I won't change - Bakkies

Botha, speaking at the Blood Brothers breakfast in Pretoria – to celebrate his testimonial year with lock partner Victor Matfield – received a standing ovation when he told the crowd he would not back down from his physical approach on the field.

But Botha did call on officials to have a look at the citing system, and he was supported by Matfield, who indicated that Botha was looked at with a different set of rules than other players.

While Botha is known for his approach, he is seen as a serial offender and has been in the dock a number of times for foul play. He did, however, escape any punishment when charges of a dangerous tackle on scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenhage in last weekend’s game against the Stormers were thrown out by a SANZAR judiciary.

“I work hard and things happen on the field. I did wrong last year and paid the price for it, but I stood up and came back from that,” Botha said in reference to his nine-week ban for head-butting All Black scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan in the Vodacom Tri Nations test in Auckland.

“As for the Stormers citing, I’ve put that behind me now. I was exonerated and I try hard to play my best for the team. I’ve moved on. You realise every morning when you get up how lucky you are and what this is really all about. My biggest aim now is to make a big difference to my team and help them win on the weekend.” Botha said he would not change the way he played, no matter what.

“I never hold back on the field and I always give everything I’ve got. What happened, happened, and I feel strongly that the citing system isn’t watertight and it should be looked at,” Botha said.

“I’m looking forward and I want to make a difference to the Bulls. I am not going to change the way I play and hopefully I can help the team win this weekend.”

Botha’s “blood brother” Victor Matfield, who he has broken records with for appearances in the Super Rugby and test arena, agreed with Bakkies.

“Other than the Cowan incident, if you look at it, the other incidents have all been things that happen in every game. Players clean players out of the way and hit rucks hard – everyone does it,” Matfield said.

“I get the feeling sometimes it is the force, the impact that Bakkies’ strength has that scares referees. It's fantastic to have him in the team and if you ask any team in the world which player they never want to play against, they will choose Bakkies.

“On the field he sets a great example and his play really inspires other players to up their play in a game.” Botha and Matfield will be together again this weekend when the Bulls try and turn around a two game losing streak at home against the Lions on Saturday afternoon.