Botha braced for Kiwi test

South Africa lock Bakkies Botha insists he has no intention in cooling his aggression when he lines up against New Zealand in Durban.

The 29-year-old is renowned for his no-nonsense forward play but was recently adjudged to have overstepped the mark when handed a two-week ban against the British and Irish Lions.

Botha was banned for a dangerous charge on Wales prop Adam Jones, however he insists his recent indiscipline will not see him tone down his aggressive approach on Saturday.

He told South African website keo.co.za: "I love to carry that 'enforcer' label. I've been that way for nine years, and am not going to stop now.

Protest

"I'm not going to start putting in grubbers, or kicks or try to get fancy, that's not me."

Botha said he had put his ban, which resulted in his team-mates making an unprecedented protest by donning armbands in support in the third Test against the Lions, behind him.

"There are many different opinions about it and the whole situation is out of my hands," he said.

"I'm not going to change my game and I will do my job."

Botha played 68 minutes of the Springboks' 28-19 victory over the All Blacks on Saturday and will pack down against Isaac Ross and co once again in Durban.

Speaking ahead of the battle, Botha said: "The tougher the opposition, the happier I am, and it's great facing that haka - it brings out the best in you."

Much tougher

But Botha does not compare himself with All Black opposite number Brad Thorn, saying he prefers to focus on what he needs to do rather than beating individuals in the opposing line-up.

"As soon as you do that, you're in the wrong frame of mind," he said.

And he acknowledged the South Africans were expecting a different All Black performance team this time around following an error-ridden display in Bloemfontein.

"We truly believe we can win back-to-back Tests against them," he said.

"We can take it up a notch or two. But they want to bounce back and we know they'll be much tougher."