Bulls captain sends warning to Stormers ahead of URC Final
SPOTLIGHT: The Bulls have added more strings to their bow since their previous meetings with the Stormers in the United Rugby Championship.
In their first meeting in January, the Bulls went down 26-30 at Loftus Versfeld and a couple of months later in Cape Town, they were edged 17-19.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s Final at Cape Town Stadium, Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee admitted their opponents made better use of their opportunities in those games.
However, the Bulls have come a long way since then and Coetzee believes they are a more lethal unit when it comes to converting opportunities into points.
“There were a lot of opportunities in those previous games where we could have sealed the deal, but we didn’t take those opportunities and the Stormers did,” said Coetzee
“That is what made them [Stormers] a very good side this season.
“Against Ulster, they had an opportunity to win the game and they took it.
“However, as the season went on, we got better at that and we used our opportunities when it was necessary.
“We won the big moments and I think we are going to have a spectacular final.
“It will come down to the team that wants it the most and it’s about using those opportunities.”
Previous matches mean nothing when it comes to finals rugby and Coetzee knows that anything can happen on the day.
“It’s not so much about revenge. It’s a Final, so it’s going to be personal on both fronts,” he explained.
“It’s a completely different game on the day.
“Anything can happen and I said it about last week’s game against Leinster.
“It’s 50/50 on the day and we will address that with the humility and the respect it deserves.
“It’s phenomenal that there are two [SA] sides in the Final.”
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Back with the Boks
Meanwhile, Coetzee has been one of the standout performers in the URC and he was rewarded with a Springbok call-up ahead of the international season.
“Being selected for the Boks is incredible,” said the star loose forward.
“You are just on a high after beating Leinster away and then you get the phone call the next day from your CEO telling you that you made it.
“It was an incredible feeling.
“I was not in the mix for a while now, so you just appreciate it.
“You never take those things for granted and congratulations to all the guys that made it.”
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