14 October 2026
Springbok loose forward Elrigh Louw has laid down a marker for the Vodacom Bulls’ Investec Champions Cup campaign, firing a clear message to their northern hemisphere rivals. The Pretoria franchise opens its European account this Saturday at 14:00 SAST, hosting French heavyweights Stade Français at Loftus Versfeld.
The bruising back-rower is determined to rectify the team's previous home slip-ups in the competition. “I think we let it slip last season at home,” Louw admitted. “So definitely we want to win the games at home and then make a statement overseas.”
Louw also dismissed the narrative that South African teams treat the Champions Cup as a secondary priority. He insisted the squad is fully focused on lifting the trophy. “There’s a perception about this competition and the South African sides. We take it as seriously as any other team, and we want to win it,” he said.
The incoming French Top 14 outfit presents a distinct tactical challenge for the Bulls' tight five. Louw expects a gruelling physical confrontation upfront, paired with dangerous counter-attacking capabilities from the visitors. “French teams always have a big, heavy forward pack, rely a lot on scrums and mauls, so that’s a massive battle for us. And then a lot of flair in the backline,” Louw noted.
To counter the French threat, the Bulls must avoid conceding cheap penalties and trailing in the territory battle. Preventing unforced errors remains the primary objective for the Pretoria outfit. “Discipline will be massive,” Louw emphasised.
The Bulls' cause is bolstered by the integration of their returning national players, alongside the punishing highveld climate. The dry, early-summer conditions at Loftus are expected to test the visitors' conditioning. “It’s definitely beneficial to have your Springboks playing for your team,” Louw said. “It’s tough, even just today’s training; it eats you. But I think it’s good for us, and it’s tough for teams coming in to play in the dry heat.”