Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee says they are at full strength for the Champions Cup clash against the Glasgow Warriors because they want to challenge for higher honours in the European competition as well as the URC.
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Long before stepping onto the rugby field, the Bulls have made a statement ahead of their Champions Cup knockout match in Scotland.
After naming a near full-strength touring squad for their away clash at the Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday against the Glasgow Warriors (6.30 pm kick-off), head coach Johan Ackermann sent a clear message that winning momentum matters, and they don’t want to let it go.
Heading into this crucial Round of 16 knockout match in the European elite competition, the Pretoria outfit is riding a massive wave of confidence following some good results. Recent performances have shown a team with plenty of belief and growing cohesion, especially on the attack.
They’ve had some brilliant victories despite some injured players missing, and fostering that togetherness in the group ahead of a tough Champions Cup and United Rugby Championship run-in is crucial. That is perhaps why Ackermann decided against leaving some of his best players at home ahead of the match in Glasgow.
“In one of the first meetings with coach Ackers, he said he wants to challenge in both competitions, and we were not going to lean towards one or the other,” captain Marcell Coetzee said.
“We jumped on board and are looking forward to this task awaiting us. At this stage of the season, you want to maintain that winning momentum and build on those two victories at Loftus Versfeld, and hopefully that will help with the confidence going into this one.
“We now have the opportunity to progress to the next round of the Champions Cup. We are fighting in the URC, but we view every game as an opportunity to give our best to progress to the next level. The drive is to be part of this competition and give our best. The message to the boys is simple; this is an opportunity to grab, and we must make the best of it.”
Travelling to a daunting place like Scotland comes with plenty of pressure. The Warriors are quite difficult to beat at home, especially in the playoffs. The Stormers in the URC can testify to that. They feed off their home crowd and thrive in the often unpredictable weather.
But this Bulls side is a different one and capable of an upset.
Their selections for this trip suggest they are targeting a victory at all costs. While it is not only a victory in the Champions Cup that will give them momentum, their next couple of games in the URC are also away from home, and they need that winning momentum overseas to drive their ambitions of reaching the Top 8.
So they need their best players at their disposal for every game going forward.
What stands out is the balance in the squad. There’s experience where it counts, particularly up front, with exciting attacking threats in the backline. It’s the kind of mix that can turn a game on its head and strike when the opportunities are there.
But now the Bulls must prove they can carry their form beyond the comforts of Loftus and South African shores. They did so earlier this year after sneaking into the knockouts via the back door with strong wins overseas. Another good showing in Glasgow would not only boost their Champions Cup campaign but also reinforce their knockout push in the URC.