JJ Harmse

Pretoria – Bulls lock Bakkies Botha will appear in front of a judicial officer at Loftus Versfeld on Monday after he was cited for alleged foul play in Saturday’s Super 14 match against the Stormers.

According to citing officer Freek Burger, Botha entered a ruck without using his arms and in the process made contact with Gio Aplon.

Aplon received medical treatment, but played on without problems and later created a try for Jaque Fourie.

For Botha it’s a similar citing to the one in last year’s series against the British and Irish Lions. He was then suspended and his Springbok team-mates wore armbands in the third Test against the Lions in support of him.

There is thus either a problem with his technique or he’s being targeted by citing officers.

The Bok camp certainly felt last year that he was being targeted, but it remains to be seen whether he will get any sympathy.

It is a matter of déjà vu for the Bulls, with Botha also having appeared in front of a judicial officer at the corresponding time last year for hitting Ryan Kankowski in the face with an open hand.

Botha was let off the hook, but the Bulls lost JP Nel to a suspension and had to play with a new centre pairing against the Crusaders due to Wynand Olivier being injured.

Fortunately there are no such problems this year given coach Frans Ludeke’s decision to rest his senior players on the weekend. The only question is who Olivier’s centre partner will be.

Jaco Pretorius has just recovered from an ankle injury and may not be as sharp as usual. Jacques-Louis Potgieter played with Olivier when the Crusaders visited two weeks ago, but the pair did not defend well.

Stephan Dippenaar has played with Olivier in midfield the most, but may also be considered on the wing in place of suspended Gerhard van den Heever.

Neither Jaco van der Westhuyzen nor Deon Helberg put up their hands at Newlands, but Van der Westhuyzen’s experience and good kicking boot may be decisive at the Orlando Stadium.

The Crusaders had to stay behind in Sydney for a day due to having to sacrifice business class seats to the Waratahs. The long flight to South Africa is just one of the aspects they will have to deal with, but coach Todd Blackadder does not see it as a problem.

“The guys are eager for another chance against the Bulls, especially as we feel things went against us a little last time.”