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EXCLUSIVE: Namibian Bothma to continue Jacques Burger's brutal European legacy

By Chris Jones
Renaldo Bothma of Harlequins during the Aviva Premiership match between Harlequins and Saracens at Twickenham Stoop on December 3, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Harlequins)

Harlequins flanker Renaldo Bothma (6’2, 110kg) has set himself the daunting challenge of replacing Jacques Burger as the face of Namibian rugby in Europe and guiding his country to qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

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Given that Burger’s face bore the scars of a ridiculously committed career with Saracens and Namibia by the time he retired, Bothma, 28, is a brave man to take on that kind of responsibility and he admitted: “I will definitely try to keep my looks better than Jacques! For me, I just want and become a World class player and get my form back in the coming weeks. It is not about becoming famous in England, it is about delivering my best for Harlequins and to do the boys proud.

“We have the final qualification for the World Cup next June and that is something we are really looking forward to and we are confident of making it to Japan although you cannot be certain of anything about rugby. For a small country like Namibia, it is a massive thing to be at the World Cup and it is unique for those guys who are not full-time professionals.”

Bothma, like 38-cap Burger who quit the game last year, has already shown an ability to overcome serious injury with more than 24 weeks spent recovering from twice breaking his arm and now a metal plate and screws will remain for the rest of his rugby career to ensure the bone stays together. The arm injury is why Quins fans have had to wait until December to see the strongly built flanker pull on the famous multi-coloured jersey and he will be on duty in Belfast tomorrow night as the London club faces the return clash with Ulster in a European Champions Cup campaign that has only delivered three defeats against La Rochelle, Wasps and the Irish province.

The Kingspan Stadium in Belfast delivers a raucous atmosphere that will test Quins ability to handle intense pressure and Bothma is relishing both the mental and physical challenge that facing Ulster involves. He added: “I broke my arm in the last Super rugby game I played in South Africa and there was still six or seven games rehab when I arrived at Quins and then I played in an A league match for the club. With the first ball carry I made I completely broke the same arm again and then I had to have an operation and so in total is was around 24 weeks out.

“I now have a plate – not having had one the first time for the fracture which healed by itself – and the surgery was needed because it was a complete break and that will stay in my arm. You can take it out at a later stage but not now and I don’t know if it going to set off the metal detectors!

“Last weekend’s cold weather was horrible for me and I have never experienced anything like that before on a rugby pitch. I am sure it will get better although I have heard it does get wet in Belfast.

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“Although I have played only two games, I have enjoyed the whole experience and playing at home in front of a full stadium is something that has been lacking in South African rugby for the last year or two. The injuries at Quins this season have meant that the summer signing like myself, Demetri Catrikilis and Francis Salili have been out. Hopefully we have a lot of guys coming back for the start of the New Year.”

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j
john 43 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

14 Go to comments
T
Trevor 5 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 9 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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