Botha vows to 'make Germany great again' as Samoan clash looms
Former England lock Mouritz Botha has faced many challenges in his rugby career, but helping to “make Germany great again” after the country’s footballers crashed out of the World Cup in Russia is the most unusual.
Botha is Germany’s rugby forwards coach and like his players, was asleep in Apia in Samoa when the defending champions failed to make the knock-out stages in Russia sending the nation into meltdown. Now, attention turns to the rugby players as they bid to grab the sporting headlines back home by winning the first game of their two-leg Rugby World Cup qualifying playoff with Samoa on Saturday.
Samoa and Germany are trying to earn the right to join Ireland, Scotland, hosts Japan and Russia in Pool A of next year’s tournament and while the Pacific Island nation has a proud history in the Cup, the German rugby team are attempting to make history by securing a place at the top table of the sport.
The second leg takes place in Germany on July 14 and the loser will progress to the Cup’s reperchage tournament in November. The qualification process was mired in controversy when Belgium, Spain and Romania fielded ineligible players in the Rugby Europe Championship and had points deducted and that led to Germany beating Portugal 16-13 to earn this double header.
The German players made a 14,500 mile trip via Doha and Auckland to Apia for the match and took around 40 hours to complete the journey. Botha, who won ten England caps while at Saracens, told RugbyPass from Apia: “The guys didn’t watch the match live and it was the first night everyone got a good night’s sleep after getting over the jet lag. It is now up to us to make Germany great again! The guys have not been affected by the football result and we have travelled, probably, as far as you can go to play a Test.
“We have only brought 24 players to Samoa and so we can’t risk overdoing it in training. World Rugby pay travel costs for that number of players along with six staff which is all that is possible.”
Botha and the German players face a Herculean task, not only because they face a fiercely physical Samoan team in 30C heat, but also the fall out from the loss of funding following Dr Hans Peter Wild’s decision to end all financial support. Billionaire Wild was told he could not have his two clubs Stade Francais and Heidelberger RK in the European Challenge Cup because of a clash of interests, leaving the German club without a backer.
As a result, Botha and 15 of the 24 players representing Germany in Samoa will no longer be employed by Heidelberger RK, one of just two professional teams in the country, and face an uncertain future with the former Saracens lock saying: “I don’t have a job in two weeks’ time! Dr Wild has pulled all funds from the club and we are trying to relocate players to different teams because our livelihoods have been taken away. We are trying to find a new backer for the national team and, hopefully, I can find a new club coaching role and I am based in the UK.
“As a national team, we have faced a number of challenges including the Wild Academy guys deciding to go on strike in November in an attempt to get a deal sorted with the Union. Now, we are dealing with Heidelberger RK not being allowed to play it the Challenge Cup, but each time the boys have come through and delivered. It has been a long, emotional season. I have had many highs in my career and helping Germany qualify for the Rugby World Cup would be fantastic.”
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has ensured a fiery encounter by stating that Germany has “no knowledge whatsoever on how to play rugby, so we must win this game.” Given that Heidelberger RK was founded in 1872 and the sport didn’t reach Samoa until the 1920’s his knowledge of game’s history around the World is patently flawed.
Samoa have not won a Test match since November 2016 which only adds to the pressure on the home side particularly as Tuilaepa – who is also the chairman of the Samoan Rugby Union –told the national team; “you have no guts.”
Botha is aware of the Prime Minister’s harsh words about German rugby and his own players but does not believe it will be a major factor in the final build up. “They haven’t had the best run and are under pressure,” said Botha. “It is always tough, physical and emotional to play the Islands nations, but, hopefully, we have the right game plan to defuse their energy and to get our tails up.
“I don’t think the players from either side are taking the Prime Minister’s comments too seriously. The return game on July 14 is planned for Wiesbaden and you have to get the mentality right for both games and the majority of out squad played in the Continental Shield which involved home and away matches. You could view it as a four quarters but it is simpler to just think about winning two matches.”
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
5 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
5 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments