BJ waits on Jake’s call
8 Jun 2006
Having returned from his honeymoon with his new bride Karen, injured Sharks prop BJ Botha has been experiencing a lot of mixed emotions lately.
“Obviously the day I got married was the best day of my life,” Botha told keo.co.za, “but I am also disappointed to miss out on my opportunity to play for the Springboks.”
The powerfully-built Botha was one of the reasons the Sharks scrum excelled in the Super 14, and he deservedly earned a call-up to train with the Boks ahead of the Tests against Scotland and France.
However, an almost certain Test debut, against Scotland at his home ground, was put on hold when a niggling neck injury ruled him out of contention. He has since undergone surgery.
“It’s been three weeks since I had my operation, and I now have six weeks of rehabilitation ahead of me. I am back in the gym and I have been doing some running, so it’s a start,” he said.
A specialist found that Botha had a build-up of cartilage on one of his neck vertebrae and this was pressing against a nerve, which of course caused him plenty of pain. He is expected to fully recover within the next two months at which time he will presumably go back to the Currie Cup to regain fitness. But his future, as a Shark or a Springbok, for 2006 also remains uncertain.
“I actually have not been in touch with the Springbok management since i got injured,” he stated. “We will just have to see what happens. I am not sure whether I will go straight back into Currie Cup rugby or not, I have not heard the plans from the Springbok camp. All I can do is get myself fit and available for selection.”
By Jon Cardinelli
21 Comments
8 Jun 2006, 16:18 pm
Hy het seker baie geskrum op sy honeymoon
8 Jun 2006, 16:27 pm
sonder sy skrumpet
8 Jun 2006, 16:34 pm
89 Octane….
8 Jun 2006, 16:34 pm
Up to 90….
8 Jun 2006, 16:34 pm
Tell the dude Andrews and Sephaka took his place,,,
8 Jun 2006, 16:34 pm
95!!!
8 Jun 2006, 16:35 pm
Done!
8 Jun 2006, 16:40 pm
We are seriously short on good tightheads in SA, I hope his recovery is quick and 100%.
Hang on BJ and good luck.
8 Jun 2006, 16:50 pm
PA – the Irish captain you were thinking of is Dion O’Quinnigan – also captained SA 7′s
8 Jun 2006, 16:53 pm
ah cheers gecko.
was he not an ex-province boy?
8 Jun 2006, 16:54 pm
Indeed. Rondebosch & Maties
8 Jun 2006, 16:58 pm
yeah but he played in the days of tiaan and co.
tough to break into that setup…
8 Jun 2006, 17:01 pm
He still played in SA after Strauss left – but then had Aitken to deal with. He was only really suited to 8th man. But, did well. Captained Ireland in SA and ’99 WC.
8 Jun 2006, 17:03 pm
yeah i also liked him as a player, really talented, lanky and good skills with good speed.
teichman like mould, a classic 8th man so to speak…
8 Jun 2006, 17:29 pm
he put his medical studies on hold to play full time rugby and then stopped playing after the 99 WC to complete his degree.
8 Jun 2006, 17:38 pm
I feel for the guy….missing out on the tests….and having to do the mielierol with a sore neck….well one thing Sharks also don’t have to worry about….he ain’t goin’ down south soon….hehe
8 Jun 2006, 17:55 pm
hey we’ve been buying sharks players for a while now…
skinstad, andrews (keith), james small, peter grant, luke watson…
it is just a matter of time till barrit and BJ wont be able to resist the mountain…
8 Jun 2006, 18:07 pm
Brendon,
You’re from Kloof.
Give it up.
8 Jun 2006, 19:21 pm
JC,
If he still has 6 weeks rehabilitation then I guess he is stupid if he is waiting on Jakes call.
8 Jun 2006, 19:28 pm
Pissant – I was referring to baardpaai, not the mountain.
9 Jun 2006, 04:17 am
Grrrr wtf???????
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