PADUA, Italy: Springbok great Bakkies Botha retired from international rugby yesterday, saying he was going out on “my terms”.
His announcement came after South Africa’s 22-6 win over Italy in Padua, a match second row star Botha watched from the stands.
Botha, 35, made his debut for South Africa in 2002 against France and went on to win 85 caps, with the lock one of the key figures in the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup success.
His decision to call time on his international career came ahead of South Africa’s tour finale against Wales in Cardiff next Saturday and less than a year from the 2015 World Cup in England.
Botha has winners’ medals from the Tri-Nations, series against the British and Irish Lions, Super Rugby, Currie Cup, Vodacom Cup as well as the European Cup and France’s Top 14.
Now with French club Toulon, Botha is the seventh most-capped Springbok of all time and holds the world record for the most Tests as a lock combination in the starting line-up with Victor Matfield (63).
“The news of my retirement will probably be described as sudden and unexpected, but it is a decision that I’ve been mulling over since 2011,” said Botha in a South Africa Rugby Union statement.
“When I limped off the field during the Rugby World Cup in 2011 with an Achilles injury, I knew that I did not leave on my terms and that I didn’t say goodbye to the Bok jersey like I had wanted to,” Botha added.
“What was ‘my terms’? I wanted to leave the jersey behind knowing I honoured the men who wore it before me, as well as the people who had supported me throughout my career,” he explained.
“I recovered fully from my injury and was privileged enough to be involved with a world-class French club. I had wonderfully supportive team-mates and supporters at Toulon in France, but deep inside, I still had a burning desire to play just one more time for South Africa.
“When Coach Heyneke (Meyer) selected me for the end-of-year tour last November, to mentor young players and to possibly spend one more minute on the field in Green and Gold with the leaping springbok on my chest, I knew that my prayers had been answered,” explained the great player.
“Earlier this year, I was blessed yet again to be involved with the Springboks. I felt I was at my best playing for Toulon as we won the Heineken (European) Cup and the French Top 14 titles, but I wasn’t expecting a Springbok call-up.AFP
