Bulls have a clear message - the job isn't done yet

There is a danger that the euphoria of the Vodacom Bulls’ win over Leinster on Friday night might well mean they had played their final already.But the key word in the Bulls camp ahead of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship final showdown with the DHL Stormers on Saturday is - “the job is not done yet.”The Bulls have been drumming that mantra into their players’ heads after shocking the Champions Cup finalists in the semi-finals, and have a much more familiar challenge to face now when they head to Cape Town this week.But they know, after moving up from 15th position in December to the final now, they have made incredible strides. But it all will be forgotten if they don’t claim the holy grail of the trophy.Stay focusedTheir coach, Jake White, has been underlining this a lot these past weeks, as well as reminding everyone who would listen that the Bulls are a work in progress. Bigger challenges await in Europe, but for now the focus is on the one week that matters. And Cape Town Stadium is as big a challenge as beating Leinster in Dublin.“We knew that if we could get into their faces and win the game physically, start implementing our strengths, we could come out with the win, and we executed it to perfection,” Vodacom Bulls skipper Marcell Coetzee said of the win over Leinster and he is right.“Good job for the boys, but the job’s not done yet and there’s one more game to go and we’re very pleased with that.“We wanted to be right up front and in their faces. You just had to adapt to what presented itself and luckily the group responded well, and obviously pleased with the win.“Leinster are full of international stars and before the game we said that if we want to win this game, we’re going to have to play at that level and that comes with the physicality that we brought.”It was the first big win over Leinster that Coetzee had achieved, and the milestone was not lost on him.“I’ve had a couple of goes at them ... four, five times and couldn’t manage it and came short with Ulster and then ja, wearing a Bulls jersey and getting the win, it’s a proud moment, and as the captain. Definitely a highlight of my career.”Big challengeThere is no doubt that a challenge awaits the Bulls, especially in the set pieces, and while they were good in Dublin, the Bok-laden Stormers front row will pose a different challenge. But they will take heart from their lineout dominance and the ball they stole off Leinster on their own line.If bravery was ever rewarded, those moments went a long way to seal their win in Dublin."If you want to have a chance to win in a play-off, your set-piece has to function and I must compliment the coaching staff for their efforts," Coetzee said."It's an ode to all the players because we didn't have a lot of time to do our homework because we had a fine balance of resting bodies and getting detail in."I thought our lineout leaders were exceptional and that set-piece is a pillar of strength for us, along with the composure that was shown by the forwards."We're still far from perfect and we'll take our learnings."Far from perfect may be a little harsh on themselves, but Coetzee knows the challenge that is waiting for the Bulls. And how good they will need to be to lift the trophy.

Bulls have a clear message - the job isn't done yet

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-08

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Bulls have a clear message - the job isn't done yet

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-08

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