Powerhouse centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg insists Bordeaux Bègles are not thinking about back-to-back Investec Champions Cup titles.
The holders host the Leicester Tigers in the last 16 on Sunday.
Van Rensburg’s French club marched to their first major trophy last May and reached this season’s knockouts as top seeds with a perfect run in the pool stage.
Only five other teams have won consecutive titles in the previous 30 editions of the tournament.
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“When you start getting into these playoff games you’re in a position where you really want to go to the end,” Van Rensburg said.
“But you can’t go to the end if you don’t win the weekend’s game and I think that’s the mentality for us. Because if Sunday doesn’t happen then next week won’t happen.
“We’re not thinking about the double,” the 31-year-old added.
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Van Rensburg moved to the French south west in 2024 from the Yokohoma Canon Eagles in Japan after spells with the Bulls, Lions and Sharks in South Africa, and Sale in England.
In his maiden campaign in a backline including star winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Bordeaux Bègles lifted their first-ever Champions Cup, before losing to Toulouse in the Top 14 final after extra time.
Van Rensburg has settled into life near the Atlantic coast smoothly. He has learned the language fluently and eats chunks of his baguette on the way home from the boulangerie.
“Louis Bielle-Biarrey told me at the end of last season, when you come here as a foreigner, it’s so important for you to understand the language,” Van Rensburg said.
“Because ultimately, if you’re playing in a team where you can’t communicate with the person next to you in these high intense moments, how can you actually be the best team that you possibly can?
“That kind of stuck with me.”
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Van Rensburg made his only Springbok appearance in 2016 and holds hope of wearing the jersey again, even if he is not in contact with coach Rassie Erasmus.
“If you look at the quality of the players there and the quality of the staff right now, it’s unbelievable,” Van Rensburg said.
“You can only be proud to obviously look at it and think to yourself, that’s my country.
“I don’t think any player will ever go away from trying to represent their country, especially when you can play for a South African team that has done what they’ve done in the last few years.
“The ambition will always be there.”
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This weekend, Bordeaux Bègles welcome the Tigers, one of a record seven English clubs to be in the knockouts, and their Australian playmaker James O’Connor.
Van Rensburg spent two seasons alongside veteran O’Connor during their Sale days.
“I played with ‘Rabs’ at Sale and even then, he was an unbelievable player,” Van Rensburg said.
“It’s crazy to say at 35 years old, but he’s really grown into this confident player now.
“I think he’s grown into understanding the game more where normally he was playing off the cuff a little bit more. I think he’s been a real general for Leicester.”
– AFP
Photo: Lionel Hahn/Getty Images
The post Rohan: ‘Double’ not on Bordeaux minds appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Powerhouse centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg insists Bordeaux Bègles are not thinking about back-to-back Investec Champions Cup titles.
The post Rohan: ‘Double’ not on Bordeaux minds appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
