Last season’s losses to the Sharks and Stormers at Loftus Versfeld were devastating for the Bulls, and Bulls skipper Marcell Coetzee wants to avoid a repeat in Sunday’s United Rugby Championship match in Pretoria (3pm kickoff).
The Bulls lost 29-22 to the Durban team in February of last year. Although they avenged that loss with a 30-27 victory in the quarterfinals, they do not want to surrender log points during the league stages since it could influence their attempt to host quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals.
“In order to have any shot of a home playoff game, you must win your home games.” You do not want to lose at Loftus — there is no worse sensation. And with the occasion on Sunday, raising awareness of cancer, and playing in pink jerseys, it will be a major event,” Coetzee said yesterday from Loftus.
“Therefore, we also want to have an influence off the field and make the people proud.”
After the Sharks encounter, Coetzee will depart the Bulls for a brief stay with Kobe Steelers in Japan. He expects to return to Pretoria in early May with his club still in the playoff hunt.
But first, his former team will look to cause a bit of an upset on Sunday, as they are likely to be without the majority of their star Springboks, including Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Makazole Mapimpi, and Bongi Mbonambi, who will fly to Dublin on Saturday in preparation for next weekend’s Test against Ireland.
Coetzee is aware that the Bulls will not have it easy, and he wants his team to maintain the momentum from last week’s 44-22 victory over Benetton in Treviso.
“At the end of the day, your country comes first, and the men have a mission abroad. However, the Sharks will still be able to field a formidable team, as their depth chart is excellent,” the No. 6 noted.
This weekend will be a physical clash with the Sharks. Despite the absence of their Springboks, they still have fantastic players. Therefore, we will do what we can to prepare for this weekend’s big struggle.
“We are quite delighted with our most recent performance. Two losses on tour is not typical for the Bulls, but fortunately we were able to gain some confidence – particularly in the second half. We have begun executing the game plan we desire.
Clearly, it was hardly a flawless performance… We still need to improve our discipline, especially against the Sharks; you can’t allow them into your half if you have poor discipline. We also reaped benefits from our mauls, and you must identify locations where you might exploit weaknesses.
The Bulls’ confirmation of the signing of Springbok tighthead prop Wilco Louw yesterday demonstrates that they are serious about transforming their scrum into a formidable one.
The 28-year-old front-three-year rower’s deal with Pretoria has expired, but he will join the team on July 1, 2023.
In addition to earning 14 Springbok Test caps, Louw is a massive player who is recognized for being a scrum rock.
A return to South Africa, however, will reintroduce him to national coach Jacques Nienaber. During his tenure with Harlequins, he was virtually absent from the Boks.
However, the Bulls will have to wait eight more months to utilize his abilities.
It is thrilling to be returning to South Africa and reuniting with the Bulls. Yesterday, Louw stated, “I had an incredible experience with the Harlequins and have many fond memories, and I hope that we can make similar memories in Pretoria.”
“My rugby career began with the Bulls, and I believe it’s every rugby player’s desire to win a few trophies in their career, so I’m eager to join the club and collaborate with outstanding players and coaches to make that dream a reality.”