Stalwart Bakkies Botha calls it quits
Springbok legend Bakkies Botha has retired from Test rugby.
The lock made his announcement following the Springboks’ lacklustre 22-6 victory over Italy in Padua, which was the Boks’ 12th straight victory over the Azzurri.
The 2.02m, 124-kg Botha made his debut this month 12 years ago against France in Marseille, and was part of a Jake White-inspired star-studded Bok side which won the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
He was also part of the Bok side which white-washed the All-Blacks 3-0 in 2009.
His 85th and final appearance for the Green and Gold was in the Boks’ second fixture on tour against England in Twickenham as a replacement, which the Boks won 31-28.
His decorated career includes other accolades such as winners’ medals from the Tri-Nations, series against the British and Irish Lions, Super Rugby, Currie Cup, Vodacom Cup as well as the European Cup and France’s Top 14.
“The news of my retirement will probably be described as sudden and unexpected, but it is a decision that I’ve been mulling over since 2011,” Botha said.
“When I limped off the field during the World Cup in 2011 with an Achilles injury, I knew that I did not leave on my terms and that I didn’t say goodbye to the Bok jersey like I had wanted to,” Botha added.
“What was ‘my terms’? I wanted to leave the jersey behind knowing I honoured the men who wore it before me, as well as the people who had supported me throughout my career,” he explained.
Currently with Toulon in France, Botha is the seventh most-capped Springbok of all time and holds the world record for the most Tests as a lock combination in the starting line-up with Victor Matfield (63) – together known as the “Blood Brothers”. – @SabeloBoksburg
