Readers like the 'new' Bakkies

Wed, 07 May 2008 12:20

The reason why Bakkies Botha has gone soft!

Rugby365's readers have reacted strongly to Dan Nicholl's exclusive interview with renowned hard-man Bakkies Botha. The Bulls bruiser showed he has a softer side to him - much to the dismay of many! Clearly his on-field persona is nothing like is antics off the field!

The uncertainty surrounding the Dick Muir coaching saga also produced some lively debate from our readers.

* For the original Bakkies Botha article click here!

Here are the readers reactions!

If every word in this interview is indeed true, then Bakkies Botha is a real ass for talking about Derick Hougaard the way he did, they are supposed to be team mates and Bakkies doesn't seem like a real team player to me then... go join the russian ballet Bakkies, we don't need 2 timing jerks like you around our team.
- Ryno Olivier

Hi All at Rugby365

I must say my opinion of Bakkies Botha had always been one of a brute with no brains. It must also be said that,that stems from the role he has become famous for-Clearing the rucks,

Taking the ball up and the occasional eye-gouge and bite..-in plain rugby terms, ENFORCING. I must also say that Bakkies is the best no.4 in the world because of these characteristics.

However my opinion of the man has changed 360 degrees after reading Dan Nicholls article. Bakkies Botha,rugby’s greatest enforcer, a lover of poetry and the arts.No ways!!. I found myself laughing while I was reading the article because the image I had was of Bakkies cleaning that Fijian out after JP Pietersen had managed to put in the tackle of our World Cup anyway.

But I am intrigued more than anything that a man who causes such grievious bodily harm on his opponents can be so in touch with his softer side. I support Bakkies in his mission to join Toulon.

I hope the Bulls, after so many years of service, can allow him to leave. I find it amazing that this has become such a ‘messy’ affair because Toulon are offering to pay a transfer fee, therefore

Bakkies is not trying to get out of his contract, which is why he admirably continues to play every week. He would just like people to understand that he has outgrown The Bulls and Pretoria.

There is much more to life

- Andile Qokweni

Dan you are a Legend!!!
- Mark Read

Before reading this article, the name Bakkies conjured up images of blood, braaivleis and battered rugby players. The last words in the world I expected to come from one of biggest, most feared players in the world are incense, Andrew Lloyd Webber and feelings.

I have a new found respect for Bakkies after reading Dan's interview and am quite angry with myself for being so quick to judge this giant man. All too often we pressume that all rugby players are alike. Yet I realised after reading that interview that I couldn't have been more wrong and you can't paint all players with the same brush.

Good for you Bakkies, for breaking the mould and proving that even rugby players of your stature can be cultured and sensitive. Bakkies is an enlightened human being and therefore my new favourite rugby player!
- Matthew

Ha ha ha ha ha, this was the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time, I laughed so hard, I almost fell off my chair while reading it.  Thanks for the entertainment value, would love for you to do this kind of thing more often.
- Martin du Toit

Reading Dan's interview with Bakkies was interesting. I certainly want it to be true, but it's almost like someone is playing a joke and pushing the envelope a little too far trying to elicit a response from readers. Now thats all fine and entertaining, but can someone please verify whether the things said in that article are true or is someone making fun of Bakkies.
 
I don't want to judge the player, but I can't help feeling that Dan went a little overboard. It will be nice to know the truth. If every word is true, well, my apologies to Bakkies for doubting him.
 
- Wilhelm, Argentina

Please can someone tell me if the Article written by Dan Nichol is a joke or if its real?

I can't believe that Bakkies Botha talks like that. Sounds a like a bit of a poof if you ask me.

Did he really want to get the whole team to do a musical?
- Giancarlo

This must be a joke!!!!!!!!!! We are talking about Bakkies Botha not Nataniel. Imagine Bakkies playing the Cello, ha ha ha. Please remove this trash of the website please
- Schalk Erasmus

Is this joke?? Cant see Bakkies listening to Café del Mar.
- Herman

In the words of John McEnroe-you can't not be serious!!!!! Let Bakkies know there is a team in Seepunt which might want his services! Unbelievable!
- Truebluebull

HA, HA, you almost had me there Dan! But I'm pretty confident that Bakkies would not use words like 'catalytic', 'surrealist', 'salient' or 'poignant'. Organising a squad musical I can believe, but this Higher Grade English for a guy from Secunda (and born in Vereeniging). ThanX
- Jacques Swart

Hi guys!
 
So the writer with 'Dan' in front of his name is obviously Dan Nichol, but who is the guy with 'Bakkies' in bold print before the text?  Is that also 'Dan', or the legendary Pieter Dirk Uys?
 
Please put me out of my misery and say it isn't so!!!
 
- Pete Cape Town

Brilliantly funny article. Keep them coming Dan.
- Andrew in Texas.

I firmly believe that the only reasonable option for Dick is to coach the Tigers.
 
If he ties him to De Villiers, he takes on the whole load of affirmative action/quota players and the other euphemisms SA Rugby and the Department of Sport use to hide the ugly truth of non-merit selections.
 
If De Villiers flops as coach, Dick will be tarred with the same brush as a failure as a coach. And such a eventuality which could be a very real possibility. The very sad fact is that De Villiers is the victim of a system where skin colour plays a significant tole which places him under pressures which no other country's coach must contend with.
 
I believe he is a skillful coach and that he has major potential to succeed but not with SA Rugby and the ANC sporting gurus undermining him completely.
- Dion Roder Ladysmith

Dick Muir can go. The performance of the Sharks show us that he is not the coach we want at the Boks. Thank you        
- At Bezuidenhoudt

Chester does not have anything to bring to the Bok setup (except perhaps some window dressing). Nice guy and all, but zero technical abilities. Muir is incomparably better and would really benefit the coaching setup.
- Timothy Baker