There's a new kid in town in the Heineken Cup - and he's proving to be a bit of chip off the old block!
When Harlequins lost the services of their goal-kicking inspiration at outside half, Nick Evans, in Round 1 they had to throw into the fray their new recruit Ben Botica to make his European debut against Amlin Challenge Cup holders Biarritz Olympique.
As Heineken Cup debuts go the 23-year-old was cool as a cucumber as he contributed 18 points to his side's 40-13 win over a very familiar club. Both Ben, with the Under 21s, and his father, ex-New Zealand outside half Frano, both played for the French outfit.
After such a confident start, in which he helped Quins score 27 unanswered points in the second half, he could well get the nod for the trip to Galway this weekend for Round 2 against Connacht if fellow Kiwi Evans is ruled out.
Frano managed 23 appearances in the Heineken Cup in the late nineties and early eighties after leaving Wigan Rugby League club. He started at the Scarlets before heading to France to link up with Biarritz.
He scored 258 points in 23 appearances in the tournament and was as big a hit on the Heineken Cup debut with Biarritz in 2000/01 as his son was last weekend with harlequins. He kicked 17 points in a 37-30 home win over reigning champions Northampton Saints and helped to steer Biarritz into the quarter-finals for the first time.
He kicked a record 25 points in the away win over Edinburgh that season and certainly left an imprint on the tournament before returning to New Zealand on retirement. The Farrells, Andy and Owen at Saracens, may have beaten the Boticas to the Heineken Cup 'family double', but it looks as though the new father and son team could become a major rival for top billing.
"My old man taught me how to kick, but if you're not playing well teams aren't going to pick you - no matter who your father was or what your last name is," said Botica.
"I wasn't nervous at all - for some reason it just felt good. Now I just want to play consistently for Harlequins and take my chances when they come.
"It was probably the biggest game of my life. If I was younger I guess I would have felt a bit more nervous but I felt so good out there.
"The boys you have around you are constantly chatting and they make the No 10s job so much easier. I'm learning quite a bit from Nick and I'm pretty much just waiting for my opportunity and I'm glad that I got a chance to show my stuff against Biarritz."
As the holder of a British passport he might even attract the attentions of the English selectors if he continues to improve. Playing for England is one thing his father couldn't't boast of doing, although he did play for New Zealand, the ANZAC XV and Croatia in rugby Union and New Zealand in rugby league.
Botica jnr singed for Quins on a two-year deal in April from North Harbour. Conor O'Shea liked what he saw and his view of his new signing's European debut was on the button: "Like father, like son!"
