iafrica.com columnist BJ Botha returns this week, and in between piano lessons and chasing his daughter around the house, he has even managed to fit some rugby in this week!

It's been a while since my last column, but with chasing the little one around, piano lessons and Mozart with Robbie Diack, and a jam-packed schedule of games with Ulster it's been a crazy few weeks.

Since then the rugby season in Ireland has got underway and things have been going really well out on the field. Ulster are sitting second on the Magners League log and after back-to-back wins over the Scarlets and Connacht we are feeling quietly confident going into the Heineken Cup this weekend.

And it is good to know that after the next two games in the Heineken Cup we will return to Magners League action in a good position.

Keeping busy at home

The weather is starting to set in, however, and our southern hemisphere friends are not exactly looking forward to it! I stepped outside the other morning and was convinced it was the middle of the night… it was 8.30am.

On the home front my wife and I are being kept on our toes with the little one having learnt to crawl. Plenty of DIY around the house as I have been installing gates, child-proofing the stairs and everything else in sight!

Her first birthday is coming up, which we will celebrate back in South Africa in a couple of weeks time, so there is plenty to look forward to.

We are all very keen to get some traveling done as well, but for now it is just rugby, rugby and more rugby.

Currie Cup heating up!

We have managed to catch a few Currie Cup games over here — I have been following the Sharks quite closely, while the multi-talented Diack has been keeping up with Western Province — and it looks like it's going to be another exciting finish on the local front.

The Sharks have had a good campaign to date, winning when they really needed to, and while a bonus-point win over the much improved Griquas in Kimberley will definitely be a tough ask, it is not impossible. I did it with the Sharks a couple of years ago and it will stand them in good stead if they pull it off this weekend.

WP, meanwhile, have really stepped up this season. They have dominated up front and considering their tight five has been considered a weakness in previous years, that is very impressive. They have turned a weakness into a strength this season and they will be tough to beat — home or away.

With one round left before the play-offs it will be an interesting weekend and their will undoubtedly be some selection headaches with the Boks back. Should the big names be brought back or should the coaches stick with what has served them well all season? Time will tell…

  • On page two BJ looks ahead to the Springboks' November tour!


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