Rugby: Butt latest in long list of thug attacks

Few should really be surprised by John Philip 'Bakkies' Botha.

Among the charges he has faced in his long career have been biting, eye gouging, striking, illegal charges and stamping. Now he can add head butting.

Last night, Botha head butted All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan in the back of the head inside the opening 90 seconds of a physical test.

It was a despicable and deliberate act missed by Irish referee Alan Lewis at the time. But the TV cameras caught it and Botha has been cited and charged with striking. Coach Peter de Villiers expected he would be.

Botha is a very good lock when he decides to play rugby but it wasn't always on his mind last night.

"Only he can explain his actions," said Springboks captain John Smit, who said he hadn't seen the incident. "Only Bakkies can explain what goes on in his head."

It would be interesting to find out, especially after he embraced a number of the All Blacks after the final whistle, with the biggest reserved for Cowan. Something seems to happen when he crosses the white line.

Cowan had held back the big Bok lock after he had charged down Cowan's kick but it wasn't the type of act that warranted a head butt. Botha could hardly protest his innocence with a big red welt on his forehead.

It was played repeatedly on Eden Park's big screens so Lewis was left in little doubt about what had happened. Some justice was exacted when Botha was sinbinned for a professional foul in the 13th minute but the punishment could have been even more severe had Lewis seen the initial crime.

It didn't seem to deter Botha, even though the Springboks conceded a try and were lucky not to let in a second during his 10 minutes on the naughty step. He needled and provoked until he was substituted for Andries Bekker in the 51st minute. Perhaps even de Villiers could see he was a liability.

Not once, however, did the All Blacks react in a way he might have hoped. Even Cowan came up smiling after his early acquaintance with Botha, although he had an appointment with the team doctor after the match, presumably to check his head.

There's a reason why coach Graham Henry picked the players he did. He needed those with experience who could cope with whatever the Springboks threw at them, legal or otherwise.

Last night's collective 671 tests for the starting XV was the most for any All Blacks side in history. Experience wins games. Experience, crucially, wins World Cups.

Players such as Mils Muliaina, Ma'a Nonu and Joe Rokocoko were supposedly under pressure coming into this test but their places shouldn't be questioned now, especially Muliaina, who was masterful at fullback. Their experience was key in that.

Botha's early assault further crystallised the resolve of the All Blacks. It was already strong after happened 12 months ago, when they lost all three tests to South Africa, but they knew the test was the most important of the year and had huge ramifications for next year's World Cup. Momentum is a powerful force and they didn't want to concede that last night.

The All Blacks, to a man, hit the contact area with little regard for their own well-being, none more so than lock Brad Thorn. The 35-year-old is New Zealand's equivalent of Botha without the lengthy convictions. They outmuscled the Springboks and that's not something that can be said often.

There will be plenty of sore bodies this morning and they must somehow find a way to do it all again next weekend. If justice is served, Botha won't.