How the Bulls beat 'quality' Stormers

04/03/2024 13:41

Skipper Marcell Coetzee has revealed a key area where the Vodacom Bulls needed to front up to end the DHL Stormers' recent dominance in the north-south derby.

The Bulls snapped a seven-game slump to the Stormers in the Vodacom URC with a thrilling 40-22 win at a packed Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

It was the first time Jake White's charges have beaten their Cape rivals in the competition, with the hosts clocking up four tries to put the cherry on top with a bonus point.

The visitors endured a difficult start to the match, falling 19-5 behind after 30 minutes, conceding too many soft penalties and making avoidable errors, but Coetzee believes it took immense physicality to snap the Stormers’ streak.

Speaking post-match at Loftus, Coetzee told reporters: "The Stormers are still a quality side. It's hard to find fault in their game, their kicking game and how they manage the game.

"And they've got dangerous counter-strikers at the back and their set-pieces are functioning well. But ultimately it was in the team talk. If we wanted any chance in this game, we had to win the collisions and reward the fans that came.

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"We pride ourselves on our physicality and I am just glad the boys backed it up. It was always close games if you look at the previous games. Moments that turned the game, maybe we weren't accurate at times.

"I felt [on Saturday] our game management was superb and that's a credit to the back three and everyone just sticking to the game plan. They made mistakes and we just put pressure on that.

He added: "You can only measure yourself when you play against a quality side and the Stormers are a quality side. They've been in the finals for two years running, and I think for morale, it sort of creates a belief in the squad that we can go all the way."

Following the weekend's URC action, the Bulls moved one spot up to second on the overall standings and kept themselves firmly in the title hunt while in the SA Shield have overtaken the Stormers to lead the charge on 20 points after five derbies.

"We want to get home playoffs. We learnt from the past you just make it harder on yourself with the travels," Coetzee said.

"If you want to be on top, you have to be the boss of your own conference. That is knocking out derby games.

""The biggest thing is to stay humble and not look ahead. We managed to squeeze out a great victory. But I think there are a few areas where we can be better."

Photo: Nokwanda Zondi/BackpagePix

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