PJ Botha nears 100 as Lions’ unsung pillar steps into spotlight
SPOTLIGHT: For nearly a decade, PJ Botha has been the kind of player every team relies on, but few outside the inner circle fully appreciate. Not flashy, not headline-grabbing, but relentlessly consistent, he has become a pillar of the Lions pack, the sort of presence that holds everything together when the game tightens.
And yet, recognition has never quite matched his value. While others draw the spotlight, Botha has gone about his work quietly, earning the respect that matters most, from teammates and coaches who understand just how central he is to the team’s identity.
With nearly a decade of service to the Lions in his repertoire, one of the team’s most underrated servants will reach a major milestone if selected to play against Connacht this weekend.
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Botha does not receive nearly as many plaudits as he arguably deserves, but on Saturday against the visitors at Ellis Park, the 28-year-old will more than likely run out to earn his 100th cap at franchise level.
“When I was younger, Malcolm [Marx] was here at the Lions; he was one of my big role models,” Botha said after the team’s practice session on Tuesday.
“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.”
From those early lessons to now, reaching a century of appearances, the journey has exceeded even 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.”
A product of the Lions system, the Hoërskool Monument former pupil made his professional debut in 2019 in the Currie Cup, having also represented the union at age-group level.
On Tuesday, assistant coach Julian Redelinghuys expressed immense pride in Botha reaching the century mark.
“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 the 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.”
