Bulls push 'reset button' ahead of Jukskei derby rematch
SPOTLIGHT: Following back-to-back wins on overseas soil, the Bulls will push the “reset button” when facing the Lions in Round 11 of the United Rugby Championship, according to captain Marcell Coetzee.
The Bulls and Lions are back in South Africa following their respective two-week overseas tours, playing matches in the EPCR and URC.
The Bulls turned their fortunes around after losing seven matches on the bounce by defeating Pau 26-24 in the Champions Cup and Edinburgh 19-17 in the URC.
The Lions returned home with the unlikely result of two consecutive draws in the Challenge Cup and URC.
A win for the Bulls can propel them into the play-off picture and simultaneously push the Lions out of it.
On the flipside, a win for the Lions would give them a significant boost in their quest to reach the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time, leaving the Bulls with more catching up to do.
The last time these teams met, the Lions emerged victorious in Round Six at Loftus Versveld by 43-33.
Coetzee said losing to the Lions earlier this season is irrelevant heading into this clash. Still, they will be out to rectify that result and get one over their neighbours from Johannesburg.
Article continues below…
“Any derby game in South Africa is like a reset button because both teams really get up for it,” Coetzee told @Rugby365.
“Your previous record doesn’t really matter. It’s about what happens on the day and which team pitches up and uses their opportunities.
“We’re putting our reset button in motion now and preparing to our best for this Lions side because they had our number in the previous game, and it’s something we’re looking to rectify.”
The captain touched on what the two overseas victories meant to the team, and their immediate focus is being back on South African soil.
The article continues below…
“The two [away] wins were good for the group’s morale.
“The confidence is very high, and the guys are just glad to be back into that winning habit.
“Being back in South Africa – it’s always great to be home.
“We’ve got a tough derby waiting for us at Ellis Park, so it doesn’t get any easier.
“The group’s main focus is to recover from the tour, and we’ll put all our energy into [facing] a quality Lions side this weekend.”
