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Cape Town - Bertus Buckle’s presence in the Stormers group does not mean that the Cape franchise have given up on their quest to get Springbok BJ Botha to play for them.
The powerful Griquas prop has trained with the Stormers this week and the Stormers management have confirmed that he will be available for the franchise for the rest of the Super 14 season.
But while there has been speculation that this means Botha won’t be coming and that he was too expensive to lure away from Ulster for five weeks, it has been confirmed from within the Stormers camp that Botha is still very much part of the plans.
It is understood that negotiations are still continuing behind the scenes with the former Sharks tighthead, who is being sought as a possible solution to a potential front-row crisis.
Wicus Blaauw is out for the rest of the Super 14 season and JC Kritzinger is missing this week’s match because of injury and is only slated as a 50/50 chance to play the following week against the Sharks.
With a possible semi-final to follow the end of the league phase of the season, Rassie Erasmus, who is essentially director of rugby at the Stormers, is understandably working overtime in his quest to shore up the depth in this crucial area.
Apart from his scrumming ability, Botha would bring crucial experience to the Stormers as they head into the decisive stages of the season. Botha was part of the Sharks teams that contested the semi-final and final in 2007 and the semi-final in 2008.
