Springbok rugby great Botha retires

Nathan - care to explain how World Rugby benefits in anyway from having a NZer win the POTY award? Are you even aware of how the selection process works? Or are you just a wowser who thinks that NZ can only win things because WR is biased?

An old bloke Iused to talk to about Rugby once told me the difference between a hardman & a thug was if he played for your team or not.

Bakkies did get suspended for 'attacking the face' which involved the eyes apparently. He was also accused of biting in the same match but nothing was proven (though Brendan Cannon displayed a nice denture shaped bruise on his shoulder).

Nathan Sharpe stated during a "question time" in Perth a couple of years ago that Bakkies was one of the best players he had ever played against! When I said he was a grubby player Nathan shot me down and determined that Bakkies was a hard and committed player who gave his "all" in every game! Also he was a gentleman off the field who freely gave his time for the promotion of the game. However I have NEVER heard Nathan Sharpe say a derogatory word said about anyone! BLESS! :)

Nathan Sharpe stated during a 'question time' in Perth a couple of years ago Bakkies is one of the best players he had ever played against! When I mentioned he was a grubby player, Nathan shot me down and determined he was a hard player who gave every game his "all", but then Nathan wouldn't say anything derogatory about ANYONE! BLESS! :)

One of the best lock in his prime. He knows his body can't keep up with ever increasing pace of the game. Life must go on for Bakkies. Best wishes on his retirement.

. I am an ozzie but Bakkies(the truck) was always my favorite because of his totally uncompromising play and because there should be no laws to protect lippy halfbacks.

You are basically saying what I am saying, just in a different way. As for SA going to struggle if game time reaches 50 minutes, I can't agree with you. Brodie Retallic 121kg Sam Whitelock 114 kg Eben Etzebeth 123 kg Pieter Steph du Toit 114 kg Stephan Lewies 114 kg

What are you 10 ?

Too true , was not that great a player without the threat of thuggery to enhance his game. Not missed ,

Not that you have any bias eh ? Patheti.c comments lacking any wit or sagacity .

Bakkies always sad when a great career ends, thanks for the memories tough as teak and never takes a backward step. Hope the Wallabies can instil this personality into our future locks

I think you're wrong on 2 counts there. Firstly Botha's efforts around 2009 weren't just as a bash merchant and secondly there have been a number of decent ball playing locks in previous generations who were also hard - Meads and Du Preez for a start. Any number of French locks. I do think we sit on the cusp of what body shape the next generation of tight forwards will have. THe longer the ball is in play the greater the aerobic demands and the body weight margins become quite tight (lightness for better aerobic capacity v muscle mass for absorbing defence). At this stage we're looking at the ball in play in RC tests somewhere around 40 minutes (which is a lot more than what it was in the 1980s). If that creeps up to 50 minutes I doubt you'll be able to carry 130Kg players and even 120Kg locks wont be de rigeur. IMO this will impact SA rugby more than any other country. One of the reasons Retallick got kicked out of the Crusaders development squad was he was 10Kgs over weight and wouldn't do anything about it. That was his wake up call. Uncle John Ashworth helped hook him up with Hawkes Bay and he did the necessary. Bakkies was a bit of a thug - but really backs need to learn their place.

No; Bakkies never gouged - that would be Schalk Burger. Sorry, Harry couldn't resist. Actually, I thought Bakkies reputation as a 'thug' was a little unfair. Very hard and gave as good or better than he received, but wasn't what you'd call a snide cheap shot merchant. It was always out in the open which probably explains his reputation. Always thought Ali Williams, for example, was a much nastier piece of work. I remember on the 2003 tour of NZ Williams bringing his boot down five successive times in quick succession on Josh Lewsey's face. Dozens of stitches and very lucky not to be blinded. Also, Bakkies reputation off the pitch - seems to be universally agreed that he was a gentleman.

If there is bias, and there will be, even if it is uncoscius I think it does matter who you play, especially in the SH vs NH battles. Retallick (and Savea) played very well against England and stood out, so I think that got a lot of attention with the NH judges. If SA had a 3 test series and Vermeulen stood out in that he woulkd have won it, in my humble opinion. So while not free from bias I cansider it as fair as you can get it, independent judges voting on it (sort of like an Acadmy award). However I wouldnt take too much notice of who actually wins as in my mind any of the 5 people on that list (well perhaps not Willie on this year) could have won and would have been deserving. PS Feel Joe Scmidt was unlucky ot to win coach of the year as what he has done for Ireland has been immense and certyainly while the AB's have had the best record of the year I think that Schmidt's performance was the more noteworthy (Ireland could also have deserved team of te year).

Great player - had a real physical presence. He was a taller version of Brad Thorn and a tougher version of Paul O'Connell

Yes absolutely Harry, he is, as for our five, I am beginning to think Between Etzebeth, Lewies and Pieter Steph du TOit, anyone of them can develop into our 5. They are all athletic, physical and great ball carriers. I doubt we will ever have the Bakkies/Victor/Danie combo that was so physical.

Great post, Nos. I remember similar words from Chabal.

BB: Eben is the (faster, quicker-leaping, fitter) heir to Bakkies. Who is Vic's heir? Lewies? PSDT? Lood? Ruan Botha? Someone else? Does the 5-lock HAVE to be 2 metre plus? With long arms/big hands? Do we know, yet?

Retallick was awesome this year, as were Aaron Smith and Savea. In think maybe the rationale for picking him as the best NZ player was that they seemed to really miss him when he was gone--he gives the AB pack momentum and he has more all-match influence than Savea. But Smith's and Vermeuelen's supporters would point to the immense workload and consistent excellence each contributed. I don't think Retallick is a choice that is really that controversial.