Captain Marcell Coetzee says the Vodacom Bulls are embracing the challenge of fighting on two fronts as they gear up for a high-stakes Investec Champions Cup last-16 clash against the Glasgow Warriors.
With momentum building after successive Vodacom URC wins, Coetzee says the Bulls are fully aligned with coach Johan Ackermann’s vision of competing deep into both competitions.
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“In one of his very first meetings, coach Johan expressed that he wants the team to be competitive across both competitions [URC and Champions Cup] and the players really got onboard with that,” Coetzee said.
“We’re looking forward to the task that awaits us and it is very competitive on both fronts at the moment. At this stage of the season there’s continuity and momentum, and we want to build on our last two wins in the URC, so hopefully that helps with our self-confidence going into this weekend.”
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There’s very little to choose between the two sides. They’ve met on five occasions, with Glasgow leading the head-to-head battle 3-2. But the Bulls head into the knockout clash with belief – not least because of their 26-19 win over Glasgow at Scotstoun last season.
Coetzee, however, made it clear that past results count for little when it comes to playoff rugby.
“I think we’ve managed to strike the right balance between enjoyment and giving our best on the weekend. We’ll draw a lot of confidence from that going into this game, but at the end of the day, it’s what happens between the four lines.”
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Coetzee says for them as players, the focus is simple: embrace the opportunity.
“Every game that we play is an opportunity. We now have the opportunity to advance to the next round of the Champions Cup playoffs, and it’s what we make of that opportunity.
“We have a group of highly competitive players who are always pushing to go to the next level. It’s a driving force for every player to be part of these competitions and to give their best.”
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Photo: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
