Dave Attwood at home with ‘mutants’ in France

(Photo: Getty Images)
By Neale Harvey
Revitalised England lock Dave Attwood is ready to ramp-up his bid for a Test recall by helping Toulon capture a Top 14 and Champions Cup ‘double’.
Attwood, 30, has proved a smash-hit in the south of France since joining the three-time European champions on loan from Bath last month and is well on the way to proving his fitness after 17-months of injury hell since damaging a knee in November 2016.
Attwood, who won the last of 24 caps against South Africa that autumn, told The Rugby Paper: “South Africa this summer will probably be too early as I’m only four games back and haven’t spoken to anyone with England, but it’s going well.
“With playing down here I’m probably not on their radar but the main thing is I’m back playing and, hopefully, I’ve got an opportunity to win some silverware.
“We’re well placed in the Top 14 and are in the mix in Europe, so it’s something I’m yearning for because I haven’t managed a trophy at Bath thus far.”
The forgotten enforcer has vowed to fulfil the remaining year of his contract at Bath, but Attwood admits he finds the French experience to his liking.
He explained: “I’ll be returning to Bath in June but the game here is suited to me, which I’ve always felt it would be. People have often said this is where I should play but with having international ambitions it’s something I’ve never considered.
“Staying domestic has always been a given but this opportunity has been brilliant and there are a load of big mutants out here running around and crashing into each other. That’s what I was built to do so I’m very much enjoying being part of that.
“I’m obviously at one of the biggest clubs in the world so there’s an element of prestige about being able to pull on the Toulon jersey, but wrapped up in that is the emotion of being back on the pitch playing and doing what I’m supposed to be doing.
“More than anything, though, it’s a great opportunity to see a hell of a lot of good players. Playing alongside guys like Bryan Habana, Malakai Fekitoa, Mamuka Gorgodze and all the rest is amazing and it’s exciting to be rubbing shoulders with them.”
Toulon face a crucial Top 14 showdown at home to Clermont Auvergne today, after which attention will turn to Saturday’s Champions Cup clash at Munster.
Attwood said: “It’s been a while since I had a run-out in Europe and not being cup-tied was one of the reasons Toulon were keen on me, but first we need a win against Clermont to improve our Top 14 position and our form going into Munster.
“I’ve never played at Thomond Park before and I’ve never had the best experiences in Ireland, having lost twice at Leinster with Bath and again in Dublin with England, so hopefully there’ll be an opportunity this week to turn that around.
“There’ll be a huge buzz around Irish rugby at the moment after the Six Nations and the Irish clubs are in a rich vein of form as well, but Toulon are equally synonymous with European rugby now and there’s huge excitement here as well.”