Leigh Halfpenny has yet to achieve Jonny Wilkinson’s cult status in Toulon but the Wales full-back is enjoying life on the Mediterranean. At a time when some of his Wales colleagues are ending their exile in France – Dan Lydiate left Racing Métro in the autumn and Jamie Roberts is reportedly being released from his contract early – the Lions full-back is savouring warm-downs in the sea and the coastal views from his home.
Wales face France on Saturday for the first time since Halfpenny moved from Cardiff Blues to Toulon but the midfield battle between his club colleague Mathieu Bastareaud and Roberts that will test the structural strength of the Stade de France will be delayed with the Frenchman relegated to the bench, one of five changes from the side who lost to Ireland in Dublin.
“Mathieu is a nice guy, great to play alongside,” Halfpenny said. “He is a big ball-carrier for Toulon and that is what we can expect this weekend when he comes on. We are going to have to be on the money and stop France getting over the gainline. Jamie and Jonathan Davies are superb defenders and it’ll be a huge battle. I have not heard from the Toulon boys in the France squad this week but we will catch up after the match.”
Injury meant Halfpenny made a delayed start to his career with Toulon, where he has taken over from Wilkinson as the club’s goalkicker, but he has become the match-winner Wales have relied on in the last five years as the club plots another league and European Cup double.
“Toulon reminds me of Wales in terms of the passion for rugby there,” he said. “Before a home game you get off the bus and walk through a tunnel of fans into the changing room. It’s incredible and I have not seen anything like that at club level. It is like arriving outside the Millennium Stadium with the fans cheering you in. It gives you a huge buzz.
“It will not be different this weekend because I live in France. My focus will be on doing my job for Wales and we know the challenge we face. We had a good win in Scotland two weeks ago and we won in Paris the last time we were there. We have to arrive with that confidence and belief. The crowd will be loud and we will need to be at our best.”
France have scored one try in their opening two matches in the championship but Halfpenny says they do not reflect the Top 14 in terms of style. “It’s very attacking minded there and with the pack we have, there is a lot of front-foot ball that goes out wide,” he said. “I am enjoying attacking space after the collisions have been won.
“Toulon is a beautiful part of the world. It is nice to go down on to the front, have a cup of coffee and chill. It is sunny most of the time and it makes for a great lifestyle. When I go home from training, rather than have an ice bath I stop off at the port and go in the sea up to my waist with my top on and get the recovery in the legs. There’s a car park right on the beach and you get locals driving past and thinking, ‘What on earth is he doing there?’”
