Botha revels in revenge
2 Nov 2009
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
77 Comments
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2 Nov 2009, 08:03 am
Dragons Blou Bulle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.. who were these retards who did the nomination? 
Punt no 1: Keo – verander asb die log op jou website…
Punt no 2: Nou lyk dit eers erg simpel dat Wp genomineer is as die span van die jaar….
Punt no 3: Ek rate vir Brussouw maar hel Steggies was skitterend… hoeveel balle het Brussouw gewen in die los teenoor Steggies…….. Steggies.. take a bow!!!!!
Punt no 4: Hats off to the Cheaters who had 3 teams in the finals on Saturday…… maybe they should be nominated and not those Wp “cut and pasters”
Punt no 5: Frans Ludeke … take a bow….. i did not back you enough………. respect! We should call Bulls rugby = The winning way!…
Punt no 6: To the Sharks ….. you only win if you cross the FINNISH line first………
Punt no 7: En toe maak hul al die Bulle bokke… 15 v hulle
Ja-nee wragtag……. die bulle is DIE jaar skitterend!
DRAGON BLOU BULLE
Eh – sorry but i had to get this off my chest…. now i will be humble again!
2 Nov 2009, 08:07 am
Eish… and did i get a lot of sms’s in 2005 when we lost that final!
Eina…..
2 Nov 2009, 08:16 am
but my phone is still today…. wonder why…..
2 Nov 2009, 08:30 am
Here’s a few points Stall:
Point 1 – first try, Bull’s player tackled and knocke on ball close to line. Kaplan misses incident and awards Bull’s penalty which results in Bulls try
Point 2 – second Bull’s try – forward pass from du Preez to Habana
Point 3 – third Bull’s try – Habana in front of kicker
Point 4 – Bulls player pushing Cheethans players behind his own goal line. Ref continues with Cheetahs Scrum. Later Cheetah’s scrummie pushes Habana – penalty awarded
Point 5 – line judge informs ref JL Potgieter put knee on player. Replay shows knee on his own player – penalty awarded and Steyns slots penalty from 53m (great kick BTW!)
Point 6 – Cheetah’d try dissallowed (not 5 meters). Replay clearly shows Cheetah’s player still behind 5m line when he caught the ball
I guess the final point is the Bull’s were lucky. Or perhaps Kaplan’s buddy-buddy relationship with the Springboks has somethign more to do with it. Either way, after Saturday’s performance Kaplan deserves a brandewyn and coke in his face much like Willie Roos. But well done Bulls!
2 Nov 2009, 08:32 am
#3 Staal: Selfde hier Staal. Wanneer die Bulle 2de kom in ‘n finaal kry ek elke keer ‘n T-Shirt met die telling op by ‘n maat van my….
Ek het nie baie sulke T-Shirts nie
2 Nov 2009, 08:34 am
#4 Richie_7: Really don’t wanna get involved with this… all i wanna say is:
Bulls – S14 winners 2009.
Blou Bulle – CC winners 2009.
and if that is what you want…
Kaplan – best ref in 2009.
2 Nov 2009, 08:36 am
#5 ratel: hehehehehehe….
2 Nov 2009, 08:36 am
#4 Richie_7:
How are those grapes tasting Richie? Sounds like they’re sour.
There were problems with all the Cheetah tries as well. Most notably forward passes. As for point 4, Kaplan penalized Kuun for the exact same thing just previous to giving the Bulls a penalty for the push on Habana.
Point 6. When did this happen?
2 Nov 2009, 08:40 am
It’s that grey patch on the back of Kaplan’s head.
It receives signals from alien spaceships.
2 Nov 2009, 08:40 am
Congrats on your team Staal , not only the CC champs but also one of the best provincial teams ever to come out of SA. I rate them as the best I have ever seen in my short lifetime.
On a sour note (yes I must spoil it a little for you) I see Loftus ex favourite son Doos Van Der Westhuizen has now come out and admitted it was him in the video !! Months and months of denial he makes Amor look like a idiot !! Eish….
2 Nov 2009, 08:46 am
#1 Staal:
Listen
Stop hating on WP.
You got the final, now shut up.
What the hell is wrong with them being nominated.
It’s on annual performance.
Not a 80 min final.
2 Nov 2009, 08:52 am
How common are those Cheetahs? Trying to start a boxing match after the final whistle. I would have been disappointed if I had not expected as much from them.
I predicted a Bulls win by 15 points. They ended up winning by 12. I guess I was expecting too much for Morne Steyn to produce yet another 100% kicking display, else my prediction would have been spot on!
Regarding the game:
Beforehand one of the Bulls said that it would be every Bull’s duty to clean out Brussouw immediately when any ruck was formed. And they did so brilliantly. He wasn’t in the game, and Potgieter and Stegman ruled the breakdown. That’s where we won the game.
Brilliantly done, boys.
Another issue I want to touch on is the huge disparity in possession and tackles made between the two teams. The Cheetahs did most of the playing, and the Bulls did most of the tackling. Some uninformed critics (bad losers?) try to use this to suggest that the Bulls were lucky to win the game.
These ignoramuses could not be further from the truth. I take you back to the S14, where Matfield stated that the Bulls strategy was to let opponents carry the ball through the phases, and the Bulls patiently waited to steal the ball from the breakdown when the opposition became too stretched. The Bulls’ tactics was to launch attacks only from turnovers and first phase ball. The rest of the time they relied on tactical kicking.
This strategy won them the S14.
And yesterday, this strategy won them the Currie Cup as well.
Well done Bulls. You played the game perfectly.
2 Nov 2009, 08:53 am
#11 Dawn: “on annual performance….. ”
Zicakcly!
2 Nov 2009, 08:56 am
#13 Staal:
So?
2 Nov 2009, 08:58 am
#14 Dawn: “on annual performance” … what did they do better than the Sharks, Cheaters of the Bulls?
2 Nov 2009, 08:59 am
#15 Staal:
My question is: Who will be the SA team of the year?
The Boks or the Bulls?
I would go for the Bulls.
2 Nov 2009, 09:01 am
Interesting article – did’t know Bakkies has a heart…
hahaha… You gotta love a Springbok team with Bakkies at 4!
Well done Bulls, you really deserve the tag of one of SA’s greatest teams!
I do feel the Cheetahs could’ve won it though… some silly mistakes at crucial times.
Enjoyed the game… Lets see Super 14 2010 with at least 4 SA sides in the top 6!
Bulls and WP are my top bets next year…
2 Nov 2009, 09:03 am
#16 Tacitus: Esih Tact – ons kan trots wees op daai mane…
Tussen my en jou moet ek eerlik wees en sê ons kan baie beter….. ons was maar bietjie “af” in die semi’s en final…. scary!
Broer – as ons vir 80min speel soos ons kan dan is dit nag virrie res! Die ouens is moeg maar tevrede… daai knie v Bakkies is ookie lekker nie maar nou-ja…..ons is die wenners!
2 Nov 2009, 09:07 am
#15 Staal:
You talking ****.
They didn’t have a bad year.
2 Nov 2009, 09:08 am
#19 Dawn: i take note of your opinion
2 Nov 2009, 09:09 am
back in 30 min’s.
2 Nov 2009, 09:09 am
#19 Dawn:
If WP wins Currie Cup team of the year, that would be like the Hurricanes winning S14 team of the year in 2009.
Don’t understand how you can make anyone except the winners the team of any tournament.
2 Nov 2009, 09:14 am
#1 Staal: Well done on your team’s victory! I have no gripes with the ref, in the cauldron of a final, there are alweways going to be tough calls!!
Didn’t see why Strauss was sent off, but the Bulls had 24 points b4 the Cheetahs started playing, and they showed great guts and character to fight back!!
I am proud of the Cheetahs having contested all three CC finals, and winning all but the most important one!!
I just feel pride, for what the Cheetahs have achieved with what they have!! Congrats to all Bulls supporters, it’s a great team built up over a couple of seasons!! Wish the Cheetahs had that luxury!!
#12 Tacitus: Expected such a daft comment from you Tac, hardly in your nature to be gracious in defeat, just remember, it takes two parties to start a fight!! There was plenty of slapping from the Bulls players as well, so lets not go there.. savour your victory, but try not be an ***!!
2 Nov 2009, 09:16 am
Bulls should win team of the tournament as they came through and won the games that mattered but I don’t think the final was as cut and dry as some suggest, there was a degree of good fortune involved, as there is in most finals.
2 Nov 2009, 09:17 am
#23 Cheetah 4 Eva:
Erken dit. Julle het alweer die Oily le Roux streke probeer uitvoer. Die Bulle het egter nie hierdie keer daarvoor geval nie. Hulle selfbeheersing was yster.
Die Bulle het hierdie wedstryd meesterlik benader.
2 Nov 2009, 09:18 am
#22 Tacitus:
OK OK OK.
I don’t smaak getting involved in WP Bulls fight blah blah blah
2 Nov 2009, 09:20 am
#24 Big Hit:
The Bulls have one vice which they really should work on – they tend to sit on a lead instead of hammering it home even further.
The Chiefs game being the exception this season.
But it is always good if there is room for improvement.
2 Nov 2009, 09:28 am
#22 Tacitus: I think the Cheetahs can also stake a claim for that prize…
They may not have won the Currie Cup, but they fought their hearts out for a great come-back to be able to face the Bulls in the Final!
I think WP have played really well this year but for me, it has to be between the Bulls and Cheetahs!
2 Nov 2009, 09:34 am
#28 Gambit25: Cheetahs caught the imagination I think over the course of the tournament. No true rugby fan could fail to appreciate what they brought to the table on match days, it was simply breath-taking rugby at times. WP were spirited and Sharks topped the log and one shouldn’t forget what the Griquas achieved with limited resources only to miss out on the semis by a single point. But, to the winners the spoils, sport is about doing it when it matters most and the Bulls did that yet again, that’s why they’re the best in the world.
#27 Tacitus: Scrummaging could maybe use some work, Guthro was pretty good but the other side was getting done badly. Still, scrums aren’t everything as Boks and Bulls trophy cabinets would illustrate.
2 Nov 2009, 09:37 am
#25 Tacitus: Tac, om enigsens ‘n bietjie objektiewiteit van jou te verwag is ‘n mors van tyd!
Maar om jou hartjie bly te maak, sal ek jou laat glo, dat ‘n BB speler nog nooit sy handjies gelig het, vir ‘n ander speler nie.
Ek glo alle BB spelers, is engeltjies, en ek glo ook in die tandmuis, regverdige Springbok keuses, en kersvader!!
Brussow, het homself in die gesig, gestamp, ens!
Geluk met die Bulle se oorwinning, en ek weet die onmoontlik vir jou, om sonder jou blou brille te sien, maar of jy dit nou gesien het of nie, en of jy dit wil erken of nie, die Cheetahs het in al drei finale gespeel, en twee van die drie gewen. Hulle het verloor teen ‘n gedgte Bul span, wat verdien het om te wen
Die Cheetahs het hulle plek in die eindstryd verdien, en al het hulle nie die geld wat die Bulle het nie, het hulle al drie hulle CC spanne in die finaal gehad.
Geniet jou dag
2 Nov 2009, 09:39 am
coming from the same guy who took the bbc to court so he could go and play in toulon…
#29 Big Hit: you would have to say sharks screwed themselves by denying the griquas that extra try at the end…
2 Nov 2009, 09:46 am
#30 Cheetah 4 Eva:
Die Cheetahs het verdien om in die finaal te wees.
Die Cheetahs het baie goed gespeel.
MAAR:
Ek was teleurgesteld in die Cheetahs se
“vuil spel” manewales.
Ek kritiseer dit, want dit is ALTYD die attitude waarmee hulle wedstryde teen die Bulle benader. Hulle probeer ons ontsenu deur off-the-ball taktieke. Dit het eenkeer gewerk – in 2005. En nou probeer hulle dit elke game.
Ek dink dit is Ollie en Naka se mentaliteit. Hulle het hierdie sogenaamde “meesterplan” teen die Bulle ontwikkel, en a.g.v. een skewe bons in Meyer Bosman se hande in in 2005, dink hulle dit gaan altyd werk.
Ek het dit voorspel voor die game, en wragtig, die gevegte het self my verwagtinge oortref.
Ag nee sies man, Cheetahs. Dit was skandalig.
2 Nov 2009, 09:46 am
#31 fish out of water: you could say that but they weren’t to know I suppose, better to play it fair and square anyway. For turning points I would look more towards the execution of the drop-goals in the semi, I think if just one of them had went over they could’ve defended the lead, as it was, the execution of numerous attempts was poor, JLP landed his sweet and the Cheetahs won.
2 Nov 2009, 09:53 am
hehehehe- dis lekker om n wenner te wees…….
sorry maar ek probeer humble wees…. maar al die negatiewe posts oor die bulls laat my dit net invryf.
Beste spanne in die CC was logies, Bulls, Cheaters, Shqarkies, en dan die genomeneerde “beste CC span in SA” …..
2 Nov 2009, 09:54 am
yeah
the cheatahs
note ea
are nearly
as bad
losers
as they
are
dirty
players
even though
they are
a good
side
2 Nov 2009, 09:56 am
wp
best cc
team
he he
he he he
he
wp surely
must now
be a
quota
nomination
2 Nov 2009, 10:04 am
#34 Staal: Wanner gaan Wp die cc wen….. volgende jaar.
2 Nov 2009, 10:05 am
but
i must
say
the cheatahs
can not
out-whine
the wp
and
the sharks
they are
only
3rd best
in that
category
2 Nov 2009, 10:06 am
Springbok ridden Bulls team struggled through the CC semi, and then struggled through the final.
True champions?
2 Nov 2009, 10:07 am
Congratulations to the Bulls for winning, and also to the Cheetahs for making a game off it.
Well done, S14 and CC in the same year.
This team can now be mentioned in the same breath as the ’93 Tvl (Lions) team
)
Lions’93 – S10, CC, Lion Cup, Yardley Night Series (Shared), and majority Boks to win ’95 world cap.
Bulls’09 – S14 and CC, and many Boks who have won 2007 WC, 3N’09, B&I Lions.
2 Nov 2009, 10:07 am
#39 Stawm:
true champs
yes
2 Nov 2009, 10:09 am
#37 capebull: hehehehehe – hul “cut en paste” dit elke november…….
2 Nov 2009, 10:09 am
#32 Tacitus: Tac, niemand geniet gevegte op ‘n rugby veld nie, en jy kan sekerlik jou opinie daaromtrent hê!!
Vuilspel, en intimidasie is lank deur die Bulle gebruik onder die dekmantel van “ons speel fisiese rugby” Ander spanne swig dalk daarvoor, maar die Cheetahs nie!!
Lets agree to disagree, en kom ons bly by punte waaroor ons saamstem, en dit is dat die Bulle gewen het, en verdien om te wen, ek blameer nie vir Kaplan, of die bons van ‘n bal nie, want dit is alles deel van rugby!!
Die 2005, 2006, 2009 resultate is so aangeteken, en basta!!
Jy is trots op jou span, ek trots op myne, veral omdat hulle bereik wat hulle het, met veel minder ster spelers as ander unies!!
Give credit, where credit is due!! Bulle was ons grootste teenstanders in die CC oor die laaste 10 jaar, en ons respekteer dit…
Praat nie S14, want dit is ‘n ander toernooi, wat ander eise stel!!
2 Nov 2009, 10:12 am
#35 Porra the Fat Speedster: Foot in mouth disease!!! Get help!!
A bit rich for a Blue Bul supporter to brand another team as “dirty”!! We can list a a page full of dirty Bull players!!
Bulls won, and deservedly so, savour the moment without tainting it with arrogance and slurring!!
Why are the Cheetahs bad losers?? Because there was a scuffle at the end??
How novel!!
2 Nov 2009, 10:13 am
#43 Cheetah 4 Eva:
Nou wens ek net die Bulle koop vir Adriaan Strauss, WP Nel en Coenie Oosthuizen.
Dan is ons reg vir nog ‘n S14 trofee!
Richardt Strauss kan julle maar hou.
2 Nov 2009, 10:20 am
#44 Cheetah 4 Eva:
help for
your
fim sickness
ok
you personally
can
out-whine
most
wp and
sharks
supporters
but
generally
cheatah
supporters
can’t whine
as much
as you do
have i
said
note the
ea
because
cheatahs
that bunch
of
dirty players
can cheat
they even
can out-cheat
the indian
cricket team
2 Nov 2009, 10:23 am
Every time they showed the blue bull crown on Saturday I felt a little better about myself. WOW the CREAM OF SA
2 Nov 2009, 10:25 am
#44 Cheetah 4 Eva: The Cheetahs were great on Saturday. As you point out, to surrender 24 points, and then do what they did showed guts and character.
Why do you think they struggle to carry this over to the Super 14? Do the guys struggle with the travelling? Do they not believe that they can do it? Do they just get more fired up for the Currie Cup?
It will be interesting to see what they do next year as they have kept most of their players.
2 Nov 2009, 10:30 am
Geluk Bulle. Die cheetahs was nie goed genoeg op die dag nie. Stegman was awsome en moes man of the match gewees het. Ek kry vir habana jammer want nou moet hy teen bakkies gaan speel…
2 Nov 2009, 10:32 am
#48 WOLFMAN21: They should let Dawie Theron coach the S14 side.
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