BJ Botha

END OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN HOLIDAY

It’s been an interesting few weeks of relaxing and finalizing a few things in South Africa, before migrating back to Belfast for the long winter.

The South African break presented the opportunity to wake up late, read the occasional paper and spend quality time with the family at our local haunts (coffee shops and shopping malls).

It was great to also head down to the beach (it’s been a while!) and play some golf on my exciting home course, Cotswold Downs. It’s in unbelievable shape and I’d recommend it to anybody in the area.

We also enjoyed seeing our other children, Max and Bonnie; our dogs who we had to leave behind when we originally left South Africa for Belfast.

Generally, our South African trips are about soaking up as much SA culture as we can before we leave. Indulging in local food is always a top priority and it goes without saying that there were many braais, a lot of biltong and not to forget my favourite, ‘melktert’ (milk tart).

BACK TO BELFAST & MEETING OLD FRIENDS

Leaving loved ones behind was tough, but thankfully the trip back was really smooth; we were really impressed with SAA! The connecting flights were on time and the lay-over was relatively short.

If you’re a frequent flyer, you will agree that it does not always work out that way (especially when passing through Heathrow!). Nevertheless we were welcomed back with some typical Belfast weather: Rain, wind and a slightly rough landing.

 

My teammates were quick to assure me that my day of arrival was the first rainy day in over a month and that they enjoyed temperatures well into the twenties (centigrade). This I struggled to believe and am yet to witness after being back for two weeks now!

 

Despite the weather, it was good to be back & see all my teammates again and catch up with the new Ulster recruits (but very familiar faces) of Johann Muller and Pedrie Wannenberg (Ruan Pienaar only arrived yesterday) . Johann and Pedrie have fitted in really well and are playing some good rugby; contributing to our great start to the season of three wins from three! 

READY FOR RAVENHILL
I have been training vigorously, trying to fit in a mini pre-season before I start playing and it’s been going well. I still had a week to go on my training schedule, but had to slot onto the bench for the game against Edinburgh due to injuries and the new regulation regarding the front-row. For those who are unfamiliar with the new setup, teams are required to select a full front row on the bench to decrease the chances of non-contestable scrums. Squads now need to really look after their prop resources due to the fact that they need to have four fit props in the match day 23 (rather than the previous squads of 22 that had a hooker and single prop on the bench). Injuries are always unfortunate, but personally it was great to run on at Ravenhill again. I came on for 30 minutes and although I was breathing hard in the first ten, I got a second wind and had a few runs.

 

It’s been a great start for Ulster and we are gaining momentum with every match, but it’s still early days and the Magners League is only won in May, so we have to keep the momentum and develop a consistent performance & standard of play.

 

GIVING BACK

One of my passions is to develop the youth in the rugby fraternity, but without burdening them with added pressure (they will have enough of that when they go professional). One of the ways I have started to put this in motion (there will be other means- see my next blog) is through DHS (Durban High School) who have given me the opportunity to start the ‘BJ Botha scholarship’.

 

My involvement will be as a personal mentor to the nominee through his grade 11 and grade 12 years, continuing with a relationship with an independent company (Performance Sports Management) that will groom him for other challenges that lie ahead. Thereafter, the next nominee will begin his two year scholarship. I am really excited about this and hope it doesn’t only benefit the player but DHS rugby in the long run (and hopefully he makes an impact in the professional era, of course).

Until next time, where I’ll discuss the Currie Cup, beginning of the Heineken Cup and the latest in Belfast, see you soon!

Tri-Nations & down time

 

LIFE IN THE SPRINGBOK SQUAD
Besides the disappointing results, being back in the Springbok camp has been unbelievable.

Playing for the Springboks is where I want to be and the fact that I’m not there now makes me that much hungrier to regain my place. There is a process in place however and I know I’ll have to perform for Ulster to be called up again.

DOWN TIME

There are a few Boks who don’t return to their respective unions during the Tri-Nations; usually the players who have played every test or have had a lot of game time. When they do manage to put their feet up, they’ll spend time on what they enjoy outside of the game: Family, hobbies and generally recovering from past matches. Any professional rugby player will tell you that you actually never totally rest. There is always something to do, be it rehab on a recurring or current injury or simply keeping the body ticking over with a little gym and a run during the week. It is important however to find a balance between rest and keeping the body sufficiently conditioned and ready for the next game, whenever that might be.

Personally it’s just been great to be back in SA again, spending time as a family doing things that we take for granted when we’re in Northern Ireland (such as braais outside, spending time on our great beaches and visiting the KZN Midlands). We really enjoy the Drakensberg and make a trip up there when we can. We recently visited one of our favourite places, Hartford House: A stud farm and a great retreat to relax, enjoy the outdoors in good company and really do nothing.

 

We’ll also be planning a trip to spend a couple of days at the beach; a very enjoyable and unique luxury that you can’t really experience in Belfast. As you might have seen on Top Billing, I’m an avid mountain biker and looking forward to testing myself in a race at Howick on the weekend. I’ve also started working on my handicap again and have been enjoying a few rounds with some friends, particularly on my home course, Cotswold Downs.

 

We’ve also spent a number of afternoons at our favourite lunch venue, Bellevue in Kloof. It’s always been a great excuse for a meeting or get together. Also looking forward to spending some time at our local dinner venue, Aubergine in Hillcrest, where a great South African wine will definitely be on the cards.

 

VISITING THE SHARK TANK

I’ve had the chance to make my way to the Shark Tank to watch my old teammates and it’s been great to be at ABSA Stadium again to feel the atmosphere that I enjoyed for numerous years! 

ULSTER

Ulster meanwhile have been on a stringent training programme and have completed a number of pre-season games before we start the season on 4 September. I’m really looking forward to getting together with my teammates and some of the new faces that have joined Ulster, namely Johann Muller, Pedrie Wannenberg and Ruan Pienaar. Personally, I’m relishing the chance to get some silverware in my last season with Ulster. I think we have a great opportunity to do well this season, but it is a process and we have to play each game at a time and put steps into place and practice to drive the Ulster machine forward!

SOUND OFF

I’ll be back with some news in the next two weeks where I will wrap up the Tri-Nations, touch on my arrival back in Belfast and share what my last two weeks of holiday in SA were like.

 

Cheers for now!

The Flight & Accommodation

We (the Springboks) had a week’s break following our win over Italy in East London, but that was only a break from the field of play. We still had to keep the engine running in the gym and on the training paddock with the Tri-Nations approaching.

It was great to spend a week in Durban with family and a few friends after being away for the past four weeks. The weather in Durban also didn't disappoint and I doubt we had a day under 25 degrees; this all in winter! Unbelievable!

We left in two groups from Johannesburg and I was in the group that left on Saturday (the other group leaving on Sunday). We had a great flight and what made it even better was that our connection to Auckland was boarding when we landed, so there was no time wasted sitting around. After a long-haul flight like that, all you want to do is get to your destination! Jetlag did take its toll in the first three nights, but I’m accustomed to the time change now (as are most of the players).

A few of the guys lost some of their baggage, which isn’t great when all you want to do is shower and get into a fresh set of clothes. Now the only option is to borrow clothes or hope your bags arrive soon! Thankfully, all my bags arrived, but I couldn't use a lot of my clothes anyway as my shampoo burst in my bag! My first day ended with a large laundry bag of clothes, all requiring washing!

We are staying in Auckland and didn't realize (until we arrived) that the Springboks haven't played in Auckland since 2001(when we went down 26-15).

I don't know the reason for the lengthy absence, but perhaps it has to do with the welcome we received at our first practice on Tuesday morning.

The field was a sea of green jerseys and vuvuzelas greeting us; even to the extent that a Cape band played non-stop whilst we were training! The support was great and we did a fair few signatures afterwards for them. These are obviously South Africans that have immigrated and this is possibly one reason why there’s been such a long wait for a Springbok Test in Auckland, but I don’t know if the immigrant issue carries any weight.

We are staying in town itself and its great to just head down to Starbucks (if the eyes aren’t too tired yet) or go out for a bite to eat on our off day as its all well within walking distance. Some guys even enjoy a walk to the shops!

 

Preparation & Training

We’ve had two gym sessions and one field session (as of Wednesday) and will have another field session on Thursday and Friday. Practice has been going well and it helped that the sun came out for the duration of the practice! You have to be very careful to find the balance of how much you need to do as accuracy is far more important than quantity when you’ve come off a long- haul flight like we had.

This is where rest and recovery is also of great importance.

Personally, I’m looking forward to playing after a week off and playing in the

Tri-Nations for the first time since 2007. It’s a spectacular competition and great to be involved again!

 

General Feeling in the Camp for the Test

When you come against your biggest rivals, it’s something that you dream of when you are a young boy; to play against the All Blacks and face the Haka.

Whether you play in New Zealand or back home, it’s a massive occasion; so there are always a few butterflies around, but I think that’s a good sign.

We are really looking forward to doing what we do and doing it well!

As a team, we’re looking to concentrate on our performance as a unit.

 

Preparing for my Opposite Number

My preparation is always the same for each Test match as every match up is a “Test” in every sense of the word. The butterflies are always around but playing in New Zealand against the All Blacks has just got that little something special.

It’s a little more demanding on your mental and physical preparation, as you can’t afford mistakes. If you do make one, it must not happen again!

 

A SEASON OF WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN

As the domestic season draws to an end, I’ve been looking back at a season of highs and lows and ended up quite disappointed. At the beginning of the season, we set our sights on a certain path and despondency is due to the fact that we came bitterly close on so many occasions. We bowed out of the Heineken Cup quarter-final qualification race by a single try. We were nicely poised to book a Magners League playoff spot, until a few very close games didn’t go our way. The bounce of the rugby ball has a way of bringing you down to earth and Ulster learnt that the hard way this year. At one stage we were looking at the Heineken Cup knockout stages; two months later we were fighting to just qualify for it next season!

Thankfully, we have now qualified after beating Edinburgh at Murrayfield with a bonus point. We played with confidence and showed glimpses of the potential of this side and how we can perform. Next up is Irish rivals Connaught this weekend for our final fixture of the season and we’re prepared for a titanic battle (as derbies always are!).

Despite the adversity, I really feel we’ve emerged as a more experienced and close-knit group. This bodes well for next season and helps us reach our goals of heading for the top. We realize that it’s a process, but with the group that we have now, as well as the quality signings that Ulster are gaining next season, I’m sure it’s going to be a memorable season in the history of Ulster Rugby. There’s also the exciting addition of two Italian outfits joining the Magners League, which is great for the players and for growing the game of rugby!

EUROPE AT LARGE

There’s been a lot of news from around the UK and Europe over the last two months, but the standout talking points have been the upcoming elections and the volcanic ash weather phenomenon, with the latter affecting many a sporting fixture in Europe. It was a logistical meltdown and the worst part about it was the fact that nobody knew when it was going to pass and when flights would resume again. It was really an unknown phenomenon and suddenly ‘steam travel’ (by rail or sea) became the most popular mode of transport. Ulster was affected through our match against Glasgow in Scotland, where the customary short flight was replaced by a seven hour trip. Even though it was only a three hour ferry, we still had to travel three hours by bus (on the Scottish side) to get to Glasgow. All in all, we travelled for well over seven hours before we arrived at our destination; not the ideal preparation before a big game, but we didn’t really have a choice.

The ferries were understandably fully-booked and I was surprised how efficient and well set up they were. They had cinemas, restaurants, games rooms, beauticians, the list goes on! As rugby players tend to do, we made the most of the situation and had some fun doing things that were a little different.

SPRINGS TEES

Conditions over the last two months have been relentless with the last signs of winter only starting to dwindle now. There have been days where, had it not been for our indoor pitch; suitable training would have been unlikely. Thankfully, our last two games have shown signs that Spring has arrived (i.e. not much wind and rain). I even had the privilege of hearing my teammate (and Irish international wing) Andrew Trimble say that our last game against Edinburgh was played in humid conditions! When you hear such things and the temperature tops 12 degrees, you begin to realize just how cold it gets here.

The longer Spring days have brought much better weather though and so we’ve been reaching for the golf clubs more often. Robbie Diack and I have had some great rounds at the Links course, Port Rush. It was a first for me to tee off at 4:30pm and finish at 8:45pm (with enough light to play another nine if we had to!).

HEINEKEN CUP

This weekend past was great for the neutral, but not as impressive for the Irish. Both Munster and Leinster were eliminated from the competition with losses in France (to Biarritz and Toulouse); showing why the French topped the Six Nations. It’s amazing how the performances of club sides replicate itself in the National side. It doesn’t always happen with the abundance of foreigners (especially in the French league), but Toulouse and Biarritz boast a large number of current French internationals (including the captain). Their upcoming final in Paris (at the month end) will be great for French rugby!

STORMERS

The latest Stormers situation (which has now come to an abrupt end) was something I was really looking forward to. It would have been great to be involved in the Super 14 again, particularly with an outfit that is dominating and continually improving as the Stormers are! The deal was that I was going to be released to the Stormers for the rest of the Super 14 and then join Ulster again in the new season. As you all know however, it did not materialize for obvious reasons and that a deal could not be struck on the matter of comprehensive insurance cover (as stated in the press already). I hope to get another opportunity in the future, as it would be great to run out on that blessed African soil again!

SUPER 14

The Super 14 is really getting to the business end of the tournament and is going to be one of the most exciting finishes since the competition stated; very apt as we close a chapter and welcome the Super 15 next year! The Bulls and Stormers are surely the favourites for home semi-final berths, which I’m hoping ends up with an all South African final. The Bulls have kept their consistency from last season and have held on to their reigning champions tag very impressively. The Stormers have been the most exciting side of the tournament, with their great tries and weekly improvements. I’m looking forward to catching a few games in the latter parts of May when I’m home for my off-season!

LOOKING FORWARD

As I’ve mentioned, it’s been an up and down season for Ulster this year. Consistency will be the word that we’ll be putting forward when we tackle the preparation for next season. We’ll have high expectations as we always do, but we’ll have to ‘walk the walk’ if we want to put some silverware in the cabinet at the end of the 2011 season. I’m looking forward to some time off in South Africa and spending some quality time with my family and friends; maybe the odd braai every second day! A big thank you to all the Ulster supporters that have supported the side all the way. I look forward to seeing you next season as we prepare for one of Ulster’s greatest!

LAUREUS SPORTS AWARDS

In my last blog I mentioned in passing that I’d be attending the Laureus Sports Awards (held in the UAE) as one of the representatives of the Springboks, who were nominated in the Team of the Year category. I was joined by my teammates Butch James, Jean De Villiers and Bakkies Botha. Our coach Pieter De Villiers was also in attendance (to keep an eye on us). It was an extremely tough category with star-studded international powerhouses such as the LA Lakers, New York Yankees, FC Barcelona and Brawn F1 GP. Brawn took it in the end, which left us a little disappointed but at the same time, humbled by the fact that we could be nominated alongside giants of the sporting world.

There were in fact two evenings planned; one being a cocktail evening where actors, Laureus ambassadors and nominees mingled. It was quite surreal seeing actors such as Clive Owen, Gwyneth Paltrow and Hugh Grant. Kevin Spacey was the MC of the Awards ceremony itself and he really put on a great show. To cap it off, fellow South Africans Oscar Pistorius and Natalie Du Toit were also nominated, with Natalie walking away with the award for Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.

The ceremony also proved to be quite reflective. Yes, it was about recognizing the best of the best in the field of sport; but Laureus also plays a huge role in improving the lives of people around the world (particularly children). Sometimes we take it for granted that people have running water, medical care and even a roof over their heads. It was certainly an eye-opener.

THE UAE

Apart from the awards ceremony itself, the trip was a memorable one for my family and I. From the time we boarded our Etihad flight until the time we got back, the UAE proved to be a rollercoaster ride that we just didn’t want to get off! Abu Dhabi is one place that really knows how to show its riches!

I also had the chance to fit in a round of golf at the Championship course where I shot an 87. Needless to say, Jean De Villiers and I saw off our opponents comfortably!

ULSTER

It’s proving to be a strange time of the season at Ulster, as we’ve only played one game since my last blog due to the international break (Six Nations). Though it may seem good to have a break now and then, it’s very ‘stop start’ and difficult to take advantage of any sort of momentum that the squad has built up through the season.

Our last couple of games have proved disappointing and we now find ourselves in a situation where we have to win a few (if not all) of our games to give ourselves a realistic shot at the Magners League playoffs. We’ve got the prospect of back to back fixtures against the Cardiff Blues, which is always tough, but we’ll be working hard for some good results.

Having mentioned the negative side of the break, I must admit that the time off does give you a chance to work on those aspects of your game that would take a back seat in a ‘game week’. Your body can recover from a few knocks, you can push yourself harder in the gym and even a round of golf now and then (weather permitting, of course).

SOUTH AFRICAN SUPER 14 PROGRESS

It’s great to see South African teams (Bulls and Stormers) right at the top of the Super 14 table as we near the halfway stage! It really bodes well for the future of the Springboks and South African rugby in general. More good news is the Sharks’ win over the Highlanders in the ‘House of Pain’. Dunedin has always been a happy hunting ground for the Sharks (I’ve never lost there in a Sharks jersey) and let’s hope that the result is just the start of things to come!