John Philip "Bakkies" Botha, usually referred to by his nickname (born 22 September 1979 in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal Province) is a South African rugby union footballer who plays lock for the South African national rugby team, the Springboks. He also plays for the Blue Bulls provincial team in the Currie Cup competition and for the Bulls Super 14 team. Botha stands 2.01 meters high and weighs 118 kilograms. September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... Newcastle is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. ... Capital Pietermaritzburg Largest city Durban Area  - Total Ranked 7th 92,100 km² Premier (List) Sbu Ndebele (ANC) Population   - 2001   - 1996   - Density Ranked 1st 9,426,019 8,417,021 102/km² (2001) Languages isiZulu (80. ... Image from a test-match between Ireland and the New Zealand All Blacks. ... A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. ... The Springboks, Bokke or Amabokoboko are the South African national rugby union team. ... Blue Bulls logo The Vodacom Blue Bulls is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. ... This article is about the rugby competition. ... The Bulls are a South African Rugby Union team competing in the Super 14 competition. ... The current Super 14 logo The Super 14 is a rugby union championship competed for by teams from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. ... The metre (Commonwealth English) or meter (American English) (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. ... The international prototype, made of platinum-iridium, which is kept at the BIPM under conditions specified by the 1st CGPM in 1889. ...

Botha played for the under-19 and under-23 Springbok sides before being chosen for the South African "A" team that toured Europe at the end of 2001. The following year he was selected for the Springbok team and made his debut against France in Marseille on 9 September 2002, a game the Springboks went on to lose 30-10. 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... City motto: Actibus immensis urbs fulget Massiliensis. ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... 2002 (MMII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Through the years a formidable partnership has formed between Botha and Blue Bulls teammate Victor Matfield. Together they have an unparalleled ability to disrupt opponents line-outs, getting posession of the ball at critical times during matches. Victor Matfield (born 11 May 1977 in Pietersburg (now Polokwane), South Africa) is a South African rugby union player for the Springbok rugby team as well as the Blue Bulls provincial side and Bulls Super 14 franchise. ... A rugby lineout A line-out is Rugby unions equivalent of the throw-in in football (soccer). ...

Botha is known as one of the most uncompromising locks in world rugby and has been accused of foul play (including eye gouging and biting) at various times throughout his career, most notably under ex South African coach Rudolph Straeuli. Since 2004 under new coach Jake White his controversial days seem to be a thing of the past however. Rudolph August Wilkens Straeuli (born 20 August 1963 in Pretoria, South Africa) played rugby union in the positions of flanker and eigthman for, and later coached, the Springbok rugby team. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jake White (born 13 December 1963 in Johannesburg) was appointed the coach of the South African national rugby union team, the Springboks, in 2004. ...

External links

• Bakkies Botha at SARugby.co.za
• Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame profile