BOTHA HOPING FOR A MOTHER OF A GAME
Harlequins welcome Sale Sharks to the Stoop on Sunday and Springboks hooker Gary Botha believes his side can put last weekend’s disappointment in Newcastle behind them and defeat their play-off rivals in what promises to be a mother of a game. Botha’s young family will be watching on from the stands and he hopes he can show his wife and children something special on Mothering Sunday.
The 27-year-old, who moved from the Blue Bulls in 2007, has won 12 Springbok caps – but he is very happy to be part of the Quins revolution in the capital; more so if the sun deigns to show itself.
“I’m really enjoying London, especially when the sun is out, and am pleased to have gotten over the spell of injuries I had,” says Botha, whose side are fifth in the Guinness Premiership on 47 points, equal with sixth-placed Sale with five games in the normal season to play.
“My little girl is turning three in May and my little boy is turning one in May – we have a busy household and my wife has to put up with me, because I am a big baby too! They all always come along to watch and hopefully Quins will get a win against Sale on Sunday and our mummy will be happy!”
On the rugby front he continues: “There has been a shift in attitude since I have arrived – we are all going forward now. We have a bunch of young guys who are doing awesomely well now and we have great self-confidence. We see that anything is possible if we put the hard work in.
“That self-belief happens because of the hard work and training. People are understanding – both inside and outside the camp – and coming to terms with the fact that we are a good team, because of the work we do. We are going to get more pressure on us every game now – we are not just another team in the Guinness Premiership anymore. That is great for the Quins players and brings a spark to the squad, which I really like.”
However, at Kingston Park last Sunday, Newcastle Falcons halted Quins’ five-game winning streak. And Botha is positive his “wounded” team can soon get back on track by notching a W against Kingsley Jones’s side, who they play at Edgeley Park on April 17 and were thumped 38-3 by Northampton Saints last weekend.
“There was a bit of frustration,” the hooker says of the 24-16 loss in the north-east. “We did not get as much of the ball as we would have liked. We are a side that likes to have a bit of a crack at the try-line a lot of the time. The most disappointing thing was going up there and not getting any points at all, especially when Sale lost. But it is not that we are looking at the table – we have to concentrate on what we are doing now.
“We will take the loss on the chin and regroup. We had a good run and we have to learn from this. We would like to get a win and get back some of the momentum we had, and build on it once again. Both Sale and Quins will be like wounded animals. Sale will have been very disappointed but they have been up at the top of the table for a reason. They have not been in the leading pack at the end of the last few seasons by accident – they are a top side.
“At this stage of the season all the teams are in a predicament – you have to run your own race now. You can’t expect other teams to help you out and do a job on others. You have to focus on your own race. The game has so many way of throwing in curveballs and that is what makes it so interesting and exciting.”
And Botha believes that the Stoop, where Quins have lost only twice all season – both times to London Irish – will play a major part on Sunday. He adds: “Playing at the Stoop is a big factor for us. It is easier to motivate ourselves to work harder in front of such a great crowd. The most promising thing is that the younger guys in the group are realising how awesome it is playing at the Stoop – they know they have the backing of the crowd. But if you don’t do the hard yards, nothing is easy.”
Harlequins welcome Sale Sharks to the Stoop on Sunday and Springboks hooker Gary Botha believes his side can put last weekend’s disappointment in Newcastle behind them and defeat their play-off rivals in what promises to be a mother of a game. Botha’s young family will be watching on from the stands and he hopes he can show his wife and children something special on Mothering Sunday.
The 27-year-old, who moved from the Blue Bulls in 2007, has won 12 Springbok caps – but he is very happy to be part of the Quins revolution in the capital; more so if the sun deigns to show itself.
“I’m really enjoying London, especially when the sun is out, and am pleased to have gotten over the spell of injuries I had,” says Botha, whose side are fifth in the Guinness Premiership on 47 points, equal with sixth-placed Sale with five games in the normal season to play.
“My little girl is turning three in May and my little boy is turning one in May – we have a busy household and my wife has to put up with me, because I am a big baby too! They all always come along to watch and hopefully Quins will get a win against Sale on Sunday and our mummy will be happy!”
On the rugby front he continues: “There has been a shift in attitude since I have arrived – we are all going forward now. We have a bunch of young guys who are doing awesomely well now and we have great self-confidence. We see that anything is possible if we put the hard work in.
“That self-belief happens because of the hard work and training. People are understanding – both inside and outside the camp – and coming to terms with the fact that we are a good team, because of the work we do. We are going to get more pressure on us every game now – we are not just another team in the Guinness Premiership anymore. That is great for the Quins players and brings a spark to the squad, which I really like.”
However, at Kingston Park last Sunday, Newcastle Falcons halted Quins’ five-game winning streak. And Botha is positive his “wounded” team can soon get back on track by notching a W against Kingsley Jones’s side, who they play at Edgeley Park on April 17 and were thumped 38-3 by Northampton Saints last weekend.
“There was a bit of frustration,” the hooker says of the 24-16 loss in the north-east. “We did not get as much of the ball as we would have liked. We are a side that likes to have a bit of a crack at the try-line a lot of the time. The most disappointing thing was going up there and not getting any points at all, especially when Sale lost. But it is not that we are looking at the table – we have to concentrate on what we are doing now.
“We will take the loss on the chin and regroup. We had a good run and we have to learn from this. We would like to get a win and get back some of the momentum we had, and build on it once again. Both Sale and Quins will be like wounded animals. Sale will have been very disappointed but they have been up at the top of the table for a reason. They have not been in the leading pack at the end of the last few seasons by accident – they are a top side.
“At this stage of the season all the teams are in a predicament – you have to run your own race now. You can’t expect other teams to help you out and do a job on others. You have to focus on your own race. The game has so many way of throwing in curveballs and that is what makes it so interesting and exciting.”
And Botha believes that the Stoop, where Quins have lost only twice all season – both times to London Irish – will play a major part on Sunday. He adds: “Playing at the Stoop is a big factor for us. It is easier to motivate ourselves to work harder in front of such a great crowd. The most promising thing is that the younger guys in the group are realising how awesome it is playing at the Stoop – they know they have the backing of the crowd. But if you don’t do the hard yards, nothing is easy.”
Labels: Gary Botha, Guinness Premiership, London Harlequins, Sale Sharks
