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Pretoria – The additional derby games between the five South African teams in this year’s Super rugby competition will place new demands on players and coaches, but Bulls hooker Gary Botha believes there is also a fringe benefit.
WIN: Neo Africa Tri-Series tickets
The matches can give contenders for the Bok jersey additional opportunities to measure themselves against direct opponents. Botha is among the contenders.
There are still eight Springbok hookers in contention at the highest level, with Botha and Chiliboy Ralepelle competing at the Bulls in the same manner that John Smit and Bismarck du Plessis will at the Sharks.
Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), Bandise Maku (Lions), Tiaan Liebenberg (Stormers) and Schalk Brits (Saracens) will all have the opportunity of tossing their hats into the ring over weekend.
“It won’t just be about those weekends that you play against other Boks, but also the ones when you are measured against the best from New Zealand and Australia,” Botha told Sport24.
“I think it will be the player that plays good rugby for 16 or 17 weeks that will be taken to the World Cup. Consistency should count in your favour.”
Botha last played for the Boks in 2007 against Tonga in Lens, during the Boks’ triumphant World Cup campaign.
Much has changed since then.
Botha had a stint with English club side Harlequins. He played 40 games for the club in the league and Heineken Cup, and rejoined the Bulls in September 2009.
Jake White has also been replaced as Springbok coach by Peter de Villiers. Apart from Smit, Du Plessis and Ralepelle, the coach has also given playing time to Brits, Strauss and Maku.
It’s no secret that Botha’s excellent form last year impressed the national selectors, but an ankle injury in the last part of the season put paid to his hopes of being considered for the tour of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.
He admits that wearing the Green and Gold again is a dream.
“Nothing will give me more joy than running out for the Boks again.
“But all my focus and attention is with the Bulls and the contribution that I can make here,” said Botha.
His contribution to the Bulls’ scrumming effort was obvious again on Wednesday, when the forwards trained under the watchful eye of scrumming consultant Balie Swart.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke singled out the scrums as an area in which his team would like to work an advantage over opponents again this year. With Botha there, the battle is halfway towards being won already.
Pretoria – The additional derby games between the five South African teams in this year’s Super rugby competition will place new demands on players and coaches, but Bulls hooker Gary Botha believes there is also a fringe benefit.
WIN: Neo Africa Tri-Series tickets
The matches can give contenders for the Bok jersey additional opportunities to measure themselves against direct opponents. Botha is among the contenders.
There are still eight Springbok hookers in contention at the highest level, with Botha and Chiliboy Ralepelle competing at the Bulls in the same manner that John Smit and Bismarck du Plessis will at the Sharks.
Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), Bandise Maku (Lions), Tiaan Liebenberg (Stormers) and Schalk Brits (Saracens) will all have the opportunity of tossing their hats into the ring over weekend.
“It won’t just be about those weekends that you play against other Boks, but also the ones when you are measured against the best from New Zealand and Australia,” Botha told Sport24.
“I think it will be the player that plays good rugby for 16 or 17 weeks that will be taken to the World Cup. Consistency should count in your favour.”
Botha last played for the Boks in 2007 against Tonga in Lens, during the Boks’ triumphant World Cup campaign.
Much has changed since then.
Botha had a stint with English club side Harlequins. He played 40 games for the club in the league and Heineken Cup, and rejoined the Bulls in September 2009.
Jake White has also been replaced as Springbok coach by Peter de Villiers. Apart from Smit, Du Plessis and Ralepelle, the coach has also given playing time to Brits, Strauss and Maku.
It’s no secret that Botha’s excellent form last year impressed the national selectors, but an ankle injury in the last part of the season put paid to his hopes of being considered for the tour of Ireland, Wales, Scotland and England.
He admits that wearing the Green and Gold again is a dream.
“Nothing will give me more joy than running out for the Boks again.
“But all my focus and attention is with the Bulls and the contribution that I can make here,” said Botha.
His contribution to the Bulls’ scrumming effort was obvious again on Wednesday, when the forwards trained under the watchful eye of scrumming consultant Balie Swart.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke singled out the scrums as an area in which his team would like to work an advantage over opponents again this year. With Botha there, the battle is halfway towards being won already.
