Horn: Every South African wants to compete

Lions captain Francke Horn says South African teams are talking about reaching the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals for the first time.

Since joining the competition in 2022-23, no SA side has advanced beyond the quarter-finals. Last season, the Stormers and Bulls reached the round of 16 only to suffer narrow away defeats to Toulon and the Glasgow Warriors respectively.

The Lions will make their Champions Cup debut this season, having previously competed in the second-tier EPCR Challenge Cup.

Speaking on the For The Love Of Rugby: South Africa podcast, Horn was asked by former England scrumhalf Ben Youngs whether this season could see South Africa’s semi-final breakthrough.

“We’re the newcomers, and now you want to ask me a question regarding the playoffs in the Champions Cup!” Horn said with a laugh.

“We’ve played a bit of EPCR [Challenge Cup], so it’s the same travel schedule. But this is the elite competition and for us as the Lions, it’s a challenge to see where we are. We want to stay here.

“I think every South African is a proud man and wants to compete. You hear everybody speaking, they want to start making quarter-finals, semi-finals.”

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Horn believes securing home advantage in the knockout stage will be crucial to South African teams’ chances of going deep into the competition.

“That’s where the challenge is going to be [in the pool stage], where you have to knock off one team away and win your two games at home.”

The Lions kick off their campaign against La Rochelle in France on Saturday before hosting six-time champions Toulouse at Ellis Park on 12 December. They then travel to London to face Saracens on 10 January before completing their pool campaign at home against the Exeter Chiefs on 16 January.

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Horn also tipped 22-year-old Lions loose forward Siba Mahashe to make an impact this season when asked to identify a rising star for European rugby fans to watch.

“He was really good when he got his opportunity last year, and in the All Blacks game, he played really well.

“I see a bright future for him.”

Photo: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

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