Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee says the team is desperate to make the playoffs.
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During the Bulls’ 47-7 defeat of the Dragons last week, there was a noticeable shift in tactics after half-time — they went from a more adventurous strategy that had harvested few points to playing more with their big forwards, with a handsome reward.
The Bulls went from 12-7 up at halftime to 47-7 winners as they tightened up the game and allowed their forwards to bully the Dragons. Captain Marcell Coetzee hinted that it will be more of the same when the Bulls visit another Welsh side on Saturday night, the Scarlets, who have never lost to the Bulls in Wales.
“We have to grind out every win and get the most out of each game, however we can,” Coetzee said.
The race for the top eight in the United Rugby Championship is so tight that the Bulls’ five-point haul in Bridgend last week could not budge them from eighth spot. And the Stormers did the Bulls no favours by losing in Cape Town to Connacht, who are breathing down the necks of the Bulls in ninth, just a log point behind.
Coetzee said the Bulls have to hold their nerve and win their remaining games — against the Scarlets in Llanelli, then home fixtures against Benetton and Zebre.
“You can only control what you can, and that was our performance on the weekend, where we did what we had to do,” Coetzee said.
“The rest is in the hands of the other teams, and if other results benefit us going forward, that would be great. But we can’t really bet all our chips on that. We have to make the most of what we can control, and that is our last three games.
“But I sense a big hunger in the team. We desperately want to make the play-offs and even take that step further forward, without looking too far ahead. For now, the focus is 110 per cent on Saturday night against Scarlets.”
Coetzee knows the Scarlets’ style of play well — they are coached by the renowned former Wales international Dwayne Peel, who happened to be Coetzee’s coach during his years at Ulster.
“I know Dwayne’s mindset going into games. His whole mantra is to attack. They have threats all over the park,” said Coetzee.
The last time the Bulls played the Scarlets away, they lost 23-22 after hooker Johan Grobbelaar was red-carded late in the game. The Welsh side cashed in to snatch the win.
“They’re a team that stays in the fight until the very last minute,” Coetzee explained. “If you’re ill-disciplined or allow them into your half, they capitalise. That makes them very dangerous. We can only stay humble knowing that we have yet to beat the Scarlets in Wales.”