Currie Cup
Botha signs off from Bulls
ESPNscrum Staff
October 12, 2011
Blue Bulls Gary Botha is tackled during the Super Rugby match between Sharks and Bulls at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban, South Africa, May 21, 2011
Blue Bulls captain Gary Botha will make take his final bow at Loftus Versfeld before leaving for Toulousin France © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Gary Botha

The Blue Bulls captain Gary Botha will make his last appearance at Loftus Versfeld when his side take on the Leopards on Friday.

Botha is leaving the Pretoria-based team to join big spenders Toulouse in France, in doing so drawing to a close his second spell in his homeland. Botha made his provincial debut in 2002 and the abrasive hooker joined Harlequins in 2007 before heading back to the Bulls two years later.

"There will always be emotions if you know it is your last game. I am looking forward to it, but I think the pressure will be more knowing it's my last match," said the 29-year-old. "One never knows what happens in the future, so hopefully I can swing back some other time."

The Bulls need to beat the Leopards comfortably and hope that Western Province lose to the Pumas if they are to qualify for the semi-finals of the Currie Cup. Even if they do make it in to the final four, they cannot secure a home semi-final or final.

The team have struggled in the absence of a number of senior players who were on international duty and Botha admits it has been a tough season. "You only learn through trial and error and I'll rather say we'll see what the experience is and what we have picked out of it," he explained. "As a Bulls player and the strong culture that we have here, it is a personal thing. We will always like to be in a semi-final and a final because we like to see ourselves as an institute that is successful."

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