Springbok flanker Marcell Coetzee said this weekend will about seizing the opportunity as the Boks look to seal the Castle Lager Incoming Series against Wales in Bloemfontein on Saturday after grinding out a 32-29 victory in the first of their three Tests last week in Pretoria.
Coetzee will earn his 31st Test cap in the match after being named in a loose trio with flank Pieter-Steph du Toit and No 8 Evan Roos, and with the match marking his first back in the green and gold jersey since 2019, the experienced loose forward was ecstatic to receive the opportunity to don the jersey once again.
“My last Test was in 2019 and it is a real honour to be back in the system,” said Coetzee.
“For me this week will be about seizing the opportunity and to trying to take it. We know there are going to be tough times in the game and as a team we have to be ready for it.”
Of playing alongside Du Toit and Roos, who had a fantastic Vodacom United Rugby Championship season in which he was named Player of the Tournament, Coetzee said: “Pieter-Steph was world player of the year in 2019 and he is a great player, and Evan has also shown his class, so we are looking forward to the opportunity this weekend.”
The physical flanker expected a tough onslaught from Wales and said: “Wales have a tough pack and they will definitely front up. We have sat with the coaches and we know what they expect of us, so we know what we will be up against.
“That said, we have been preparing well in the last few weeks and we have gotten to know one another well on and off the field. The players certainly complement one another even though we haven’t played together as a combination.”
With Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber making 14 changes to his starting team and naming six uncapped players in his match-23, Coetzee had no doubt the senior players would play a key role in keeping everyone calm and collected at Toyota Stadium.
“We have players like Eben (Etzebeth), and Handre (Pollard) – who will captain the team this week - among others that have won a Rugby World Cup and they will bring composure to the game,” said Coetzee.
“We have to come together collectively as a team and work in the same direction, and we all know the leaders will play a key role in that. We know what the plan is, and we simply have to execute that.”