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BJ called-up to end scrum woes

Wednesday, November 18 Ulster-based tighthead BJ Botha has been recalled to the Springbok squad and could be rushed straight into the starting line-up for Saturday’s Test against Italy in Udine as injuries continue to plague the struggling tourists.

The World Cup-winner and former Sharks front ranker has been drafted into the squad following a hamstring injury to CJ van der Linde in South Africa’s 23-24 defeat to English Premiership log leaders Saracens on Tuesday night.

Lock Andries Bekker, who was reportedly said to start this weekend’s Test against the Azzurri, may miss the match as he sustained a rib injury in the same encounter. The fitness of fellow injured duo Bismarck du Plessis and Schalk Burger remains unclear at this stage.

Should Du Plessis and Van der Linde be ruled out of Saturday’s showdown, it is likely that captain John Smit will revert to hooker with Botha starting at tighthead. Botha, who has 17 caps to his credit, is still widely regarded as one of the country’s leading scrummagers.

"We expected to dominate against Saracens in the scrums, but then we lost CJ early in the match," Springbok midweek coach Dick Muir told reporters.

"We also lost a lot of momentum when Bekker went off in the second half. To lose a player of CJ's experience is a big blow, but it may provide the next guy in line with an opportunity."

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By kwaggabees - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
great news finaly!!!!!1
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By Coolc4t - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
cj got hammered in scrums...wian did much beter...vd merwe was the weak link
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By cramer - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
About bloody time!!!

But the problem you have here is that these guys haven't had a chance to train together. Although, BJ, John and Beast use to play together at the Sharks.

Not a bad front row at all.

I still think CJ, John and BJ are our best front row. With Beast, Bismark and Jannie coming on as Super Subs.
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By KaRmA77 - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
CRAMER you are spot on with your opinion on the front row btw Smile
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By Vundu - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
CJ sucked.

Let's see what the great BJ can do.

I honestly think there is too much pressure on these two to perform like demi-gods all of a sudden. Personally I would have preferred some of the WP front row, that WP Nel dude and the beefy Bulls no. 3 - Guthro sucks, Heinkie sucks, Beast is buggered, Smit is a pie-eater.
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By KaRmA77 - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
This would be my squad of 30 to form the core of players before 2011 in New Zealand.....

15. Francois Steyn / Hennie Danillier.
14. J.P. Pieterson / Ryan Kankowski.
13. Jacques Fourie / Bradley Barritt.
12. Jean DeVilliers / Wynand Olivier.
11. Bryan Habana / Jongi Nokwe.
10. Morne' Steyn / Peter Grant.
9. Fourie DuPreez / Ruan Pienaar.
8. Pierre Spies / Jean Deysel.
7. Juan Smith / Wickus VanHeerden.
6. Schalk Burger / Heinrich Brussow.
5. Victor Matfield / Andries Bekker.
4. Bakkies Botha / Jeandre Kruger.
3. Brendan Botha / Jannie DuPlessis.
2. John Smit (c) / Bismark DuPlessis.
1. C.J. VanDerLinde / Beast Mtawarira.
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By guns - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Finally BJ in the mix! Hope He performs!!
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By Vertue - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
CJ is over rated, glad BJ called up just wish he was a couple cm taller. Go BJ hope you do well
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By USARugbyfan - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
How maqny props have they tried now????Os DuRand should be prop
coach for the Bokke! Mad Mad Mad
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By Bokbe4k - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
What must WP Nel do to be selected for the Boks,Iv never rated BJ Botha and I still dont but if he is going to fail then let it rather be next year because this saturday the Boks are going to have to CRUSH the Italians to get back on track!
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By rehanb_bl - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
why are foreign based players being selected left and right but jean de villiers and frans steyn arent?
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By Jasezn - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
If I am wrong, or being stupid I apologize in advance, but, What happened to the -no players playing outside of South Africa may represent the bokke- policy? Not that I agree with it. But why is BJ being selected instead of Jean De Villiers and Frans Steyn? We need the strength back in the team, pull the right players in, somebody explain this to me PLEASE. Question
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By Vundu - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Karma, dude you are funny. You don't know where your props go, and to be honest, this is more like the Springbok 30 that will be selected for 2011:

15. Francois Steyn / Zane Kirchner
14. J.P. Pieterson / Lionel Mapoe
13. Jacques Fourie / Juan de Jong
12. Jean DeVilliers / Wynand Olivier
11. Bryan Habana / Jongi Nokwe
10. Morne' Steyn / Earl Rose
9. Fourie Du Preez / Dewald Duvenhage
8. Pierre Spies / Ashley Johnson
7. Juan Smith / Jean Deysel
6. Schalk Burger / Heinrich Brussow
5. Victor Matfield / Andries Bekker
4. Bakkies Botha / Adriaan Fondse
3. WP Nel / Werner Kruger
2. John Smit (c) / Bismark DuPlessis
1. Beast Mtawarira / Wian du Preez

We really need to nuture the black dudes playing in the forwards at junior level. There are some awesome loose forwards coming through the ranks, but waht ever happens to them? I refuse to believe it can all be blame on conditioning, or as some dudes like to say - genetics. Too many talented players fall through the cracks and this has to end. Looking at this team, it won't satisfy those money-hungry politicians who will do anything for a bribe. I personally believe in equal representation, but we need more black dudes playing currie cup first.

Oh well, late night rant that will get the angry dudes all fired up.
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By bokke95 - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
and how many times have i said we need him back???its about time they pull the finger,and get some core guys back from europe...we need the likes of BJ,STEYN,DEVILLERS and CJ,back NOW!!!!
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By jauk - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
I would have shown the coach my middle finger! Why do they pick him now??, its such a bloody joke. Pieter de Villiers is scrambling and spinning, can you smell something burning? Or is it sinking?
So you asked for BJ? Now you will give BJ....and then I will scrum.
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By BDAUSSIE - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
No offense but as good as BJ is at scrummaging, he doesn't deserve to slot in to the Boks. The guy is lazy and obviously has limited passion to play for his country. bringing him in for a one off (ON THE BENCH) is fine but he shouldn't become a regular.

If the guy is prepared to head back to the southern hemisphere and mix it with the best players in the world then maybe he will deserve it.
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By Cheis - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
heinke needs some time.. he's just back from injury, but was the best SA scrummager of last years S14..

BJ is great news though!!!!
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By Cameron - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
yes bring in frans steyn and jean de vielliers in nw
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By viwe - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
now lets if the scrum problems will actually be sorted....in my opinion BJ is not going to sort out anything come saturday....SA scrumaging is crap...we need a scrum specialized coach to sort it out....person like Os/Naka....
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By Nitronic - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Not that i want to, but I am going to p!ss myself if the so called best scrummager BJ gets his @ss handed to him against Italy!!!
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By Nitronic - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
DOn't know what the hype is all about BJ Botha, he won't fix our problems!!!!!
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By Rqd2 - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
We have more props than biltong shops in South Africa, but for whatever reason, the coaches insist on picking people like Gurthro and Eddie Andrews for the boks....

Glad to see BJ Botha back, but bear in mind, he's been on holiday, hardly the best preparation for a fat monster Italian prop...
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By bluebok - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Bwahahahahaha The injuries keep on making our team stronger and stronger...Morne in for Pienaar, Brussouw for Burger, CJ for Jannie/Guthro, BJ for CJ, D etc etc. keep it up boys, soon we'll be able to field our strongest side ever, BY DEFAULT!!!!
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By Peppers - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
And next weekend Eddie Andrews will get a call up? Confused
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By bluebok - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Seriously, we just need Kirchner and Jacobs to get injured and then Frans Steyn and J De Villiers will be back in the side and then we'll have the ultimate Springbok side.
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By bluebok - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
OK, Spies is the only one missing from my ultimate side.
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By Luway - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
OMG.... yes, we keep picking players like Andrews and Gurthro. Since when was Gurthro not regarded as an automatic for the team... he's one of the so-called Bulls invincibles. Yet cos he is a player of colour, suddenly he is no longer good enough when a few years ago he was considered one of the best props in the country.

As for the Andrews part... either you haven't watched rugby in 3 years or you're a moron. I'm pretty much done with this site. This site used to rock with great insight comments from Greenmachine, Steynop15, Ronnie, Coolc4t and loads of others whose names I forget cos they haven't commented in ages. I guess they got sick of these keo.co.za readers who seemed to have joined this site and forum and who lack any foresight beyond "pick the whole Bulls team" and "the team loses cos of the quota players."

Gareth and co., shot for a cool site down the years...
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By Nitronic - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
luway who (edited)ed on your battery today????
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By Peppers - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Yoh pmsing?
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By Gron - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Funny how they always talk about 'combinations', and select the Sharks 1st and 2nd choice front rows, and the Bulls 1st and 2nd choice second row, etc, but when the obvious solution is the combination of the Cheetah front row, they play daft!
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By crazysharksman - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
OMW people its flippen time to realise that our scrumming problems aren't due to props.

Jees does nobody realise how loose the binding is of the other 5 players involved in the scrum?? Even our wonderful locks are loose, the 8th man is supposed to hold tyhem together so its a tight unit.

We are in a situation where its our front row scrumming against the full 8 forwards of the opposite side.

YOU CANT BLAME THE PROPS! You need all 8 to scrum! Evil or Very Mad
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By Alderton - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
we are going to end up like a lot of teams whom talent get stolen due to more money or whatever. I dont recon SA board and be so stupid anymore by keeping this Policy alive. It doesnt matter which club you play for - they are still boks.
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By crazysharksman - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Luway, If I give you a hug would that make you feel better? Laughing
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By Luway - Castle Braai recommendations: 1
Sharksman and Nitronic, you're also some of the better banterers over the last couple years. If you okes have read my posts for the last few years, you'll have noticed that I have never played the race card previously.

Unfortunately, it has just got worse and worse to the extent where I feel a need to defend the racist allegations made. It's no wonder as a massive rugby fan, i am probably stereotyped as one too. In fact last time I went to Ellis, the guy next to me, a complete stranger, felt the need to tell me a racist joke. I just hate how this site is beginning to confirm the views out there.

And I hate to say it but it appears to have increased as more Bulls supporters have joined. Anyway, I reckon this is my last day of posts... cheers.
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By cavalli - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
luway. you are twat. what has it got to do with blue bull supporters joining the site. anyway i am glad that i wont have to read your stupid comments anymore, that is if you decide to stop posting comments. you should have gone with puke twatson

CHEERS
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By zulustormer - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
im afraid even the inclusion of bj wont help thanx to a tool/turd named gary botha.
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By mikes - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
cheers luway, we wont miss you
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By Rqd2 - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
@zulustormer...

I think you mean Gary Gold, Gary Botha is hooker, plays for the Bulls again, has a bald spot...
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By Rqd2 - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
And Luway, people's opinions, whether they be racist or otherwise, are their own problem...

The difference between a rugby fanATIC, and a rugby fan, is that the fanatic will blindly and often irrationally elevate his or her own team and players above all others, and whilst their opinions may be vociferous and passionate, they're usually not very informed...

A rugby fan looks at the game, understands tactics, selections and the strengths and weaknesses of his own side as well as the opposition, and can engage in an intelligent debate about the pro's and con's of all of it...

And then of course, you get sh*t stirrers, who will make a comment just to get a reaction and start an argument...
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By crazysharksman - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
I think we should all focus on rugby and the game rather than pathetic provincialism and politics.

I know there is politics in our sport, but why winge about it ALL the time creating a very depressing blogging experience.

PS sharks rule!~
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By crazysharksman - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Yes Rqd2 my good friend Javelin is brilliant at your last point
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By sasuperman20 - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
This is like when Schalk was getting unfairly pointed out in the begining of his carreer (in the begining it was fair as he was infringing) but then it just got easy to point the finger at him. Same with our scrums now, everyone is saying how terrible it is, it isn't that bad but the refs find it easier to ping us - not saying our scrum is a juggernaut but we do hold our own. Like how everyone goes on a rant on this page. It's just rugby clowns, don't like what's happening - don't watch
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By bluebok - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Luway, it'll be sad if you leave, but if you do at least you have made a good point, and that is that we should talk rugby on this site and not petty insults about race, politics (Unless something is blatently political, then it can be discussed on merit), and country or provincial mud slinging. Jokes and banter are more than welcome in my book. Lastly, I am/was greenmachine, but I was banned for swearing...even though I have no idea what I said and can't remember swearing. Anyway, here I am as bluebok and no longer under cover. LOL Stick around man,
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By cramer - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
I think this tour has clearly shown that that the best second stringers are based abroad or in some come cases first choice.

Would it really matter if the Only use the foreign based players for the European tour and give the key players a break.

We could have a blend of local and foreign based players for the end of year tour. Logistically it would also make more sense.

1. CJ - Foreign
2. Straaus - L
3. BJ - F
4. Ross Skeate - F
5. Bekker - Local
6. Wikus Van Heerden - F
7. Dyesel - Local
8. Kankowski - Local
9. Pienaar / Claasens - F
10. James F, (Grant)
11. Mapoe - Local
12. Jean dVilliers - F
13. Jacobs - Local
14. Nowkwe - Local, Don't really rate him
15. Steyn

16. WP Nel L
17. Brits F
18. Juan VerMeulen L
19. Russouw L
20. Claasens F
21. De Jongh
22. Kirchner

What I'm saying is that you can mix a blend of up and comers with experience players based in Europe. Give our first 15 a break but still keep the team competitive.
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By Gilbert - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Not a bad idea cramer, but i would rather leave Jacobs at home (and try and convince him to stop playing rugby) and rather have De Jongh play next to JdV (he would do fine next to JdV)...that way you could blood another green horn into the squad...such as Doppies. Or have Wynand on the bench to cover 12 and 13. Hmmm maybe even Hougaard he can cover 9,13 and wing.
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By Nitronic - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
cramer that team will still get their arses kick!!!! Why would anyone want Skeate,Kanko,Grant,Jacobs and Nokwe their team as for me they suck big time
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By Frikman - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
This is a clear case of petri dish de-volution.

The Tri Nations & S14 being said petri dish. Our 3 nations measure our scrumming ability against each other but never against the rest of the world and as we adapt to ELVs and a loose playing style our tight setpiece suffers but it's never revealed because AUS, NZ and SA has the same problem.

Then all of a sudden we come up against other teams on wet pitches and they make us look like schoolboys. The Italian scrum ANNIHILATED the All Black scrum a week ago!

I'm foreseeing more of the same this weekend. Sad

Os ou boet, laat staan jou stories en kom help ons!!!
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By Vundu - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Indeed a province fan. But I think Duvenhage has that game-breaking ability. I'm looking forward to him in the Super14 to see if he can step up. Adams is good, but a little old and Vermaak reminds me of Johan Roux.

Unfortunately our experienced tightheads are rubbish at the moment, so let's take the best of the new stock and give them the experience they need in 2010 in order to compete in 2011.

I pity anyone who has to really chose this squad. It's always going to be a ball ache and you will never be able to please everyone.
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By Nitronic - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
South Africa: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Adi Jacobs, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Danie Rossouw, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit (captain), 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Tendai Mtawarira, 17 BJ Botha, 18 Victor Matfield, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Wynand Olivier.


Smittie is going to be ripped a brand new a#$hole!!!!
Can't believe Kanko is still there!
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By Peppers - Castle Braai recommendations: 0
Luway what does racisme got to do with anythng? Shocked When i maid the comment about Edddie Andrews it wasnt racisme you plank! we running out of props dont be so sensitive flipen mamasboy gee half a brain and you could have gotten it.. Embarassed
| Parent

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