Springboks legend Bakkies Botha has revisited his infamous headbutt on All Blacks scrum-half Jimmy Cowan during the 2010 Tri Nations clash in Auckland.
The incident occurred in the opening minute of the match when the Bok lock charged down a box kick from the scrum-half and went tearing after the ball.
However, the sly half-back tugged on the second-rower’s jersey buying him enough time to overtake him and get to the ball first and offload to Mils Muliaina.
Botha got some retribution though by delivering a mighty headbutt to the back of Cowan’s head after completing the tackle – he would get away with his act of foul play in the game but it would result in a nine-week suspension.
Bakkies Botha on the headbutt
South Africa would go on to lose the match 32-12 at Eden Park in Auckland and ahead of the Springboks return to the All Blacks‘ fortress next year, Afrikaans newspaper Rapport recounted the incident with Botha.
“People still ask me how it feels to headbutt an All Black,” he told the publication.
“However, I don’t see it as a moment that defined me as a player, or as a person. I made a mistake.
“Cowan got under my skin and these days there are rules that also punish the guy who provokes it, it’s nothing less than right.”
The 85-Test cap World Cup winner went on to explain that it was part of his job to be a physical presence in the team and while he did set high standards for himself, he would step over the line.
“I am a God-fearing person, who believes that the Lord has given you talents and expects you to give not 80% but 100%. That’s why I was a guy who got stuck in,” he added.
“I set standards for myself, sometimes too high, and then I stepped over the line from time to time.
“On top of that, I had to fulfil a specific role on the field, I had to bring the physicality. I couldn’t let guys get under my skin. The opposition could that as a weakness in our team’s set-up.”
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“I would do the exact same thing”
This is not the first time that Botha has recounted his headbutt in Auckland as he commented on the incident back in 2020 when speaking to French publication Midi Olympique.
Then, the former Springbok said that he would do the same thing if he was able to relive the situation when asked if he regretted the incident.
“No, not a single second. And if I were to relive this situation, I would do the exact same thing!” he replied.
“That day in Auckland I was battling with Cowan following a kick. I was faster than him. I had passed him and he pulled me by the shirt to slow me down. When I caught up with him ten metres away, I made him understand that I hadn’t liked it… I hate injustice.
“It’s not something I’m proud of. I kind of dropped the Springboks that day and Cowan won the mini-battle but I would react in exactly the same way today… it’s still the fault of the number nine – they talk too much and know better than anyone how to get you out of the game.”
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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/bakkies-botha-people-still-ask-me-how-it-feels-to-headbutt-an-all-black
