- Bakkies Botha
Infobox Rugby biography
name = Bakkies Botha
caption =
birthname = John Philip Botha
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|9|22
placeofbirth = Newcastle,South Africa
height = height|m=2.02
weight = convert|120|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = lock|capital=yes
ru_amateuryears =
ru_amateurclubs =
ru_amupdate =
ru_nationalteam = South Africa
ru_nationalyears = 2002-
ru_nationalcaps = 42
ru_nationalpoints = (35)
ru_ntupdate = October 14 2007
ru_clubyears =
ru_proclubs =
ru_clubcaps =
ru_clubpoints =
ru_clubupdate =
super14 = Bulls
super14years = 2002-
super14caps =
super14points =
ru_currentclub =
super14update =2007-04-27
ru_province =Blue Bulls
ru_provinceyears = 2001-
ru_provincecaps =
ru_provincepoints =
ru_provinceupdate =
rl_amateuryears =
rl_amateurclubs =
rl_amupdate =
rl_clubyears =
rl_proclubs =
rl_clubcaps =
rl_clubpoints =
rl_clubupdate =
other = yes
occupation = Professional rugby union footballer
spouse =
children =
school =
university =John Philip "Bakkies" Botha, usually referred to by his nickname (born
22 September 1979 in Newcastle,KwaZulu-Natal Province ) is aSouth Africa nrugby union footballer who plays lock for the South African national rugby team, the Springboks. He also plays for theBlue Bulls provincial team in theCurrie Cup competition and for the BullsSuper 14 team.Botha played for the under-19 and under-23 Springbok sides before being chosen for the South African "A" team that toured Europe at the end of 2001. The following year he was selected for the Springbok team and made his debut against France in
Marseille on9 September 2002 , a game the Springboks went on to lose 30-10.Through the years a formidable partnership has formed between Botha and Blue Bulls teammate
Victor Matfield . Together they have an unparalleled ability to disrupt opposition line-outs and get possession of the ball at critical times during matches.Botha is known as one of the most uncompromising locks in world rugby and has been accused of foul play (including eye gouging and biting) at various times throughout his career, most notably under ex-South African coach
Rudolph Straeuli . In fact, in his first four Test starts, he received a sin-binning, a disciplinary citing not related to the sin-binning, and an eight-week ban. [http://sport.guardian.co.uk/rugbyworldcup2003/story/0,,1054302,00.html "Rugby Union World Cup Special Reports: South Africa"] , "The Guardian ", 6 October 2003.] Since 2004 under new coachJake White his wayward discipline seem to be a thing of the past. He led the Bulls out to their 2006Super 14 semi-final against the Crusaders for his 50th game.In September 2006, media reports emerged in South Africa that Botha had been offered two million rand (roughly 275,000 US dollars) a year to sign a new deal with the Sharks, which would make him the highest-paid player in South African rugby. [http://www.planet-rugby.com/Teams/South_Africa/story_53862.shtml "Botha the Bulls' R2m man"] , "Planet Rugby", 17 September 2006.]
References
External links
* [http://www.bluebulls.co.za/profiles.asp?Id=306&cl=yes Bulls profile]
*Springboks|id=20569|name=Bakkies Botha
* [http://www.genslin.us/bokke/PlayerData.aspx?PlayerID=673 Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame profile]
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