Without making much noise, despite his blonde locks and his shoulders as wide as an American fridge (2m02 for 121kg), he asserts himself, week after week, as a captain of the Harbor. So much so that with Charles Ollivon's serious injury against Racing 92, it was he who inherited the captain's armband, ahead of boys like Baptiste Serin, Esteban Abadie or Jérémy Sinzelle. Excuse me a little.
David Ribbans? As evidence on Mayol's side, the giant of South African origin has been unanimous since his arrival in the Var at the end of the 2023 World Cup. This season, he seems to have gone up a notch again in his performances which, from week to week, follow one another brilliantly.
A very powerful player, capable of moving on without flagging (he is the player most used by Pierre Mignoni since the start of the season with 1055 minutes of play), the great David is above all a leader by example.
Very rigorous on a daily basis, he also brings his full range to the field, from his devastating charges to his door openings thanks to his good hands, including his defensive gestures, like his exceptional return on the restless Cadan Murley against Harlequins.
TOP 14. The right Sinckler/Ribbans lumberjack axis, oak wood from this reinvigorated RCT
-A real tree trunk in the scrum and also painful in touch, the former beam of the Northampton pack has become one of Mayol's darlings. Who will also be protected by Pierre Mignoni this Sunday against Sale, by being placed on the bench to breathe a little.
In Botha's footsteps
For the rest, Ribbans is now one of the very best number 5s in the championship. Used 15 times on the right of the scrum (in 31 starts) despite his versatility, it is to this position that his qualities probably correspond best.
Until eating at the table of Meafou and Skelton, even thicker but less dynamic? We will probably have the answer in 10 days, when the Toulon semi-trailer crosses paths with the giant from La Rochelle (if the latter recovers from his injury), in the Top 14.
6 Nations 2025. Toulon’s return to favor? From Palisson to Dréan, an unprecedented presence with the XV of France
For the moment, he seems in any case to be the first 2nd row of the RCT to follow in the footsteps of Bakkies Botha, since his cessation in 2015. A fair reward for the one who, failed from Super Rugby in South Africa, had to exile to England to make a career. Especially since this may be a detail for you, know that in Mayol, it means a lot…
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