"Isn't what it was" - Bakkies Botha slams modern day rugby

With an impressive 85 caps for the Boks, Botha gained fame as one of the sport's most intimidating enforcers. Despite his fearsome reputation, he managed to maintain a fine balance, receiving only four yellow cards throughout his Test career and never being shown the red card.

n an interview with Midi Olympique, Botha was asked about the state of the modern game and he was frank in his assessment.

“I understand the problem that World Rugby and its officials have at international level,” the 43-year-old told the French newspaper.

They have to protect the players, but our game has become frustrating, ground down and inconsistent.

“From one match to another, referees’ interpretations vary. In the stands or on the TV, people understand nothing.

“In my day, it seemed as though there were more personalities on the pitch. Today, players are all the same as each other. People called me an ‘enforcer’ – and I loved that!

“I found that it added spice to the spectacle – because professional sport is also that, a spectacle, isn’t it? The evolution of the laws has rid the sport of ‘enforcers’ in my mould; you cannot get away with scrapping in rucks like I did anymore.

“I don’t think that rugby today would suit me.”

Here are, in RUCK's opinion, the 5 dirtiest rugby players in history.

A second row with something of a short fuse. Picked up a five-week ban after being sent off for kicking All Blacks hooker Anton Oliver in a Test in Dunedin in 1998, two weeks for punching Lawrence Dallaglio in a club match in 2003, two months for biting All Black hooker Keven Mealamu during the first Lions Test in 2005, six weeks for punching French lock Thibault Privat in 2007, and seven weeks for stamping on Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris in 2010. Knew his way to the disciplinary offices and deserves his place among the dirtiest rugby players!

Known as The Enforcer, All Blacks prop Loe had something of a reputation. In October 1992, his actions caught up with him when he was found guilty of deliberately inserting his fingers into the eyes of Otago full-back Greg Cooper “with considerable force” during the national championship final.

This one still makes me wince. Northampton flanker Clark was found guilty of intentionally hyper-extending and breaking the arm of Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins during the 2012 LV cup final. The ban was initially for 64 weeks, but was halved due to his guilty plea.

Stade Francais prop Attoub was banned after gouging Ulster’s Stephen Ferris during a stormy Heineken Cup clash at Ravenhill in December 2009.

Ferris told the hearing: “The contact was very strong and extremely painful - the finger in my right eye was forced downward in a poking and gouging motion; it was someone trying to drive a finger as hard as he could into my eye socket and I could not prevent it.” Ouch!

The Springbok lock certainly totted up the bans. Eight weeks for “attacking the face” of Aussie hooker Brendan Cannon in 2003; three weeks for striking another Wallaby, Phil Waugh, in 2009; two matches for an illegal clear out on Adam Jones in the second Lions Test in the same year; four weeks for a similar offence on Gio Aplon in 2010; and nine weeks for a headbutt on Jimmy Cowan in 2010. Unarguably one of the dirtiest rugby players ever.