut for Toulon:
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Latest Comments
Ben Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
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