Are the Bulls ready for URC redemption with new coach, players?

Bulls flanker Marcell Coetzee believes the new-look Bulls will take heart from the lessons of three United Rugby Championship Finals as they head into a new season under coach Johan Ackermann.

Coetzee will captain the Bulls in the absence of Springbok Ruan Nortjé. They host the Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The Pretoria outfit reached their third URC Final last season but fell short against Leinster, a defeat that came with sharp criticism from former coach Jake White, who questioned whether the squad was good enough to win at the highest level.

The new faces in the Bulls squad are Handré Pollard, Jan Serfontein, who returns to Loftus Versfeld after eight years in France, ex-Montpellier lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, former Stormers scrumhalf Paul de Wet, Cheetahs hard man Jeandré Rudolph, and Stormers prop Sti Sithole.

Their injury list remains significant, with players like Elrigh Louw, Nizaam Carr, Akker van der Merwe, Ruan Vermaak, Cameron Hanekom, and Gerhard Steenekamp all still undergoing rehabilitation.

The 34-year-old Coetzee comes off a sterling season with exceptional form, which saw him win a few man-of-the-match awards.

In the absence of Elrigh Louw, the hard man not only stepped up at the right time for the Bulls last season, but he also has been one of the leaders in the squad.

Coetzee says the squad has taken those lessons to heart and is determined to respond positively.

“I think if you play for this union, you always back yourself in any format you play with, and also in finals, it’s not always easy.

“Even the road to finals can be difficult, but on the day we just met a Leinster side that was hungrier, and we didn’t have an answer for that.

“But in failure, you do get your learnings, and we’ve identified staff that didn’t work for us and we want to continue building that towards the new season,” Coetzee said.

Coetzee has praised Ackermann’s leadership style, describing him as approachable and honest with his feedback, qualities he believes are already helping the team grow.

According to the flanker, the former Lions and Gloucester coach has seamlessly fitted into the Bulls’ culture and given players confidence to express themselves.

“What you see is what you get from the coach. He has an open-door policy, and for a player, that is what you want. The whole style is great so far, and I think the players are really enjoying it,” Coetzee said.

He also talked about the vibe the vastly experienced new face has brought into the mix.

“They bring a lot of experience from overseas, and then with the youngsters that joined us for the URC, they feed off that.

“I also see the standard at training, and I think it’s been very positive so far. The boys get along very well with them, and they basically came home, and it’s great to have him here,” he added.

Some of the Bulls’ most promising emerging players are also training with the senior squad, like Junior Boks Esethu Mnebelele, No. 8 JJ Theron, prop Jean Erasmus, and wing Cheswill Jooste.

Bulls URC squad:

Forwards

Loose head props: Alu Tshakweni, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jan Hendrik Wessels, Sti Sithole, Ruan Swart.
Hookers: Johan Grobbelaar, Akker van der Merwe, Juann Else, Esethu Mnebelele.
Tight head props: Wilco Louw, Francois Klopper, Mornay Smith, Jean Erasmus, Khuta Mchunu.
Locks: JF van Heerden, Ruan Nortje, Ruan Vermaak, Jaco Grobbelaar, Sintu Manjezi, Reinhardt Ludwig, Cobus Wiese, Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg.
Loose forwards: Marco v Staden, Marcell Coetzee, Nama Xaba, Jannes Kirsten, Nizaam Carr, Elrich Louw, Cameron Hanekom, Mpilo Gumede, JJ Theron, Jeandré Rudolph.

Backs:

Scrumhalves: Embrose Papier, Paul de Wet, Zak Burger, Steven Nel.
Flyhalves: Handré Pollard, Keagan Johannes, Johan Goosen.
Centres: Harold Vorster; Jan Serfontein, PA van Niekerk, Chris Barend Smit, David Kriel, Stedman Gans, Katlego Letebele.
Wings: Stravino Jacobs, Sergeal Petersen, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Sebastian de Klerk, Canan Moodie, Cheswill Jooste, Aphiwe Dyantyi.
Fullbacks: Willie le Roux, Devon Williams, Henry Immelman.