CONFIRMED: The missing link in the Bulls set-up
The Bulls will deny it, but the leadership and extraordinary work rate of veteran Springbok Marcell Coetzee is the one big missing link in the Pretoria-based franchise’s United Rugby Championship campaign.
The Bulls have had some patchy results since the departure of Coetzee for the Kobe Steelers in Japan.
Coetzee, 31, played a pivotal leadership role as the Bulls upset European giants Leinster away from home (in Dublin) to reach the inaugural United Rugby Championship Final last year.
He played his last match for the Bulls – ahead of his six-month Japan sabbatical – in their 40-27 URC win over the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld in October last year.
Before that, the leadership of World Cup-winning Springbok veteran Duane Vermeulen, already into his mid-30s, was central to the Bulls’ back-to-back Currie Cup wins in 2021. Vermeulen joined the Irish province of Ulster in September of that year.
Ruan Nortje has been handed the Bulls captaincy, but his lack of experience has been evident in recent matches.
Stormers defence coach Norman Laker described the 31-times-capped Bok loose forward, Coetzee, as a “phenomenal player”.
Speaking to the media ahead of the URC Round 14 encounter between the fourth-placed Bulls and second-placed Stormers at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, Laker said Coetzee’s departure did have an impact on the Bulls.
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“[He is] a great captain,” the Stormers’ defence guru said, adding: “I met him once or twice after games and he is a great person.
“Nothing against Ruan Nortje and the guys in their [the Bulls’] leadership group, but they might miss his leadership.”
Laker said Coetzee would not have played 31 Tests for his country if he was not a phenomenal player.
He played 100-plus games for the Sharks, before his departure to Ireland – where he played 50-odd games for Ulster.
“I think they do miss him,” the defence coach said of Coetzee’s absence from the Bulls set-up, adding: “Any big player departing from a union does leave a hole – even if you do think sometimes you can replace him.”
The Bulls have lost their last four matches against the Stormers, three of which have been in Cape Town.
However, the Bulls haven’t lost at home since February 2022 – a run of 12 matches.
The Stormers have played their three most recent matches away from home, losing two of them.
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