Botha relishing return to Chiefs' ranks

Chrysander Botha says his taste of international rugby at Sandy Park has left him champing at the bit for his Exeter Chiefs return.

The full-back featured twice for Namibia at the Devon ground in the World Cup – losing 35-21 to Tonga and a dramatic 17-16 loss last week to Georgia.

Botha missed almost all of last season due to a broken left leg and dislocated ankle sustained playing for Namibia against Canada in November.

But the 27-year-old said that turning out at his home stadium has whetted his appetite for a return to action.

"I am hungry to come back and fight for a spot in the team. There are a lot of Premiership and European games so I am looking forward to it," said Botha, who started Sunday's 64-19 defeat against Argentina.

"I spent most of last season doing rehab but it has given me an appetite to get back playing here.

"I spent a lot of games up in the box last season but now I know what it is like being on the pitch. I am looking forward to coming back, training well and hopefully playing."

"It has been massive coming down here," he added. "We even had people at the captain's run, which we don't even have in Namibia. Playing in front of a full stadium with 11,000 people cheering for the boys has been unbelievable. The atmosphere down here is awesome – you can't get another ground where you can repeat that feeling."

Botha could not hide his disappointment after Wednesday's loss – despite it yielding Namibia's first ever World Cup point.

They led 6-0 at the break, but three yellow cards didn't help their cause.

"It is history but it could have been so much different," he said. "I think it did slip through our fingers. We were so close so it is a big disappointment."