PICK OF THE SPORT: It’s like a test match – only better. The Sharks versus Toulouse is as big as a test match but many of the best players from around the world will be on the pitch, writes Dylan Bettencourt.

The match between Toulouse and the Sharks in Durban on Saturday is much more than just a club match.

The Investec Champions Cup is the most prestigious club competition in the world, but this match is also a contest between two of the greatest rugby-playing nations in the world.

South Africa and France have much more in common as rugby-playing nations than you might think, including the way they play rugby and their styles that are not so different.

Toulouse’s squad includes the biggest names in French test rugby with players like flyhalf Romain Ntamak, fullback Thomas Ramos, Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka and others.

But it doesn’t end there. Toulouse does not have the limitations of having to use French players as the national team does. The squad also includes Australian lock Richie Arnold, former All Blacks prop Neop Laulala, Argentineans Efrain Elisas, Santiago Chocobares and Juan Cruz Mallia, England’s rising star Jack Willis and Scotland’s brilliant utility back Blair Kinghorn.

And never forget Antoine Dupont. His presence has often been the deciding factor and it may be the case again this weekend.

For the Sharks the good news is that Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Bongi Mbonambi are fit, but the backline will suffer without Aphelele Fassi and centre Andre Esterhuizen.

The weather, if the rain stays away as predicted, will favour the Sharks; hot and humid. Toulouse has travelled from France to South Africa and that may be a factor. All in all, though, Toulouse are still the favourite.

➤ Down in Cape Town, the Stormers are without Dan du Plessis, and Springboks Damian Willemse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in their match against Sale Sharks. The Stormers don’t have a shortage of backline players, but Sacha-FM and Damian Willemse are not replaced easily.

Sale is by no means a top Champions Cup team, but the Stormers have yet to win a match in the competition. If they lose this one it may be the end of their championship hopes. Coach John Dobson will be very aware of that.

➤ The Vodacom Bulls face Castres Olympique in cold weather, wind and rain, in the fearsome Stade Pierre-Fabre in Castres, France. The Bulls, too have not had a single win in the Champions Cup so far, and they will have to toil hard to overcome Castres on Saturday night; very tough, but do-able and the Bulls need the win

DHL Stormers v Sale Sharks at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday at 3pm.

HollywoodBets Sharks v Stade Toulousain at Kings Park, Durban, Saturday at 5.15pm.

Castres Olympique v Vodacom Bulls at Stade Pierre-Fabre, Castres, France on Saturday at 10pm.

All matches are live on DStv channel 211.

➤ The SA20 started on Thursday as South Africa’s most exciting cricket tournament enters its third season.

The Durban Super Giants take on the Pretoria Capitals from 5.30pm on Friday before the weekend’s action.

Saturday will start with the Paar Royals facing the defending champions, the Sunrisers Eastern Cape from 1pm.

After that, the Joburg Super Kings will take on MI Cape Town from 5.30pm.

Sunday will see the Pretoria Capitals face the Durban Super Kings from 3.30pm.

All the action will be live on DStv channel 201.

Pictured above: The Sharks.

Source: X