Ex-Monnas scrumhalf Jean Tiedt (2001) is known to be obsessed with defence and joined the Vodacom Bulls coaching staff in late 2023. Tiedt cut his teeth as the defence coach at the Pukke and helped them to their first Varsity Cup title in 2016.
The Bulls' defensive effort during the final minutes of the first half of the URC semi-final was credited by Jake White as the reason for the Bulls' win against the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
"Our defence has improved. It's the fourth year we've played, and all of you will know we've conceded 44 tries in 18 games," Jake White said.
“You know, that's far lower than we've ever had in this competition in the last four years. So credit to Jean Tiedt. He's done an outstanding job. But we're now playing against one of the best-attacking teams that we could play against. You saw what they did against Glasgow. And Glasgow are champions from last year."
"So our game is where we need it to be, both attack and defence. That's where you need to be at these last games of the season to be comfortable that everything is in place."