Bakkies coming back 'stronger'

Toulon's South African lock Bakkies Botha will be back in action after almost two months on the sidelines for the clash with Bordeaux on Saturday and has insisted he will come back "stronger".

The Springbok star suffered a fractured eye socket during his club's 62-0 rout of English club Sale in European Cup action in mid-December and the 33-year-old required surgery.

He will now hope to play at least some part of the match as Toulon have Jocelino Suta on Six Nations duty with France while Simon Shaw is an injury worry, leaving Botha and Englishman Nick Kennedy as Toulon's only recognised options.

Asked about his fitness, Botha told reporters: "[I'm] very well. I have totally recovered and I'm dying to get back out there. My injury is 100 percent cured and I'm not afraid of playing 80 minutes.

"Nick and I can put in a full stint this weekend. We will give everything."

Botha said he had been working hard on getting ready to resume and added: "The objective is to bring something back from the Bordeaux game.”

Toulon currently lead the Top 14 standings by seven points from Clermont.

Botha said his aim was to "come back stronger - that's why I have been watching the matches I didn't participate in.

“We have a system which we all adhere to; we all have confidence in our coach Bernard Laporte, and that's crucial. We just have to fine tune the little details which make the big difference."

AFP