SPONSORED | Why Beast would give his former Bok team-mates' Toulon talks the thumbs-up

Legendary Springbok prop Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira would've nodded approvingly if he saw how diligently his former team-mates were mixing with the locals at the national team's official welcoming function in Toulon on Monday evening.

Because, as he tells Dan Nicholl in the final episode of Rugby Players’ Guide to France, an exciting series produced by BrightRock that gives SA rugby fans a slice of the French way of rugby and life ahead of the World Cup, ingraining yourself in the local culture is half the battle won in overcoming the intimidating atmosphere that is Stade Velodrome in nearby Marseille.

The Springboks open their World Cup campaign against Scotland in the 68 000-capacity arena on Sunday.

Mtawarira didn't play club rugby in France, but featured in several Tests in the country and has been doing extensive ambassadorial work for World Rugby ahead of the showpiece.

"When you're playing at Marseille at the Velodrome, they're singing the entire game. They're screaming and chanting and it's quite different to what you'd expect anywhere else," he said. 

"They've got a unique passion towards the game. It makes it pretty tough to beat anyone there who enjoys the crowd's support. But I guess when you overcome them, it's a sweet feeling." 

Of course, another way of approaching it would be to simply get on those supporters' side.

"What I would advise is to embrace everything around you in France because it's a special country. You know, make yourself at home. Get to familiarise yourself with the locals, learn a bit of French," said Mtawarira.  

"It always helps you get by. If you get there and you try to speak English to everybody you meet, the French tend to get a bit intimidated when they hear too much English. Learn a bit of