At 34, Marcell Coetzee is showing no signs of fading — his Player of the Match performance in the Bulls' 47-7 demolition of the Dragons underlines why Johan Ackermann values him as much for his leadership as his carrying. Ackermann draws on his own experience playing Test rugby at 37, pointing to Brad Thorn and Schalk Brits as proof that age means little when the performances are there. The message is clear: Coetzee keeps the standards high, the younger squad members keep pushing, and everyone benefits.
The bigger picture here is the Bulls' precarious play-off position — sitting eighth with three rounds left, they cannot afford a slip. Ackermann is candid about the stakes: lose any of the remaining fixtures against Scarlets, Zebre Parma, and Benetton, and the teams below will capitalise. The trip to Scarlets this Friday is the immediate test, and Ackermann's respect for the Welsh side is genuine despite their league position. Coetzee's form and the squad's collective buy-in to their power-and-kick DNA gives the Bulls reasons for confidence — but the margin for error is gone.