Coetzee targets 2021 Lions tour after frustration of RWC standby
Marcell Coetzee aims to put his double World Cup disappointment behind him by starring for the Springboks in their series against the British and Irish Lions in 2021. In the meantime, though, his full focus is on helping Ulster to Guinness PRO14 and European success.
Coetzee started the season late because of the ankle injury that put him out of consideration for the Boks squad that won the World Cup in such convincing style in Yokohama two weeks ago.
He wasn’t part of his Ulster team’s convincing opening PRO14 win over the Ospreys at Kingspan Stadium and also had to watch his team-mates get outplayed 63-26 by the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in their second match.
However, the former Sharks loose forward made his return when the Irish side bounced back to win their second tour match against Southern Kings and has been in the thick of it ever since in, helping Ulster to second position in Conference A in the PRO14.
“We were not proud of that performance against the Cheetahs but it helped in that we were quickly able to decide what our weak points were and what we needed to improve on,” said Coetzee. “We went into training on the Monday in Cape Town knowing what we needed to do to break back, and we did that.”
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Coetzee continued the momentum last weekend by playing a starring role in his team’s nail-biting one-point win over Bath at the start of their Champions Cup campaign. The defence laid the platform for the winners but in addition to 17 tackles, Coetzee, who was playing at No8, also made 19 carries.
This series of performances for the Irish province has helped Coetzee to bring some cheer back into his life after he was left pretty inconsolable when, for the second time in the space of four years, he emerged from a meeting with a Springbok coach with the realisation that his World Cup dream was over.
Coetzee was given a chance to force his way into the 2019 World Cup squad by being selected to face Argentina in the final warm-up game to be played on South African soil. Early in the game, he was forced off through concussion and then it was confirmed he had an ankle injury which ruled out his availability for the tournament.
‘We have had big names, big personalities leave us over the last number of seasons’
– Iain Henderson talks to @heagneyl about the Dan McFarland evolution at @UlsterRugby following a @rugbyworldcup that ended badly for @IrishRugbyhttps://t.co/B0ENIZnsTX— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 12, 2019
In 2015 Coetzee had to hear in a meeting with Heyneke Meyer that he was left out of the squad that played that World Cup in England, so it was a case of lightning striking twice.
“It was very disappointing and it wasn’t the first time. Being selected to play that game against the Pumas was a chance to show what I can do but it didn’t go my way. To have the HIA test go against me and then the ankle injury on top of that was very hard to swallow.
“But in the end ,you have to decide – are you going to just lie down and take it, or are you going to fight back? While it was a tough one for me to swallow, time does heal all wounds. I resolved that I just had to get back on the horse again and start riding again.”
‘We’d have people from other schools coming to watch our games instead of their own teams just because of Siya. He was incredible’
– @MikeyWillemse_2 tells @JLyall93 exactly how good Siya Kolisi was long before he starred for the @Springboks https://t.co/KhaU26UoIL— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 14, 2019
Coetzee has spent quite a bit of time on the sidelines because of injury in the past few years and it has taught him to just appreciate every minute he does spend on the field. “The biggest thing you learn when you go through serious injuries and then come out of it is that you are blessed to be able to play rugby again,” he said.
“It was disappointing to miss out on another World Cup. I can confirm that I was on standby in case there was an injury to a loose forward. But injuries just make you hungry to play again. Whether it is at the highest level, whether it is for Ulster or for the Boks, it is great to just be able to play and focus on that.”
While Coetzee’s short-term focus is on helping Ulster be successful in both their competitions, he does now have his eye on the iconic tour series that will be played on South African soil in 2021. “Playing against the Lions is definitely my long term goal.
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“I don’t think he even said ‘Hi’, he just put it there.” Tom Curry ??? #RugbyWorldCup #Springboks #England #SaleSharks
“It would be great if I can do that. But my focus and energy must be on Ulster. If I do that and perform consistently, and the team performs consistently, then ultimately a door may open and we can see where it goes from there.”
Coetzee added he was probably the most passionate and perhaps loudest Boks supporter in Ireland during the World Cup. “We were fans before being rugby players so that never dies in us. I shout a lot at the TV and I shout at the referees. It’s a good thing they can’t hear me. I have great mates in the Boks team, particularly someone like Pieter-Steph (du Toit), and I shared their joy.”
WATCH: RugbyPass Rugby Explorer takes a trek through South African rugby, visiting Cape Town and Port Elizabeth
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to comments