14 October 2026
10bet Lions scrumhalf Nico Steyn has challenged his teammates to erase the memory of last weekend’s heavy defeat to the Vodacom Bulls. Steyn demanded an immediate tactical reset for their Investec Champions Cup opener against powerhouse La Rochelle on Saturday at 18:30 SAST.
The Lions suffered a bruising 57-15 loss at Loftus Versfeld, but Steyn insists there is no time for a post-mortem. “We can’t look back at last week’s game and hammer on it the whole time; we need to put that behind us,” he stated during today’s media briefing.
Facing a daunting task on French soil, the Lions intend to counter their opponents' physical pack with high-tempo, expansive rugby. The strategy hinges on recapturing the fluid, attacking style that defines the franchise at its peak. “We know La Rochelle are a strong French team, we know they’ve got a heavy pack, so for us it’s just about getting back to the Lions way, moving the ball and getting back to our strengths,” Steyn explained.
Navigating an away tour in Europe presents a massive mental hurdle, yet the Lions remain remarkably composed. Steyn downplayed any pre-match jitters, expressing absolute confidence in the squad’s preparation and unity. “I don’t think nerves will be a big factor. For us it’s just about pulling together as a group and a tour is always nice when the vibe is good, and the prep goes well,” he noted.
The fixture marks a historic Champions Cup debut for the Lions, injecting a massive burst of adrenaline into the squad. Turning that pre-match energy into clinical execution on the pitch remains the ultimate objective for the touring side. “There’s big excitement in the squad; it’s massive. But we’ll just make sure we go into this game with a helluva confidence and try to get the result on our side,” Steyn concluded.