Marcell Coetzee and Jan-Hendrik Wessels say the Vodacom Bulls can’t afford “soft moments” in Saturday’s do-or-die EPCR Challenge Cup clash at Hive Stadium.
Jake White’s charges are gearing up for their maiden quarter-final in the European cup competition against Edinburgh. Fresh off a 32-22 win in Bayonne, Coetzee and Wessels highlight the Bulls’ mindset for the challenge in Scotland.
“It’s knockout rugby in terms of the preparation, and that’s how we will address it,” skipper Coetzee said in a Bulls teleconference on Monday.
“It’s not a case of where you need to score bonus points or chase the game. We can really settle and play the pressure cycle to our advantage and the game management.
“It’s a knockout rugby mindset that you have to approach and you just have to be accurate on the day.”
Last week’s victory extended the Bulls’ European tour, with Vodacom URC matches against Munster in Ireland (19 April) and Glasgow Warriors in Scotland (25 April) still to come. Should they beat Edinburgh, White’s troops will compete in the Challenge Cup semi-finals in early May.
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“Before the tour even started, we were well-prepared for what could happen so I think the preparation was already done before we left our shores,” Coetzee said. “To get a win in the first week sets the mood for the tour as well.
“The enjoyment factor is definitely with the guys, that plays a huge role with the successes, and we’re trying to make the most out of every opportunity.”
However, Coetzee was one of three Bulls players sent off during the Herd’s last trip to Hive Stadium, a 31-23 defeat in November 2023.
“Edinburgh is waiting for us, and it’s not going to be an easy game. A lot of respect for Edinburgh. I’ve worked with [head coach] Sean Everitt in my early years [at the Sharks],” the veteran loose forward said.
“The two times that we faced each other at Edinburgh, it didn’t go our way. Partially my fault last time.
“One thing about the Scottish, it’s never an easy game going abroad and they make you work hard for it. They’re smart about how they go about things so we can’t afford soft moments or let ourselves down with silly mistakes.”
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“They’ve got a lot of mini-moves from open play, got forwards that can put guys in good spaces around them… a very high-tempo game,” he added.
“That’s something we identified and we are working hard towards countering that this weekend.
“It’s about being smart and having those connections on defence, and the boys around you make the right decisions at that right time.”
With the Bulls sitting third on the URC log, Wessels emphasised the importance of maintaining focus across both competitions.
“There’s still [potentially] three games to go in the Challenge Cup and there’s four rounds left in the URC,” the utility forward said.
“I don’t think we’re speaking about winning a tournament yet; it’s just preparing well and sticking to what’s been working for us.
“We’re on tour and want to put our best foot forward, and there’s never a side we put forward to set them up to lose. We’re obviously trying our best to do well in both competitions.”
Photo: Craig Watson/INPHO/Shutterstock
