Coetzee: High work-rate vital to stop up-tempo Leinster

THE Bulls opened the scoring in both their previous United Rugby Championship finals and lost.

- ASHFAK MOHAMED

So, perhaps the Pretoria side should let Leinster grab the early lead in Saturday's title decider at Croke Park in Dublin (6pm SA time kick-off) if they want to enjoy a case of third time lucky.

But having endured the heartache of two defeats, such experiences would have given them the necessary knowledge to handle a similar situation against Leinster this weekend.

Perhaps being written off by everyone outside Pretoria may also spur on Jake White's team.

But while emotion - Cornal Hendricks' passing will also inspire the Bulls has a place in a final, it is also about ensuring that you heed the lessons from the past.

So, the visitors cannot afford to let an early lead slip this time, or concede yellow cards, like they did in the semi-final win over the Sharks last week.

"I think if I take that first final (18-13 defeat against the Stormers), think we scored off the bat probably like three, four minutes in the game," loose forward Marcell Coetzee said from Dublin on Wednesday.