Steyn ready for Roberts test

Editor

Montpellier star Frans Steyn has hailed Harlequins' Jamie Roberts as "one of the best inside centres in the world" ahead of their tussle.

The big pair will collide in Lyon on Friday when the battle for Challenge Cup glory comes down to 80 minutes, unless of course it's a draw.

Both Steyn and Roberts have been superb for their respective clubs this season and many cannot wait for them to clash, not least Steyn.

"Jamie Roberts is definitely one of the best inside centres in the world. It's a good opportunity for us to measure ourselves against international players, to see where we are as a team, and as individuals. That's what we live for! He's been one of the best centres for the last couple of years, British Lions and everything, and I'm looking forward to the challenge," he said ahead of the final.

Steyn, who alongside Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis won the Rugby World Cup in 2007 for South Africa, has also had his fair share of heartache in knockout games in the past. And the centre is determined to avoid a loss on Friday as his first European club trophy is fingertips away.

"We are in a good situation since I arrived but it's not about me, it's about the team. We want to win, we want something for the club, and everybody is excited and nervous at the same time. We can't wait, those opportunities only come once or twice. I have lost I don't know how many finals or semi-finals, and only won two or three finals," he added.

"Obviously there will be a lot of disappointment if we lose on Friday, but still, it wouldn't be a bad start for this team. I arrived halfway through the season, like many other guys, we didn't have a preseason together or anything. So it wouldn't be that big of a failure. Yet, everyone here is striving for better. that's why we're training on the pitch, that's why we are here every day. We want to be better, we don't want to be normal. We don't want to be just another Montpellier team that walked through the stadium, we want to leave something behind."