Bulls will climb to second spot if they stick to their strengths — Van Staden
'We're focusing on the whole process, things that have been working for us. If we do that well, those five points in both games will come.'
Bulls loose forward Marco van Staden believes they can push on for two bonus-point wins in their final URC league matches. Picture: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
The Bulls believe if they stick to their strengths and iron out one or two improvements, they will be able to earn bonus-point wins in their last two regular-season matches and finish the United Rugby Championship (URC) league phase in second position.
The Bulls sit third on the URC log after their 26–19 win against Glasgow last weekend. However, they may be able to steal the second spot from Glasgow (one point ahead), who have tricky final matches away to Benetton and URC leaders Leinster.
The Bulls, coming from a fantastic tour in Europe where they won three out of four games and made history along the way, have relatively easier fixtures at home against fifth-placed Cardiff on Saturday (kick-off 4pm) and then last-placed Dragons next week.
Finishing second would mean a home play-off against the team finishing seventh.
'We had a very good tour, a very hard tour,' said loose forward Marco van Staden. 'The two big games, Munster and Glasgow, [were] two weeks in a row. So I think the break afterwards was very good for us, resting the bodies a bit.'
Bulls target bonus point wins
He said the Bulls were back in training this week, trying to find the same intensity they had two weeks ago.
'We're focusing on the whole process, things that have been working for us. If we do that well, those five points in both games will come.
'It's not going to be easy, we first have to win the game before we start thinking of five points. That is why we just focus on things we have been doing good and see where we can improve, because there are still a lot of improvements from the Munster and Glasgow games.'
The 29-year-old Springbok said one of these was killing the chances presented to them. 'I think we waste maybe a lot of opportunities that we create, not finishing.'
What has worked for the Bulls this season
That said, the Bulls have won 12 of their 16 games for good reason, building momentum from scrum and maul dominance and showing resilience in defence against tough sides.
In one or two games, the Bulls had to hold on near the death or snatch a win in the last minute, showing their tenacity and never-say-die attitude. For instance, the Bulls won a scrum turnover to earn the match-winning penalty kick in extra time against Leinster in March. They also had tight wins against Glasgow, Munster, Stormers and Edinburgh in this URC season.
Van Staden said it was important to recognise what was working. 'We want to play like we've been playing when we were very successful. We just want to carry that forward. We want to prove the fundamentals we have.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
High work-rate vital for Bulls to stop up-tempo Leinster in their tracks in URC final, says Marcell Coetzee
Ashfak Mohamed | Published 2 hours ago The Bulls opened the scoring in both their previous United Rugby Championship finals and lost. So, perhaps the Pretoria side should let Leinster grab the early lead in Saturday's title decider at Croke Park in Dublin (6pm SA time kick-off) if they want to enjoy a case of third time lucky. But having endured the heartache of two defeats, such experiences would have given them the necessary knowledge to handle a similar situation against Leinster this weekend. Perhaps being written off by everyone outside Pretoria may also spur on Jake White's team. But while emotion – Cornal Hendricks' passing will also inspire the Bulls – has a place in a final, it is also about ensuring that you heed the lessons from the past. So, the visitors cannot afford to let an early lead slip this time, or concede yellow cards, like they did in the semi-final win over the Sharks last week. 'I think if I take that first final (18-13 defeat against the Stormers), think we scored off the bat probably like three, four minutes in the game,' loose forward Marcell Coetzee said from Dublin on Wednesday. 'So, we had a good start in the game and we were going well at first, but it just showed you (that) you can't rely on those moments. 'I thought we just might have missed the kicking game in that second half particularly. And that's how we let the Stormers in that day. They used the opportunities. We had a man down in the bin as well. 'And then the second game (last year's 21-16 loss to Glasgow), again great start, and we built on that. But you can't let the opposition in. That's what I meant by soft moments. 'You can't let them really in, and then let them get the ascendancy and momentum. 'It's going to come down to moments, and how we manage it and how calm and collected in control we are. It's all about managing that. 'That comes with experience, and I think over the course of the seasons, that's really been very beneficial for our team.' Coetzee may be asked to pack down at No 8 in the absence of the injured Cameron Hanekom on Saturday, and it shouldn't be an issue for the 34-year-old to fulfil. His energetic ball-carries and high work-rate on defence will be vital if the Bulls hope to stop the relentless Leinster attack. The Irish giants love to stretch the opposition defence early on, and the South Africans will have to be wide awake to prevent conceding points in the opening quarter. At the same time, they need to impose themselves on proceedings as well and force Leinster to make a lot of tackles too. That's where Coetzee, Cobus Wiese and Jan-Hendrik Wessels need to front up with ball-in-hand to create holes for dangerous backs such as David Kriel and Canan Moodie. 'That's the uniqueness about the Leinster team. When they get it right on the day, they can really light it up. That's part of our job,' Coetzee said. 'We need to nullify it as best as possible by certain things we identified. Look, I think there's a time and a place for everything. 'It's all about playing in the right areas. 'There will be times where we want to make the game quick and controlled and tempo, but there's also times to settle it and see where we can go from here, being composed and having good management on the day. 'Playing against a quality side like Leinster, you can't afford to have one guy or two guys in the bin. 'You need all the feet on the pitch, and it's going to take a work-rate to stop their onslaught. 'You don't want to let the guy next to you down by being reckless and stuff. 'That and soft moments we need to cut out in our game, and just building on our DNA that's been working for us this whole season.'
The Citizen
3 hours ago
- The Citizen
URC final: Willie tells Bulls to still take risks against Leinster
'We got here through taking chances. We see an opportunity, we take it. That is what you must do in big games as well.' Springbok veteran Willie le Roux says the Bulls cannot change the way they play just because there is more pressure in the URC final. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Veteran Springbok and Bulls fullback Willie le Roux said he has encouraged his younger teammates to play without fear and continue to take risks even if some do not pay off, in their United Rugby Championship final against Leinster on Saturday. The Bulls will play their third URC final in four years at 6pm at Croke Park in Dublin. This, after beating Edinburgh in the quarter-finals and the Sharks in the semi-finals, while their star-studded Irish opponents knocked out Scarlets and Glasgow Warriors in their play-off matches, both also played at home. Le Roux, a 98-Test double World Cup winner, said his team should not allow the magnitude of the occasion to change the way they have played this year, which saw them win 14 out of 18 matches in the regular season, finishing second on the points table behind Leinster. 'We got here through taking chances' 'A bit of advice that I can give to younger guys is it's the same as playing the first game of the season,' Le Roux said. 'It's not putting this on a pedestal and making it that much bigger, and then you cramp into your shell and you don't want to try stuff and you don't want to run from your own half. That's not what got us here in the first place. 'We got here through taking chances. We see an opportunity, we take it. That is what you must do in big games as well.' The Bulls playmaker said mistakes are part of the game, and a player would add more value by putting himself out there. 'That is the little things I tell the guys: try and ask for the ball, get your hands on the ball and do as much as you can. 'You might lose a few battles, but it is just about getting back up and getting yourself into as many as you can, and have no doubts afterwards.' Bulls will continue to do what works for them Le Roux said the Bulls are focusing on enjoying their game as they play for themselves and each other. 'I don't think there is a need to put any added pressure on us,' he said of feeling the pressure and changing things now. 'We go out there, playing for our brothers, we play for our friend that we've lost [the late Cornal Hendricks]. We have one job to do and that is what we are focusing on. It will be a huge battle on Saturday.'
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
High work-rate vital for Bulls to stop up-tempo Leinster in their tracks in URC final, says Marcell Coetzee
WORK-RATE KING Bulls loose forward Marcell Coetzee, seen here charging into the Sharks defence last week, will need to bring his usual energy on attack and defence against Leinster. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix The Bulls opened the scoring in both their previous United Rugby Championship finals and lost. So, perhaps the Pretoria side should let Leinster grab the early lead in Saturday's title decider at Croke Park in Dublin (6pm SA time kick-off) if they want to enjoy a case of third time lucky. But having endured the heartache of two defeats, such experiences would have given them the necessary knowledge to handle a similar situation against Leinster this weekend. Perhaps being written off by everyone outside Pretoria may also spur on Jake White's team. But while emotion – Cornal Hendricks' passing will also inspire the Bulls – has a place in a final, it is also about ensuring that you heed the lessons from the past. So, the visitors cannot afford to let an early lead slip this time, or concede yellow cards, like they did in the semi-final win over the Sharks last week. 'I think if I take that first final (18-13 defeat against the Stormers), think we scored off the bat probably like three, four minutes in the game,' loose forward Marcell Coetzee said from Dublin on Wednesday. 'So, we had a good start in the game and we were going well at first, but it just showed you (that) you can't rely on those moments. 'I thought we just might have missed the kicking game in that second half particularly. And that's how we let the Stormers in that day. They used the opportunities. We had a man down in the bin as well. 'And then the second game (last year's 21-16 loss to Glasgow), again great start, and we built on that. But you can't let the opposition in. That's what I meant by soft moments. 'You can't let them really in, and then let them get the ascendancy and momentum. 'It's going to come down to moments, and how we manage it and how calm and collected in control we are. It's all about managing that. 'That comes with experience, and I think over the course of the seasons, that's really been very beneficial for our team.' Coetzee may be asked to pack down at No 8 in the absence of the injured Cameron Hanekom on Saturday, and it shouldn't be an issue for the 34-year-old to fulfil. His energetic ball-carries and high work-rate on defence will be vital if the Bulls hope to stop the relentless Leinster attack. The Irish giants love to stretch the opposition defence early on, and the South Africans will have to be wide awake to prevent conceding points in the opening quarter. At the same time, they need to impose themselves on proceedings as well and force Leinster to make a lot of tackles too. That's where Coetzee, Cobus Wiese and Jan-Hendrik Wessels need to front up with ball-in-hand to create holes for dangerous backs such as David Kriel and Canan Moodie. 'That's the uniqueness about the Leinster team. When they get it right on the day, they can really light it up. That's part of our job,' Coetzee said. 'We need to nullify it as best as possible by certain things we identified. Look, I think there's a time and a place for everything.
