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The Bulls forwards have grown over the course of the season, coming to dominate all other sides in the lineouts, mauls and scrums.
Bulls utility forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels says his teammates make his job all the more easy when they play with confidence. Picture: Anton Geyser/Gallo Images
The Bulls squad, and specifically the pack, are oozing confidence ahead of their Challenge Cup quarter-final against Edinburgh in Scotland on Saturday (kick-off 1.30pm).
They have dominated lineouts, mauls and scrums against all opposition of late, and only seem to be getting better.
Captain Marcell Coetzee, who normally plays openside flank but turned out a man-of-the-match performance against Bayonne in the round of 16 last weekend (final score 32–22) from No 8, spoke to media alongside equally versatile forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who has been operating at loosehead prop and hooker alternately of late.
Bulls growing on tour
The two Springboks spoke of how important the set-piece battle would be when they take on Edinburgh in the quarter-final, especially as a marker of how far the Bulls have come in those areas this season.
“In the previous games we let ourselves down by our own doing. We had soft moments letting oppositions out, sometimes things not working out, being inaccurate and then they get 22m entries,” Coetzee said.
“But we have managed to limit that to an extent. Going back to what works for us as a group. We love our set-piece battles.”
He said the secret to this success is how the Bulls enjoy being on tour.
This is important as they will now be away for four weeks – playing Munster in Ireland and Glasgow in Scotland in the two weeks after the Edinburgh match, in the URC, before a potential Challenge Cup semi-final, also in Europe.
“It forces you to spend a lot of time with the guys and really get to know them on a different level,” Coetzee added.
“Preparation-wise, we see each other every day so we can always manage to cover something if something was missed. There’s a lot of time that goes into it behind the scenes. We try and get the balance right between enjoyment and also being professional. I think that is working for us.”
Lineouts running like a well-oiled machine
Wessels added the confidence the forwards are feeling is doing wonders for lineouts when he plays hooker.
“We have good locks coming through and they make it really easy picking the right options,” he said.
“You can slip a lift and look at the hooker and maybe it’s his fault but for the guys pitching up on Saturday working hard to perfect everything, it’s making my job a lot easier.”
The pair added the Edinburgh side have some stellar Scottish international talent and the pack battle will be all the tougher.
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