It wasn’t a surprise that one of the factors that Fidelity Securedrive Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys pointed to as a reason for the team’s success this season was the fact that their players are maturing faster, and have a host of caps behind them.
Anyone following rugby for a long time knows the success of a team often comes when they can be kept together for a number of seasons, that players mature together and when it clicks, it all clicks well.
But for the Lions, they have often not had the depth and consistency needed, and now the performances of a number of their players has boosted their chances of a first-ever top eight finish.
Beyond that, the journeyman factor is also very much part and parcel of a team’s success.
UNSUNG HERO
Those unsung heroes who do the dirty work but often don’t get the plaudits.
And this weekend Pieter Johannes Botha, or PJ to everyone else, will make his own mark on that Lions’ success.
Botha will rack up a century of caps for the Lions and add to another chapter of the side’s march to the top eight this season.
Often the best description comes not from the player himself but from those around him, and it wasn’t a surprise that Redelinghuys chose to sing his praises this week ahead of the milestone.
“His teammates are the people who understand his value the most,” said Redelinghuys.
“He is very consistent, he is a true team player, and is one of the pillars of the team.
“He is not a flashy guy. He is not the guy that everyone talks about after the weekend, or in the newspapers, or TV shows, but he is very consistent. He is very much a team player.
“He is one of the pillars in our team, and to see him reach a century says a lot about our team. I really hope the team gives him a proper centurion game.”
CAME THROUGH THE RANKS
A product of the Lions system, from Monument Hoërskool, Botha has come through the ranks, playing for the SA under-20s in 2017 and has long been a stalwart of the Lions cause. He is the quiet, hard worker who does his job and is a true team man, and the Lions will be hoping he gets his chance to receive some of the limelight this weekend.
Botha modelled himself on World Rugby Player of the year Malcolm Marx, a fine example who was hitting his straps at the Lions when Botha arrived.
“When I was younger, Malcolm Marx was here at the Lions; he was one of my big role models,” Botha said this week.
“I did get the chance to train with him a few times, although we never played together. Then there’s also someone like Jaco Visagie, who was an experienced player from whom I learned a lot.”
CENTURY OF GAMES
And now, reaching a century has been a surprise for him, as he has exceeded his own expectations.
“When I was still at school, I thought it would be nice to maybe play one or two matches for a franchise in an international competition. To now reach 100 is incredible. The time has flown.
“It’s a privilege for me to reach this milestone, and I’m grateful that it will happen in a home match.”
Botha knows that Connacht are a tough nut to crack, but sees his side full of confidence and inching towards the playoffs.
“The past couple of games, Connacht have come from behind to win and there is a different fight coming here.“The Scottish teams, Glasgow specifically, sit a bit more deeper. Connacht are a bit flatter. They do carry up quite well. The whole Irish setup is very skilled. For us, we will have to double defend every single time and make our hits."
The Lions will name their side for the clash on Friday.