Boks ready for Heineken Cup quarters
This weekend's Heineken Cup quarterfinals will have a distinct South African flavour to it with no less than 10 former Springboks involved in the eight teams that will fight it out in four games.
All the teams have not been named yet, but it can be expected that Michael Claassens, Butch James (both Bath), Gary Botha, De Wet Barry (both Harlequins), Marco Wentzel (Leicester), CJ van der Linde (Leinster), Gaffie du Toit, Daan Human and Shaun Sowerby (all Toulouse) could play this weekend.
The tenth member of this club, Leicester's Derick Hougaard, could miss the quarters due to injury.
Botha for one can't wait for this weekend. In his time at the Bulls this strong hooker was involved in numerous knock-out games and knows what to expect. Harlequins are also sitting pretty in the Guinness Premiership after a good away-win at Bath last week - a game in which Botha was named as Man of the Match.
“We're looking to build on last weekend's win and carry the momentum into next weekend's game against Leinster,” said Botha.
“We've got a young bunch of players - our average age is 24 - and we are going from strength to strength. We know that without being at the top of the Premiership we can't play in the Heineken Cup, but we want to get stuck into the Heineken Cup as well.
“The two wins over Stade Francais gave us character. But we have to use that character and get stuck into tough games like this weekend.”
Botha will probably be playing his former Bok team-mate CJ van der Linde, who has been anchoring the scrum for Leinster.
“Leinster are a good team, but we have to focus on ourselves. We know we are in for a tough match, but if we can play Quins style then we can take this forward,” he said.
“The reason I decided to come to the UK to play my rugby was to play in the Heineken Cup. It would be tremendous to reach a Heineken Cup final - it would be a dream come true.”
Five South Africans have tasted glory in the Heineken Cup before. They are Gary Pagel (Northampton Saints, 2000), Glen Gelderbloom (Leicester Tigers, 2001 and 2002), Daan Human (Toulouse, 2005), Trevor Halstead and Shaun Payne (both Munster, 2006).
Meanwhile, former All Black Aaron Mauger, who will be lining up for Leicester against Bath, has warned his team-mates about the threat posed by Butch James, who has been in fantastic form this season.
“Butch has been playing excellent rugby over here. He directs the game better than any other No 10 in the Premiership,” said Mauger.
“He knows where to put people. He has been in great form every game I've watched him and he's going to be a big threat.”
