Lions hooker PJ Botha recently expressed both regret and optimism following the late December 2025 coaching transition, which saw senior forwards coach Barend Pieterse depart for the Junior Springboks and Wessel Roux promoted as his replacement.
Botha admitted that losing "Barries" (Pieterse) was not part of the original plan for the season. However, he emphasised respect for the decision, noting that Pieterse had to do what was best for his family after making a significant impact on the team since 2023.
“Losing coach Barries wasn’t part of the plan, but at the end of the day, he must do what’s best for himself and his family, and we wish him all the best. He’s a great person and made a great impact during his time with us [at the Lions], but as he’s moving on, we need to move on as well.
Botha highlighted Roux's deep familiarity with the Lions' setup, as Roux has been in the system since 2016. Botha described Roux as an "innovative" coach and expressed excitement about working with him.
While Botha noted it was too early (within the first week) for massive structural changes, he stated the squad is looking forward to the "new plans" Roux will implement during the second half of the 2025/26 United Rugby Championship (URC) season.
“Coach Wessel has been in the system for a long time, and we know him very well. He’s always innovative, and we’re looking forward to walking a road with him.”
“Obviously, there won’t be massive changes as it’s only been a week, but we are looking forward to the future with new plans and new everything.”