It didn't affect the results of their previous two meetings but the Bulls figure they must be more disciplined than ever against Leinster in Saturday’s URC final.
Jake White’s men finished second in the table behind Leinster but are bottom of the log when it comes to discipline.
They had 16 players sin-binned and four red-carded, while Leo Cullen’s men have had just four yellow cards against them after 20 games.
The South Africans also overcame a yellow card in last season’s semi-final against Leinster to prevail, while they survived a late red card in this season’s round 13 game to win it at the death.
In addition, they were also able to see off the Sharks last weekend, 25-13, despite having three players in the bin at various stages.
While it may appear that their run-ins with the officials may be more a feature than a bug, Marcel Coetzee reckons improvement in that area is a must if they are to turn Leinster over for a fifth time in seven URC meetings at Croke Park this weekend.
"I think it's something we addressed as a squad, you know," said the back row, who played for Ulster between 2016 and 2021.
"It just makes things harder for you, and playing against a quality side like Leinster, you can't afford to have one guy in the bin or two guys in the bin.
"You need all the feet on the pitch and it's going to take work rate to stop their onslaught, so we don't want to let the guy next to you down by being reckless and stuff.
"So yeah, in soft moments we need to up our game and just keep building on our DNA that's been working for us this whole season."
Bulls knocked Leinster out at the semi-final stage in 2022 and 2024 and 34-year-old Coetzee says they had a Grand Final meeting with the eight-time champions somewhere in the back of their minds.
"It's a winning machine and they back their systems"
"They're a championship side so they'll always be in the running, in the play-offs, they are always at the top of the log and you have to respect that," said Coetzee, who has 31 Springboks caps.
"It's a winning machine and they back their systems and their structures.
"Yes, that was a saying from coach Jake early in the season but you know play-offs, anything could have happened, it just so happens that the first team gets to go to the final and the second team gets to play them in the final.
"Look, it's all excitement, it's all enjoyment.
"We played each other a couple of times in the seasons prior to this and we know each other very well, and I think that's just going to make the contest more exciting this weekend."
The Pretoria-based side will become the second South African team to play at Croke Park, the home of the GAA, after the Springboks lost to Ireland there in 2009.
Coeztee said: "From what I’ve heard it’s a very special place. It’s got a great atmosphere when the crowds attend.
"We talk about a special final, what a special event to play in. We at the Bulls are looking forward to the challenge.
"The challenge is already big but we get up for such a great venue better."
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