Springbok lock and enforcer Bakkies Botha has copped a 9 week ban after being found guilty by SANZAR judicial officer Dennis Wheelahan of head butting All Black scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan following the Boks 32-12 massacre at Eden Park.
Botha was cited after Irish referee Alan Lewis missed the head butt which occurred in the opening minutes after Cowan had earlier interfered with Botha as he tried to chase a kick. Botha was obviously aggravated by this incident and in the heat of the moment lost his cool, his sense of judgement and his Springbok lock position.
Botha’s offence was deemed to be int he middle range of seriousness, and his past judicial record was also taken into account in determining his suspension. It follows a 4 week suspension earlier this year in the Super 14, a 2 week ban in last year’s international season, a further 3 week ban in last year’s Super 14 amongst others.
Botha will thus miss all the Tri-Nations matches, and can best use this period to take a long hard look at his behaviour and modify his approach in the future. I have supported Bakkies for a long time now, believing him to be past incidents such as when he eye-gouged Australian hooker Brendan Cannon in 2003.
I felt he has been unfairly victimised for playing the game hard (but legally) and copped suspensions for incidents others perform almost every game. However no one can condone a head butt, which was a cheap shot as Cowan was on the ground and it was aimed at the back of his head where he could not defend himself.
Botha, like Johan le Roux and Andre Venter in past years, took the bait as the All Blacks are past masters of knowing how to get under the skin of the Boks. It worked like a charm as Botha was lulled in hook, line and sinker, and now Botha will have to face the long reaching consequences for the rest of his career.
“I sincerely regret the incident. I have let my team, my country and family down and I have done an injustice to the Springbok jersey and what it stands for. I apologise to Jimmy Cowan and the New Zealand rugby public for what happened. Rugby is a physical sport but it has to be played within the boundaries and spirit of the law. I truly regret my actions and will make sure that I put the extended time away from the game to positive use and return to playing with the right attitude” said Botha in a statement afterwards.
Andy Marino who is SARU’s Manager of National Teams had this to say,”SARU views any incident of foul play in a very serious light. Bakkies remains an important player in Springbok rugby and I have discussed with him the extent of his actions and the implications it could have on the team, himself personally and his family.”
A 9 week ban was fairly lenient given the seriousness of the offence, and the question remains now as to how much of a liability Botha may be to the Springboks, and how many opportunities his coaches will give him in the future. I have no doubt he’ll come back better, and more focused than ever after he has missed the majority of this year and still has much to deliver for South African rugby.
