I was in Matriek when Bakkies was in standard 6. I was the second smallest matriek in school. Bakkies was bigger than most matrieks. Very religious and head strong and disciplined. He didn't just mix with everybody and kept to himself and friends mostly. A great man who commands respect and got it. A true warrior on the field and a gentleman off it. Shalom.
I played prop and copped a few from locks at scrum time. You're bound and defenceless, a sitting duck. Any fool in the second row can take a shot at you. You'd have to wait to get some payback but an opportunity always arose in a ruck or maul unless the lock realised you were after him and fringed for the rest of the game. Never shook hands with them afterwards. Cowards.
As much as I love rugby, I just hate how the South Africans just seem to play by the thuggery of certain forwards. I never played beyond the age of 20, because of a back injury, but I know the game can be played cleanly without the front row peculiarities, and the game would be better for it, without so many penalties, and players would not be senseless in their old age. I’m not saying to scrum as they do in League, but just do it right, (within the laws), and the game would be better for it. If a prop can only justify himself through his fist, well, perhaps he ought to play a different game. Am I naive?
