Bulls Defy Odds With Impressive Away Record: Marcell Coetzee Shares Team Secret

South African teams seldom win more away games than they lose but that is what the Bulls have achieved this season.

Despite being knocked out of the Champions Cup after the group stage, the Pretoria side are sitting pretty in third spot on the United Rugby Championship log, and are now in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Last weekends 32-22 victory over Bayonne in France was their sixth triumph out of 10 away matches this season, which equalled their home win tally although theyve played one less fixture at Loftus Versfeld.

So, whats the secret to their success? The captain against Bayonne, loose forward Marcell Coetzee, led from the front by being chosen as the Player of the Match at the Stade Jean Dauger.

The 33-year-old Coetzee showed that there is still significant fire in his belly as he charged forward on numerous occasions to get the Bulls over the advantage line, made some crucial interventions in defence and contested the breakdowns fiercely.