handyman wrote: ↑Wed Apr 28, 2021 12:20 pm
For a bit of context :
Botha doesn’t even make the top three transgressors in Springboks rugby, with Habana (seven yellow cards), Schalk Burger (six) and Victor Matfield (five) ahead of him.
Botha and fellow Bulls and Bok lock Flip van der Merwe were carded four times each in their international careers.
All of those players (including Bakkies which I mentioned in my list) were worth their risks on the field. I didn't really consider any of them "hotheads" that lost their tempers in stupid moments.
Burger: His eye gouge will mar his career, but he wasn't a dirty player. It was a one-off IMO. He was reckless with his body and those of his opponents, but wasn't prone to fights or outbursts on the field. He just played to the razor's edge like a wild animal and was well respected by his opponents; on and off the field.
Habana: Most of his yellows were for intentional knock-ons (going for intercepts) and aerial challenges that went wrong. No fights or cheap shots that I can recall.
Bakkies was a massive wind-up merchant that took some cheap shots. He was a clever player though and knew how to get away with his antics most of the time and also didn't concede a to of penalties.
Matfield's record is surprising. I didn't realise he had this many, and don't recall any of them. But I can't recall many fights, or scuffles that he got involved in. I suspect many would be for high tackles or maul collapses etc.
In that golden era of Bok rugby, the players I can think of that fit my classification of unnecessary penalty magnets are Flip vd Merwe, Butch James, Dean Greyling...
I have zero patience for players like those that stifle a team's momentum through brainless aggression.