Botha revels in revenge
Bakkies Botha says beating the Cheetahs in the Currie Cup final was ‘like the knife has been removed from my heart’.
Botha is never one to pull any punches, and while his team-mates consistently declared that their defeat in the 2005 final at Loftus had long been erased from their memory, the big lock revealed publicly that it had vexed his soul and that he had been desperate for revenge.
‘This is the cherry on the cake in a phenomenal year,’ Botha told keo.co.za. ‘When I look back at what happened in 2005 it hurt. I wanted to change history. It was like a knife in my heart and I’m glad we put that right. It feels like a weight has been lifted. Like the knife has been removed from my heart.’
Asked to describe a memorable season in which the Bulls became the first South African side to win the Super 14 and the Currie Cup in the same year, Botha said, ‘It’s been a wonderful journey.
‘To experience this sort of success with this group of players and this coaching staff is very satisfying. We’ve suffered and been down at times over the last two years, but we came back strongly.
‘[Winning] the Super 14 was a massive achievement and now the Currie Cup, well you could not have asked for a better season.’
Botha will be back to have another crack at domestic and Super Rugby glory with the Bulls next year, but one key player waves goodbye to Loftus and takes up the challenge of galvanising an underachieving Stormers side.
‘It’s been a fantastic five years,’ a sombre looking Bryan Habana said. ‘I’ve developed as a player and a person at the Bulls and enjoyed some wonderful times here. Saying goodbye is very difficult.
‘When I look around me at the players at the Bulls I’m very aware that this is a special team. But there’s a new chapter for me now. That said, I know playing against them next year is going to be tough.’
By Ryan Vrede
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:37 am
#50 Cheetahboytjie: Has he been coaching the Currie Cup side?
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:39 am
#51 WOLFMAN21: for griquas. I think the S14 side needs some new ideas
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:43 am
#52 Cheetahboytjie: Ah right, I’ve gotcha.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
#45 Tacitus: Lol, ja, dit sal beslis die leemtes in die Bulle se mondering uit stryk!!
Richardt gaan oorsee, so ons sal ‘n nuwe haker moet kweek!!
Ons het sover nie te veel spelers verloor nie, en ons S14 kan vir ‘n verandering beter lyk. Span kan so lyk
Stutte: Wiaan du Preez; WP Nel; Coenie Oosthuizen; Albertus Buckle; Steph Roberts
Slotte: David de Villiers; Jacques Lombaard; Brendon Snyman; Nico Breedt; Izak vd Walt
Losvoorspelers: Juan Smith; Brussow; Scholtz; Raubenheimer; Kitshoff; Floors; Viljoen; Francois Uys
Scrummie: Sarel pretorius; JP Joubert; Tewid de Bruyn
Losskakel: Naas Olivier/Sias Ebersohn; Meyer Bosman; Riaan Viljoen
Senters: Bosman; R. Ebersohn; Uys; Geel; Jonker; Bekker
Vluels: Mapoe; Basson; Demas; Nokwe; Juries; Whitehead
Heelagter: Daniller; Wilton Pieterson; Riaan Viljoen; Juries
Lyk na ‘n span wat baie beter as hierdie jaar in die s14 kan vaar!
Wat dink jy Tac?
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 am
#54 Cheetah 4 Eva: Die volgende hakker is klaar op Gray
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:52 am
#48 WOLFMAN21: No Wolfie, it’s the taxing nature of the tournament!!
The Cheetahs in S14 have a good enough run on team, but their depth is usually the problem. To be competitive you need a squad of about 30 quality players!
In addition, to be successful in the S14 a measure of continuity is required!!
Most of the teams that have dominated the S14, had teams that played together for two or three seasons, it is a luxury that the the Cheetahs S14 rarely enjoy!!
No lack of belief, or talent…. but they regularly lose star players!!
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:58 am
Weereens geluk aan die BB’s en hul ondersteuners.
Aan die Cheetah ondersteuners, jul span het uitstekend vertoon. Ek dink die BB ondersteuners soos Tac wat geglo het hulle gaan oor julle hardloop, het hardop gebid in die 2de helfte.
Het iemand ook opgelet dat Habana by twee geleenthede “proffesional fouls” gepleeg het? Wat het geword van ‘n outomatiese geelkaart as jy ‘n proffesionele oortreding begaan wat ‘n moontlike drie verhoed. Die feit dat Cheetahs ‘n drie gedruk het (hul 2de) direk na een van BH se oortredings is mos ‘n duidelike bewys dat hy ‘n geelkaart verdien het.
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:16 am
#57 nama1: You just sound sour dude. Like the Lions earlier this year-if Schalk had received a red card we would have won; like the Sharks in 2007-Kuun stole the ball illegally for Habana’s final try; like the Kiwis-If Suzie hadn’t poisoned us…
The Cheetahs played well, showed character, but ultimately the Bulls won-stop blaming the ref, and look forward to the Boks hopefully dominating in the Northern Hemisphere.
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:49 am
#58 WOLFMAN21:
Just keep your response in mind next year if the Bulls or BB are on the wrong side of a refs decision.
BTW I’m not a Cheetah supporter. I ask these questions as a neutral. The fact that you see it fit to respond in that way is enough answer for me. Thank you.
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:59 am
……”the big lock revealed publicly that it had vexed his SOUL and that he had been desperate for revenge”.
Bakkies has a Soul?
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Coenie Oosthuisen is a real idiot if I ever saw one , he needs a fat klap from OS
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
#57 nama1: As jy die reels so goed ken verduidelik hoekom die Cheeta nommer 7 nie ontkant was toe Spies met die bal weggebreek het , getackle was ruck gevorm was, en FS 7 het die ball langs FdP opgetel , hy was nooit aan kant nie.
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
#59 nama1: 2005 ring a bell
November 2nd, 2009 at 12:41 pm
#54 Cheetah 4 Eva: Ek hoop die Cheeters speel nie weer soos pansies in S14 nie
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
#64 capebull: Ons sal maar verskil oor die pansies gedeelte, maar ja ek hoop ook hulle speel beter!
Weet nie hoekom julle almal so wrok teen die Cheetahs het nie, maar seker maar ‘n geval, a backhanded compliment lol
Hulle het swak weggespring, en baie gesukkel met beserings, ongelukkig het hulle nie die diepte in meeste posisies soos die Sharks en Bulle nie, maar ek het hoop vir die 2010 seisoen
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:08 pm
#61 capebull: Idiot is a bit harsh!! It’s the exuberance of youth, he will learn to control his aggresion!!
Unfortunately him and Gurthro obviously had some issues to resolve!!
Think Gurthro objected to being outscrummed by the young Turks!!
I mean he is a Springbok and a Bul after all, the Cheetah props were supposed to not push so hard!!
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
#60 cane: LOL yes he does but not when he’s on a rugby pitch. On the field he’s a nasty, merciless creature from hades who loves to see the look of pain on the faces his opponents.
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:15 pm
#60 cane: Yes, he does. It’s black and merciless.
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:23 pm
#66 Cheetah 4 Eva: I’m with capebull on this. Agression for 80 minutes is fine but after that final whistle you shake hands like a man, no matter what happened during the game. Oosthuizen’s actions left a real bad taste in my mouth and a citing would have been in order. Unsportsmanlike conduct – a fine or a two week ban just to teach him a lesson.
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
#59 nama1: There were no neutrals on Saterday. There were Bulls supporters and the rest of the country who supported the Cheetahs, and you were obviously not a Bulls supporter. So don’t come with neutral Bullsht. The only neutrals were the match officials.
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
#69 ratel: I also don’t condone it but Guthro also didn’t let it ride, he walked up to Coenie and bumped with his chest, but I suppose that was ok, cos he is a Bull???
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:08 pm
#60 cane:
I understand he pawned it to the Devil years ago and can only re-purchase it on strict terms payable in Citings. He appears desperate to get it back and was reportedly furious that the JUSTICE4 campaign did not double the sentence.
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
#72 WakaNathan: lol Justice 4, haven’t heard that one in a while
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:22 pm
#72 WakaNathan: Waka Waka….welcome back. The more things change the more they stay the same huh? BaXXies???
November 2nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
#73 Big Hit:
I missed you too Lord Barry, been in the Land of the Long Black Shroud tidying up some family matters innit.
Must say, I was shocked to read that you incl McCheat as a ‘role model’ especially as you had Danny Grewcock as a worthy alternative. You gone soft in the solar-plexus in my absence ? Keep up old boy, the Black hordes have launched their latest invasion of Old Blighty and will be taking no prisoners (no cells left anyway, the footballers appear to have taken them).
Lets see, why dont you start with the Haka. That seems to be the usual focal point for the soft underbelly Poms…..zzzzzz
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:20 pm
#74 Jozi:
BaXXies to you too, gorgeous. Wheres my dear friend, BokfanWon ?
November 2nd, 2009 at 3:35 pm
#76 WakaNathan: Aaah he comes on from time to time but I’m sure he’ll sense your presence and he’ll be drawn to the blog in no time.