Springbok Legend Bakkies Botha is rightly regarded as one of the toughest and most intimidating players in the sports history.
A colossus in every sense of the word, Botha dominated opposition hard men the world over in a career that spanned three decades.
Career highlights for the giant second row include three Super Rugby titles, three Heineken Cups, A Top 14 title, two Tri-Nations titles and a World Cup.
His partnership with Victor Matfield in the Blue Bulls and Springbok engine room is regarded as the best of all time.
Another central figure in Botha’s career was his long time Springbok captain John Smit.
Affectionately known as Barnie, Smit led the Boks impeccably throughout his career. As the first choice Hooker before shifting to prop, Smit threw thousands of line-out balls to Botha and Matfield with unrivalled success.
Speaking to Joe Rugby’s James Haskell, Mike Tindall and Alex Payne, Smit revealed one of the funniest yet brutal rugby stories that one could wish to hear.
It revolves around Botha’s distain for South African born prop Matt Stevens decision to play for England rather than the Boks.
Botha could not comprehend that Stevens would choose the Red Rose over his home country and went out of his way to make Stevens pay for it.
Take a listen to this brilliant story!
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