[Closed] Rugby fans what are your thoughts on Bakkies Botha?

Hard to say if he's malicious or not.

Personally, I just think he was behind George W Bush in the line when they were handing out the intelligence. He's a big bloke, with not a lot upstairs. He is over excitable, and acts rashly, but it's hard to say any of it is malicious...

But malicious or not, he doesn't do the sport any favours...

Another cross eyed, hairy backed german with a suntan

Where did the choice to not penalise him during the match come from? I've seen a few corkers from my own team 'Wigan' yeah yeah I know its slightly different game but its still big men with big thighs in small short with odd shaped balls.... *sighs*

*goes for a little think about the Italian and French rugby teams*

He's a mean bugger. I did laugh at the clip. Bit naughty that.

But malicious or not, he doesn't do the sport any favours...

This is the problem. He doesn't do anybody any favours. He has form for this carry-on and constantly brings the game into disrepute. Life ban? Not sure myself - certainly the sport wouldn't miss thugs like him. Season's ban I reckon.

Yeah I know a life ban is to much but Darcy you are spot on he is a thug and the sport is tough enough with out meeting heeaders like him.

I think he spends a lot of time just the wrong side of the rules. You do need someone who is a bit nasty in every rugby team but for me he regularly pushes it too far.

Not sure I buy the "not malicious" line either, what he does in that clip is done purely to intimidate the scrum half, he knew exactly what he was doing.

Where were the white pack? He shouldn't have been able to get near the scrum half.

He's a thug and wants banning for life that could have been a neck breaker.

I can't access the link as I'm in work but I've got the match ready to watch later. Do I need to get some beer and nuts, I wonder?

20 years ago Botha would havebeen exactly the sort of player every team needed, as an enforcer. The general sort of Dicky Moriarty hardnut protector.

These days, even by SA standards he's often well out of line.

The problem for his coach is that he is very good at being a second row.

dangerous tackle in my eyes.

Probebly still annoyed with having his reputation damaged in the last Lions tour.

Idle John the like of Moriaty Geoff Wheall and Dale McIntosh were rock hard but werent thugs or am I looking at things through rose tinted specs.

Didn't he get away with this one too?

Pigface - Member
Idle John the like of Moriaty Geoff Wheall and Dale McIntosh were rock hard but werent thugs or am I looking at things through rose tinted specs.

Yeah, you definitely are!

There was so much thuggery in (Welsh)rugby back then I'm amazed under16s were allowed in!

I remember Hemi Taylor being pinned at the bottom of a ruck (deliberately pinned btw) and the Swansea backrowers ignoring the game for the next few minutes while they pummelled him. (It WAS Hemi Taylor though.......) Possibly the same match that Gwyn Jones broke his neck.

Dicky and Phil May handbagging each other behind the posts while the game played on....and so on.

😀 good point well made I guess I was trying to say you wouldnt have forwards trying to break the No 9 neck the way Botha is in the clip. I can remember The Chief grabbing a Swansea lock and shaking him and wagging his finger in his face telling him to calm down. Tall skinny kid who was like an uncoordinated giraffe, cant remember his name. Very funny and I am a whites supporter.

As an ex-no9 I'd be pissed of at my pack for putting him through the middle like that. Mind you I'd expect a penalty for the "high contact". So probably on balance a dangerous play. As for the headbutt I bet the kiwi won't be pulling his shirt again. Watch the start.

Fantastic player.

Glad we have him our national team.

Wannabie hardman, didn't hear much of him against Brad Thorne. Also gets in trouble for the dumbest of things,that butt on Cowan cost him what 4,6 weeks?

an utter **** with plenty of form

In fairness, he's only behaving in the way that most South African males have behaved for years - they tend to deal with their wives in a similar manner.

[i]Tall skinny kid who was like an uncoordinated giraffe, cant remember his name. [/i]

Jamie Griffiths?

In fairness, he's only behaving in the way that most South African males have behaved for years - they tend to deal with their wives in a similar manner.

And you know this for a fact, right?

Sheesh..

You really a prick aren't you.

You really a prick aren't you.

Hee hee.

You bit, just like I hoped... 😆 😆 😆

..after this comment, you deserved it.

Fantastic player.

Glad we have him our national team.

He's a thug - nothing more, nothing less.

there's more:

the player who just keeps on giving:

It's rugby FFS...

Go hard or go home.

It's not Wendyball afterall..

And yeah, of course I bit..

So me saying I think he's a good player means that it's fair game for you to say as a nation we beat up our wives??

Really ?

And yeah, I stand by what I said..

You really are a prick..

Agree with (some of) that - if rugby wasn't hard it wouldn't be worth watching! Botha does cross the line rather too often though eh?

I'm sure A_A was only making a slightly racist joke and isn't really a prick 🙂

I'm sure A_A was only making a slightly racist joke and isn't really a prick

It was me, and I was trolling...I'm sure that no more or less South Africans beat the shit out of their wives than any other nation.

...and Teetosugars bit.

And now he's being all keyboard warrior and calling me a prick 😥

A childish game in which I shall not indulge for I am a bigger man (not literally though - I'm only a wee fella).

However...

It's rugby FFS...

It is only rugby - it's a frickin' game - why try to deliberately hurt someone by foul play - over, and over, and over, and over, and over again...unless you're an ignorant stupid thug - which is what Botha is.

Go hard or go home.

I'd much rather he just went hard and then went home rather than the horrible way he plays.

Ah sorry, DD 🙂

No..

Im not being a keyboard warrior.

Trust me, I say nowt on here that I wouldn't say in person..

Just find it a bit harsh what was said..

My Dad was married to my mum for 40 years before he died and never laid s finger on her.

I've been with my mrs for 6 years, & wouldn't dream of laying a finger on her.

I've been with my mrs for 6 years, & wouldn't dream of laying a finger on her.

strikes me as odd you would even feel the need to say that.

and Botha isnt half the player that Matfield is, and while he was serving his last ban SA didnt seem to miss him. .

I've been with my mrs for 6 years, & wouldn't dream of laying a finger on her.
strikes me as odd you would even feel the need to say that.

Guess you didnt read this then..

deadlydarcy - Member
In fairness, he's only behaving in the way that most South African males have behaved for years - they tend to deal with their wives in a similar manner.

I think what A_A is saying is that if you said I beat my wife I'd say "Yeah, bitch deserved it."
I have no need to get defensive about something so silly.

Oh FFS Teetosugars, I said I was trolling you to get you to bite. Don't bother having a pop at DezB and a_a. You've already lowered it with personal insults.

Thats the one James Griffiths did a couple of seasons and went off to one of the smaller clubs. In the commentary on one game it was decided that he needed guiness to put some weight on. McIntosh just picked him up and shook him 😆

Teeto there was a sketch on Spitting image you wouldnt like much

😉

🙄

Pigface...I didn't want to post that,I must admit it had come to mind though 8) It will be interested to see how hard BB is when he encounters some of the trolls who populate the French league next year.

Top colonial baiting chaps! 😉

I've still yet to meet a South African with a properly developed sense of humour

Oh FFS Teetosugars, I said I was trolling you to get you to bite. Don't bother having a pop at DezB and a_a. You've already lowered it with personal insults.

Re: Botha, he's a thug. His "rapsheet" is full of blatantly violent play. Yes rugby is a hard game, but he takes it way beyond legality far too often.

[i]I've still yet to meet a South African with a properly developed sense of humou[/i]

Really? I work with a South African and had the best snowboarding holiday ever with 8 guys from Cape Town staying in our chalet.
Funny accents but a right ol' laugh.

I'd suggest it is pretty hard to take the moral high ground when you have accused an entire nation of men of wife beating and admitted to trolling.

I'd suggest that in your hurry to post you didn't stop to think whether you were going to write bollocks or not. I'm not taking the high moral ground; I was merely advising the South African chap that he shouldn't be having a pop at a-a or DezB (though I'm sure they're well able to stick up for themselves). And personal insults just lower the tone - though he's now said that face to face, he'd call me a prick too. If I heard that with a South African accent, I'd probably steer well clear. They're usually well able to "look after themselves" them fellas.

And suggesting that South Africans beat their wives isn't lowering the tone? Much worse than (rightly, in this case) calling you a prick, imho.

And suggesting that South Africans beat their wives isn't lowering the tone?

I'd suggest men of every nationality beat their wives.

FFS, have you read the thread or what? Once Teetosugars bit, I told him I was trolling him to bite after his ridiculous "Fantastic Player. Glad we have him on our team" about someone who everybody else on the thread pretty much agreed was a thug. But he continued to defend his nation even and name-call.

Mind you, I was thinking this morning, I know 6 South African women (well) - 2 of them are in hiding from their husbands - 1 has had to come over here, one is in hiding over there...I dunno, if the cap fits and all that...

Hole..DD...digging.

Hole..DD...digging.

You said it...can't resist the troll though... 😆

Y'know, when i called the Welsh 'phlegm spitter's DD was all over me for it..

Just saying..

DD was all over me for it..

I'm sure I wasn't...plenty of the welsh contingent were though 😛

ON a slightly different note wasn't there an interview with him where he is a devout Christian and family man and is very quiet of the field. Apparently his persona is completely different

go hard or go home

Anyway, this thread is making me come over all nostalgic...

Oh you were DD (quite fairly i might add) "very poor show there MD" etc. etc.

Which is why i'm surprised to see you make such an ill thought out and offensive remark this morning..

My wife told me last night she thought Bakkies Botha was good looking.
I gave her a black eye.

this morning

Yesterday, when you want to start paying attention 🙄 But don't let that stop you posting bollocks - maybe go easy on the ibuprofen matey.

very poor show there MD

And if that's what you call "all over me", then I don't know where to go...

Fair enough, only read it this morning though. You were quite put out about my comment, and i accept it was wrong and offensive to make it.
After you said that to me i'm now slightly surprised to see you making such a similar style of comment thats all.
If someone had said that all Irish people were alcoholic Catholic kiddy fiddlers you'd be upset about such a gross generalisation wouldn't you?
I actually think you come across as a good bloke, intelligent and well reasoned... Just not in that post. 🙁

If someone had said that all Irish people were alcoholic Catholic kiddy fiddlers you'd be upset about such a gross generalisation wouldn't you?

😆

It's been known on this forum.

I'm kinda tired of explaining it now - I said it to wind someone up - it's not what I [i]really[/i] think - I'm running out of ways to say it...

Oi dwarf dont remember you saying sorry at the time just tried to justify it with it just a bit of banter.

yossarian - Member
Top colonial baiting chaps!

I've still yet to meet a South African with a properly developed sense of humour

The guy at the next desk to me is a Bulls supporter from Port Elizabeth. Good bloke, gsoh(!), and a dislocated shoulder from playing rugby......at least that what he says. Maybe his Welsh girlfriend dislocated it for him?

robbo1234biking - Member
ON a slightly different note wasn't there an interview with him where he is a devout Christian and family man and is very quiet of the field. Apparently his persona is completely different

That's very funny if you think about the society he comes from.

Very devout, great family values, just a pity that the South Africans introduced apartheid to the world.

You're quite right Pigface - i did.
Came to see that i had been insulting later on as i relflected on my words/actions.

So i'll apologise now instead.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/213972/Hardman-Bakkies-Botha-is-a-softie-at-heart

Here is the article...

Dwarf very decent of you.

Finally having watched the match I have to say that I completely missed the offence!

It was a niggly game early on, but Botha seemed to play well.

The only obvious citable offence that I noticed was the Bulls prop shoulder charging Habana into touch nowhere near the ball. A situation that Glen Jackson the TJ completely ignored despite looking straight at it.

Is that Glen Jackson the previous Saracens fly-half?

That's him. (I couldn;t remember which club he played for!)

Not read much rof the thread re wife beating as I wish to comment as an ex player retired with a neck injury that I would like to see a ban in any clearing out using the neck in a judoesque style technique that seems to be all the rage at all levels. FFS they have reduced the scrums to a sissie fight without handbags now but clearing out by a neck wrap and throw is allowed. i suppose when a high profile player is severly injured they will ban it.
As for Bakkies himself I appreciate his physical hardness and he does a job as a professional rugby player whilst what the vidoe shows him doing is playing the scrumhalf who was not part of the ruck (so should have been penalised) you do see in the slow-mo that he purposefully drove him down with his neck in a hyper extended position. I am sure that everyone that has played rugby at a certain level knows that cheating and not getting caught or putting in that hit on the opposition fly half so that the next time he sees you coming he drops the ball is all part of the game. I never played to loose.
Its just the way it is till the law gets changed......

Suggsey, Gwyn Jones on ScrumV highlighted that the Irish forwards in the 6N were grabbing players around the neck an basically throttling them to keep them upright and claiming the resultant maul because the attacker couldn't get the ball to ground. Against Wales they did it to Mike Phillips 5 times and iirc he said about 10 times during the match in total. Not a single penalty was given.

Now, it's slightly different from what you've described but still dangerous play, which like clearing out rucks with a shoulder charge seems to be condoned - until we end up witha high profile player with a life threatening injury.

'Donnaca Callaghan' sorry about the spelling, was the worst offender all 6N the only time he put hands on any opposition was throttling people. Like you say till a high profile player is crippled nothing will be done.

yossarian : "Another cross eyed, hairy backed german with a suntan"

If you call that a well developed sense of humour you can keep it.

EDIT: tbh, I can't be arsed.

Suggsey, I couldn't agree more. Clearing out in that manner does not belong in the game at all. In fact, clearing out doesn't belong in the game.

Idle John, please don't tar all South Africans with the Apartheid brush. I hate it myself and am South African.
Just because a politician coined a phrase for a world wide phenomena you are generalising and implying that all white South Africans agree(d) with Apartheid and are all racists.

[i]sputnik - Member

Idle John, please don't tar all South Africans with the Apartheid brush. I hate it myself and am South African.
Just because a politician coined a phrase for a world wide phenomena you are generalising and implying that all white South Africans agree(d) with Apartheid and are all racists.
[/i]

Sorry sputnik, didn't mean to imply that - in fact most S Africans (outside SA) I've met have been good guys.

My point was that being devoutly religious and loving your kids means nothing in relation to how you treat other people. SA was just a good example of that...

And in terms of devout family men who are dirty players on the pitch, my mother in law used to be friendly with and attend the same church as Salesi Finau (Scarlets and Tonga??). A lovely man, would do anything for anybody. He didn't used to clothes-line other church-goers, but was a nasty player.