Coetzee: Don't get 'rattled' by Bulls
Mon, 24 May 2010 19:11
Juan de Jongh: In the mix. (c) Doug Fitz-Gerald
Stormers head coach Allister Coetzee is excited about the "historic" Super 14 Final against arch rivals the Bulls at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday.
The all-South African Final is the second of its kind, after the Bulls defeated the Sharks in the 2007 Final in Durban thanks to a try by Bryan Habana in the final moments.
This time Habana will be in the Stormers ranks and up against his old teammates for the second time since his move from Pretoria.
Coetzee is under no illusions about how tough it will be up against the defending champions come Saturday.
"The Bulls away is going to be one hell of a clash. I think we have really done well and the job is 50 percent done," Coetzee told rugby365.com.
The cauldron of the Orlando Stadium will be unlike anything the Stormers will have ever experience, but the blaring vuvuzelas that will greet the players will not intimidate the Capetonians.
"The vuvuzela can't hurt you - it makes a hell of a lot of noise, but it can't tackle you," Coetzee quipped.
The superb kicking games of Morné Steyn and Fourie du Preez were immensely impressive in the semifinal victory over the Crusaders and will be a major obstacle for the Stormers to try and overcome.
"If you can't handle the aerial attack of the Bulls then it will be difficult for you," Coetzee explained.
"One thing that you have to realise is that they kick longer than any other team - the ball travels further in the Highveld, it travels higher - so it's quite intimidating if you stand and wait fore that up and under to come down.
"You can't go there and get a skrik and say 'sherbet these okes kick the ball bloody long'.
"You have to look at ways to play in their half because they have such good kickers of the ball you hardly get there.
"You cannot look to create in your own half, and that is what happened to the Crusaders - they looked to attack too much in their own half and got turned over."
Coetzee has faith in his side that they will be able to handle anything that the Bulls throw at them and believes it is vitally important to stick to you structures and not be intimidated by the Springbok laden Bulls outfit.
"Not to get rattled is the main thing," he said.
"I think that is what happened to the Crusaders - they got rattled at the beginning of the game and [Colin] Slade, [Sean] Maitland, [Dan] Carter are all quality players, but they couldn't hold onto the ball and made simple mistakes.
"The Bulls never give you something on a platter where you can just run without pressure on you - and you have got to deal with that pressure."
In any Final the match can be decided by a single moment of genius by one player and both sides have an abundance of stars capable of being a match winner. It was a brilliant break combined with some top class stepping from Juan de Jongh that helped the Stormers' victory over the Waratahs.
And a sublime blindside-break around the fringes by Fourie du Preez that broke the Crusaders hearts in the semifinals.
"As a coach you hope the players on the day given the situation can make the right decision. I think Juan de Jongh is like that," Coetzee said.
"This weekend players shouldn't be shy to have a go and if the opportunity is there you have got to take on the opponent."
A north versus south derby traditionally dictates that there is likely to be a lot of emotion and needle in the match, with just that little bit of extra pride at stake, but Coetzee sees this as a positive for South African rugby on the whole. He explains that when both the north and the south are strong it means the Springboks will be strong.
Saturday will be the Stormers first ever appearance in a Super 14 final and Coetzee is happy to take on the Bulls, because to be the best you must beat the best.
"A derby is tough and it's not going to be a spectacular game, we not playing for bonus points it is going to be hard and more of a tradition than anything it is really going to be in the face stuff," he said.
"They are a very proud side the Bulls and get themselves into finals, but for us it's new territory. It's like a novelty and you get so excited - you must just hold yourself back.
"I said to the players you really want to be true champs in the Super 14 - then you have got to go beat the Bulls - then you're really worth your salt."
By Timmy Hancox