"Nobody better" - Bakkies Botha ranks his three toughest opponents

Monday, 18 October 2021 at 12:51

when the refs getting cross cos he tossed alun wyn off its joe marler 40 1

bySteven Smith

Springboks hard man Bakkies Botha has revealed his toughest opponents on the rugby field in a series of interviews.

The legendary lock often took his game to the wrong side of the law and makes no apologies about that in a chapter dedicated to him in the new book

Hard men of Rugby by Luke Upton.

Check out who he named as his toughest opponents below:

and European rugby titles

#3. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

BOTHA SAID: “I like Alun-Wyn Jones, he’s a good fighter. We had some epic battles down the years and I have a lot of respect for what he's gone onto achieve."

JONES ON BOTHA: "He revelled in it didn't he. Physically he has to be up there. Let's just say he was able to keep the tradition going of the hardest of South African second rows."

#2. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)

The pair came to blows on the international stage numerous times, whether O'Connell was playing for Ireland or the Lions in 2009.

BOTHA SAID: "He's a world-class player and it's always great to play against world-class opposition. A phenomenal leader and player. He brought something to a team that’s special.”

#1. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)

Botha, now retired after 87 tests and a World Cup winner’s medal, said he always relished the challenge of playing the All Blacks, and McCaw in particular.

BOTHA SAID: “They were always the hardest opponents we faced and there was no better player than Richie McCaw that I came up against. My role was clear when playing against them: make the breakdown brutal.

“If McCaw or any of the New Zealand boys had to take a moment to look out for me, then I knew I was winning. When I played them, I always wanted them to know I was coming for them, and the biggest compliment I ever received was from (South Africa coach) Jake White, who said he could see they had fear in their eyes during the game.”