“It’s nice to be back.”

The remark by Bakkies Botha could just as well have been the official comment from the Blue Bulls.

JJ Harmse

The Currie Cup champions are among the competition’s top sides again following their powerful performance against the Sharks at the weekend. They will hope to continue on the winning track when they travel to Free State on Saturday.

Botha, who has just completed a suspension of nine weeks, is expected to play lock and his performance is being eagerly anticipated.

He may be short of match practice, but has completed a conditioning programme the last month or so and was regularly seen sprinting.

Botha ran in front when the team finished its session with a few sprints on Monday.

The burning question is whether Botha will be able to keep his robust play within acceptable limits. However, the veteran lock has been around the block often enough to cross that bridge.

Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke could hardly suppress his smile – not just about Botha, but also the victory.

“Yes, it’s fantastic to have him back. He’s a special player and his presence lifts the team. Everyone is eager to see him in action again. We needed that victory badly because we’re among the leaders again and know that we have our destiny in our own hands.”

The Bulls will further be strengthened by Boks such as hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle, locks Bakkies Botha and Flip van der Merwe, and scrumhalf Francois Hougaard.  Hooker Gary Botha and flank Deon Stegmann have also recovered from injuries.

14 Responses to Bakkies’ suspension over

  • 1

    There have been a lot of nay-sayers, I say srew them.

    I know Bakkies will be back with a bang !!!

    Good luck fella. I know you will make my words count !!!

  • 2

    Blouste wrote:

    I know Bakkies will be back with a bang !!!

    Just hope the bang is controlled and that Referees blow the game and not have a constant eye on him. We can destroy one of our best weapons for the RWC by targeting him.

  • 3

    Bakkies brings a six pack of smiles to Bulls.
    just when Naka Drotske thought it would be a tough job with Botha in the pack, along comes the news of the return of the Boks Francois Hougaard, Flip van der Merwe and Chiliboy Ralepelle to the side.

    Along with that, captain Gary Botha is over his injury and fetcher Deon Stegmann is also itching to go after a four week injury layoff.

    However, the good news at Loftus Versfeld was compounded by the injuries to Bok flanker Dewald Potgieter and lock Fudge Mabeta, with both looking out of action for a little while.

    Potgieter has a grade two medial ligament tear which will keep him out for four weeks while Mabeta has a shoulder strain that will at least see him miss this weekend’s action.

  • 4

    BULLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 5

    Let’s hope Bakkies can set an example of hard clean play, if he doesn’t we will still be targeted with him in the team.

  • 6

    Hoop Bakkies se kop is nou behoorlik gewas, nou moet hy net kop hou … of is dit nou sy kop gebruik ?

  • 7

    A Leopard can’t change its spots, and it’s very hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

    Bakkies will be watched like a hawk, especially by overseas officials, and sooner or later he will see the red mist descend in front of his eyes and before you can say “world cup year” the yellow card will be out, closely followed by another spell in the stands.

    I really hope I’m wrong, but history seems to repeat itself with this talented player.

  • 8

    6@ bdb:
    Haha, skerp meneer!

  • 9

    Glad to hear Bakkies is back.

  • 10

    @ Scrumdown: we need this bloke to be hard as nails and physical…as long as he keeps it within the bounderies of the game, all should be well. There’s a fine line between what’s legal and not….he just needs to find it. He is one of the best.Boks need him badly

  • 11

    I’m going to tatoo a “BB” on each of my bumcheaks in honor of bakkies…when I bend over, it will spell “BoB”

    gie gie gie 🙂

    Long live Bakkies!!

  • 12

    VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!

  • 13

    11: hheehehe ! Ek is bly dat jy bly is dat Bakkies saterdag teen jou span kan uitdraf. Wees verseker, daai cheetahs (en elke span teen wie Bakkies in die toekoms gaan speel) gaan probeer om hom uit te lok sodat hy weer kop verloor.

    Maar, ek dink Bakkies is reg vir hierdie uitdaging van al die spanne. Dink hy gaan hierdie keer baie langer kop hou as die vorige kere … behoort ten minste 20 minute te speel voordat hy ‘n geelkaart kry saterdag teen die Cheetahs.

  • 14

    Dink nie bakkies gaan speel nie, hy is deel van die manne wat kamp toe gaan

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