Jacques Nienaber has reminded Leinster that they must not feel "entitled" to victory ahead of their BKT United Rugby Championship opener against Stormers on Friday night (6pm Irish time).
The defending champions bridged a four-year gap for silverware when they defeated the Bulls in the final last June.
It was a ninth URC title for the province, who also have four Champions Cups to their name, the last of those, however, came back in 2018.
They have started almost every season since as favourites but lost out in four finals and two semi-finals since, including last May's stunning home defeat to Northampton Saints.
That’s a game that still plays on the South African's mind.
Despite lifting a trophy at Croke Park to end the season, it’s the 37-34 loss to Saints that is the abiding memory of the season for the former Springboks coach.
"Everybody handles it differently but for me personally, the Northampton [game stands out]," senior coach Nienaber told RTÉ Sport.
"In losses, one always learns a little bit more than in victories.
"After the loss to Northampton, or the [league defeats Scarlets and Bulls], it’s important to take the learnings.
"We did but then it’s also important to move on as quickly as possible.
"In my mind it was important for me and the squad to learn the lessons, you move on and you get back on the horse as soon as possible."
Expectation comes with the territory at Leinster and last week head coach Leo Cullen also conceded that complacency might have crept in ahead of the semi-final, against a Premiership team they had beaten in the previous season’s semi-final, 20-17.
"I would ask the question of ourselves, did we get seduced into thinking we're a little bit better than we were on the day that everyone's thinking about? he said
"I didn't even have to say it, but unfortunately, it's just one of those days.
"You get a very bad kick in the hole, you know, or however you want to phrase it - punch in the nose - and that's sport, it's cruel."
And Nienaber (above) was on message when he spoke to the media Monday afternoon from Cape Town.
"Because we're determined, we're not entitled to trophies," said the 52-year-old, who last week signed a new deal with the province until 2026/27.
"I think it's important for us all to remember that.
"It's almost sometimes [it seems to] me that people feel we're entitled to win trophies.
"We're not, we must work hard for them.
"There's always big determination within the squad.
"We are a club that pride ourselves in trying to fight for a trophy on two fronts and we always have a good crack at both competitions.
"We're as determined as we were last year, and we're as determined as we were when I joined the club after the 2023 World Cup. We want to do well as much as we can."
Leinster start off their defence against John Dobson’s Stormers on Friday night and a rematch against the Bulls in round two.
Their first home game is on 11 October against Sharks at Aviva Stadium, while they host Munster at Croke Park on 18 October.
They'll be without their Lions contingent, including injured players Caelan Doris, Hugo Keenan and Joe McCarthy.
However, Robbie Henshaw, Jordan Larmour, Will Connors and Brian Deeny, who all missed the run-in last season, are fit and available.
Nienaber said: "It's nice for us that [the tour to South Africa is] in the beginning of the season but unfortunately, if this wasn't a British and Irish Lions year, we probably would have had more players available - not necessarily better players, but more players available.
"That's just how the calendar worked out. But for us it's nice to come on tour. We've got a good spread.
"We've got a 19-year-old with us, to guys who've got multiple Test matches for Ireland.
"And I'm sure there will be some good memories made, hopefully off the field and then hopefully on the field.
"That's what rugby is all about, you know.
"Making good memories, experiencing things, coming to South Africa for the first time, some of them being in Cape Town for the first time, so I think it's always a good gelling experience, having a tour.
"We couldn't have everybody available, but it's still brilliant for us.
"We can't complain.
"We have a tough start. I mean, if you think we play the Stormers, then we play the Sharks, who lost in the semi-final to the Bulls, who we then played in the final.
"Three South African teams - the team that ended fifth, the team that ended second, and then the team that finished third.
"It's teams that normally challenge for [titles] at the backend of the competition.
"We will have a very good idea where we are after these three games, and then it's Munster at Croke Park.
"So, our first month is a blockbuster month, which is great.
"Then we build from there and, like I say, we're not entitled to anything.
"We're not entitled to have a good start because we are the defending champions."
Meanwhile, the URC has announced it will adopt the global World Rugby trial of the 20-minute red card law for the 2025/26 season.
"If a player commits foul play that reaches the red card threshold but is not deliberate or 'always illegal', they will receive a 20-minute red card. The player is removed from the game and cannot return," said the organisers.
"After 20 minutes of playing time, the team may bring on an available replacement. Two yellow cards to the same player in one match will also equal a 20-minute red card."
By contrast, permanent red cards will still apply where foul play is highly dangerous, intentional, or 'always illegal'.
In these cases, only the referee can make the decision and the player is sent off for the rest of the game and cannot be replaced.
Examples of 20-minute red cards include: a shoulder charge to the head with low danger or indirect contact; a tackle or in a ruck clear-out attempt where a player makes head contact despite a genuine attempt to wrap; high-danger foul play that is not deemed deliberate or always illegal.
Examples of permanent red cards are a shoulder charge to the head with high force and direct contact; highly dangerous clear out directly onto or landing on an opponent's lower limbs at a ruck; punching, kicking, headbutts, verbal abuse or any form of violent conduct or acts of 'thuggery’.
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