No stopping Watson
31 May 2006
Despite yet another snub from Jake White, Luke Watson soldiers on, this time under the blue and white banner of Western Province.
The openside flanker knows how important this season will be for WP.
“The individuals… the team… the union… everybody has a point to prove in this Currie Cup,” he told keo.co.za. “We need to go out there and not only do it for our fans, but for ourselves as well.”
Watson had a impressive season for the Stormers, but his success was overshadowed by the fact that his team did so woefully in the Super 14.
“The Super 14 was nothing but a disappointment. We didn’t play to our potential and our performance was no reference to the amount of work we put into the campaign. That is the most disappointing thing of all,” Watson said.
Watson is well aware that the team and union cannot afford another flop this season, as a number of management positions are on the line. However well he played in the Super 14, he is looking to improve his own skills in an effort to take WP rugby back to its zenith.
“I believe I can improve in all aspects of my game. I cannot isolate one specific thing,” said Watson. “I had a decent season for the Stormers, and that’s something to build on.”
It’s too early to see where the strengths of WP lie, but Watson is confident about the pack’s prospects as a competitive unit. “We are maturing into a formidable and exciting group of forwards,” he stated.
This talented group includes names like Ross Skeate and Schalk Brits, two other players who many feel deserved a spot in White’s squad.
By Jon Cardinelli
93 Comments
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31 May 2006, 16:12 pm
Bokpiel – fair enough,
Cheers I must go!
31 May 2006, 16:14 pm
If you cant beat them…
31 May 2006, 16:27 pm
:0
31 May 2006, 16:28 pm
Keep going Luke. There is more to playing rugby than just playing test matches. I reckon you are going to have a long and rewarding career at WP. I still think Schalk can become a top blindside flanker if he stops trying to knock people over with his headless chicken impersonation and uses the ball carrying skills that I know he has. When that happens, you, him and Joe will be the best back row in the business.
31 May 2006, 16:29 pm
31 May 2006, 16:30 pm
31 May 2006, 16:32 pm
31 May 2006, 16:34 pm
31 May 2006, 16:39 pm
Wasn’t he in the World XV squad ? I bet Jake had a word to Dwyer and thats why he was dropped.
Jake the Snake!
31 May 2006, 16:49 pm
Bokpiel
Ive also seen him a few times he really is very small its amazing that he breaks as many tackles as he does more than any other sa loose forward in this years s14 u cant argue with that , the low centre of gravity i suppose
31 May 2006, 16:51 pm
Viper6
Its actually because mallet refused to release him for the world xv fixtures because wp are doing cc preperation a bit harsh that i think.
31 May 2006, 17:10 pm
bokpiel you a reserve for Grey’s 14th team while Luke was captain of the 1st’s and pulling all the PE honeys, hence your green eyed hatred for a decent guy and best open side in the land
31 May 2006, 17:18 pm
Can’t you guys find a broke back mountain forum and naff off there?
31 May 2006, 17:21 pm
Try not to live up to your name, Viper. Mallett refused to release him. Watson was originally there on the urging of White.
Come on guys, the amount of utter tripe that has been spewed over the last few days is incredible. I know SAs love a fight but this is getting simply to the point of arguing for the sake of it.
31 May 2006, 17:21 pm
jb,
didnt go to grey boy, didnt go to school in PE at all, and played for 1st VX, so sorry, next time mate..
he wasnt pulling any honeys anyway,
he was too busy singing “kumbaya my lord”.
31 May 2006, 18:37 pm
jb,
watson doesn’t want a girlfriend because it might interfere with his rugby, i read that in an sa rugby article, he also doesn’t drink any alcohol.
he wants nothing to interfere with his rugby.
i think he is talented but he also needs to think about things outside rugby, he seems to be a bit too arrogant and narrowminded
31 May 2006, 18:39 pm
It is not the selectors snubbing his father, it is the same people his father ‘helped’ enforcing AA laws.
Having said that, he sucks in any case, there are many better players than him, including Dlulane.
Over rated by Cape Town journalists, only because he plays in their over rated team.
Here is hoping the World IV crush WP.
31 May 2006, 19:27 pm
Luke is surely good enough to make the extended squad if not the team 22, remember seeing this kid play when he was still 18 – he made the other players on the field look foolish.
The reason there is animosity between Jake and Luke is because Luke was told by Jake that he should play hooker and that he isnt good enough for flanker. This was way back in the u21′s. Luke politely told him to bugger off and that his position is flank and thats where he’ll stay.
Now Jake is national couch and Jake obviously knows how to hold a grudge. Luke should have been more diplomatic, then perhaps he would have had an SA call-up by now.
Then again that’s Luke for you.
31 May 2006, 19:38 pm
Maybe Luke just doesnt fit the plan, any1 thought about that. Remember when you were in highschool, there’s always that guy, the second team captain, second team star, and whenever you watch him play you think that guy could be in the first team!! he never seems to make the side but somehow tha first team keeps winning!! he eventually gets a shot after some injuries and costs the game for every1!! thats Luke, he mite burn hot in the second team, but he’ll never be able to play with the big boys. other then his mentality he’s lacking physically, no one wants a flank that cant jump other then australia and there not very good at the moment!! Maybe he should move to OZ, but then we’ll hate him and he’d hate that, cause he just loves the media!!!
31 May 2006, 20:15 pm
FutureBok: Well that can then be applied to any player that has a good game at CC or S14 level, wont know till he is tested at a higher level.
The point is he has been one of the best players of the S14 and deserved some sort of national recognition for that, even if the squad was made bigger to accomodate him (and some other unfortunates).
This kid might be short but he is strong and aggressive and knows his way around the park. The fact that he isn’t a jumper obviously counts against him but not every loosy has to be line-out specialist.
He would be excellent back-up for Schalck in the mongrel/fetcher/harrassment role especially if Jake wants to rest Schalk during the year.
If he left for Aus he would no doubt make the team and have an opportunity to prove himself at international level, though I dont think he would leave SA to play for another country.
31 May 2006, 21:51 pm
Luke Watson is a promising player that should read the times and le4arn from those that had similar problems before him.
We all recall what happened to Andre Voss?
He could not make it into the Springboks wand was hardly seen as good enough for the Currie cup, but he was a man that trusted himself and believed that he had the skills and ability and off to Ausie he went.
Had one fantastic season for the Reds and was hands down the best loose forward in the Super12. The next year he was back in SA and Springbok captain.
Now I am not sure if Watson should be Springbok captain, but leaving the shores of South Africa and showing your skills against players that are considered better than you would be the best way to go about it.
Leaving SA and playing for another team in the Super series will achieve several things, most notably:
1. Prove his skills and ability against players ahead of him in the pecking order.
2. Give him the opportunity to improve as a player by being in a new environment and culture.
3. Make him eligible to play for another country and participate at the highest level should his skills not be needed in SA.
31 May 2006, 22:18 pm
Just why is Watson being snubbed by White?? He is simply not good enough for Natonal honours! So stop this media **** and hype about Watson. He is a good enogh provincial player but no where near test standard
1 Jun 2006, 05:09 am
Bokpiel jy is a bok se piel.But I will believe you if you say you was waterboy. Handing watson water. Your just jealious of watson…bokpiel your a poser.
1 Jun 2006, 07:40 am
Luke Watson is probably getting his just deserts. Remember his words when he ran away from the Sharks, “i want to play in a team with a winning culture” ha, ha, ha, winning culture WP/western drizzles? (light duties of the great trek) Luke rather shut your trap and don’t slander the teams you ran away from then maybe you will be forgiven.
1 Jun 2006, 07:58 am
LUKE GET OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA NOW. GO PLAY IN EUROPE OR FOR ACT BRUMBIES OR A NEW ZEALAND SUPER 14 TEAM! YOU WILL NEVER MAKE IT FOR THE BOKS UNDER JAKE WHITE. DO THE RIGHT THING AND GET OUT OF SOUTH AFRICA NOW. WESTERN PROVINCE IS NOT THE RIGHT TEAM YOU SHOULD BE PLAYING FOR! GO OVERSEAS AND MAKE A NAME FOR YOURSELF NOW. DO NOT LISTEN TO NICK MALLET OR KOBUS OR TO ROB WAGNER. WHY!?! BECAUSE YOU WOULDN’T PROGRESS IN SOUTH AFRICA’S POLITICALLY CHARGED RUGBY ENVIRONMENT! GET OUT NOW BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!!!
1 Jun 2006, 07:59 am
A couple of things:
Luke Watson is not small. He’s not the tallest loosie, but he’s very strongly built. Neil Back, Phill Waugh, Serge Betsen, George Smith, Kabamba Floors, Tim Dlulane – none of thse guys are giants, but they’re all good players.
Having said that, Watson wasn’t one of the stand-out flanks in the Super14, in my opinion. He was good, but not better than most of those included. And there are others, like Dlulane and Jacques Botes, who should feel even more hard done by.
And finallly, what’s with all the articles and special attention to Watson here on Keo? He’s just another talented player who didn’t make the squad. What’s this special Luke agenda all about? I really don’t get it. Botes made far more of an impact at the Sharks and was one of the reasons they were so competitive. But you don’t hear a word about him.
Let it go, for heaven’s sake. Let Luke make his own waves.
1 Jun 2006, 08:15 am
I personally believe that on pure talent and form there are not many loosies in the country better than Watson. Jake knows this as well but he doesn’t want 22 individuals with thier own attitude and agendas. Watson is a very big personality with a very big attitude that White does not want to deal with and DOES NOT HAVE to deal with. He selects (or has a major say in selection) whoever he wants. He does not want outspoken Watson ashe believes he will either clash with his coaching staff or the rest of the team at some stage and therefore disrupt the team.
I don’t buy the size or lineout theories. He is about the same size as Solly (who is also not much of a lineout option) and a team does not need all 5 locks and loosies to be able jump in the line out. 3 or 4 is more than enough!!
1 Jun 2006, 08:39 am
What is Watson’s next option? If he doesn’t make the bok team with WP then he will never make the team, the guy is good and he needs recognition. I would choose him before I choose old “slick” joe…
1 Jun 2006, 09:06 am
die skrywers op hierdie site wil almal vi watson blaas
1 Jun 2006, 09:21 am
ClothesLinewhenNoOnIsLooking….
read what everyone else is writting too my boy, its not just me who has that opinion of him…
At the end of the day he is overated and that shows by his exclusion from the Bok team..
so put that in your pipe and smoke it … @$$hole….
1 Jun 2006, 09:26 am
Ok,
all you Watson lovers…
Who should be left out of the side to accommodate Watson..???
If a person is not going to be in the match 22 at all, why be at the camp???
so who should be left out of our match 22 for him??
1 Jun 2006, 09:38 am
bokpiel
these guys will leave everyone out except joe and schalk, because they’re stormers….
1 Jun 2006, 09:44 am
P.S
ross skeate, springbok slot. hahahaahahaaha
1 Jun 2006, 09:45 am
i hate to bring this up again, but: solly ahead of luke? even jaque cronje, he’s not going to get any gametime
1 Jun 2006, 10:01 am
“not going to get any game time”, my point exactly.. so why pick them..
If i was in a position where i could get called up to a squad of 45 players, knowing i will not get pickd for the match 22, not in a long time, i wouldnt want to be picked at all.!!!
Watson would never play for Boks, so stop bitching over his exclusion…
If he got picked in th 45 but not the 22, would you be happy?
1 Jun 2006, 10:04 am
yeah, i would. at least that shows he is somewhere in the coaches mind for the national setup.
maybe i am bitchin to much. jake knows what he is doing, in him i trust. i just wish i could understand why
1 Jun 2006, 10:57 am
Reading all the comments,may I say, that you all have missed the point.His tackle rate was the highest every week, his running with the ball was strong and he was hard to stop. He played 80 mins with each game. He is not injured, he has played super14 for a number of years. He has been offered a number of contracts with European clubs, they rate him as a wonderfull player and were very surprised that he was not in the 45. Players like this can only be loyal for a while.Hilke
1 Jun 2006, 11:19 am
Okay, Hilke, but do you think he had a better season than Jacques Botes did at the Sharks? Do you think he made a bigger impact or did more to stake a claim for a Bok spot?
I don’t think he was anywhere near Botes this year, yet the column inches devoted to Watson and the outcry at his ommission hint at a player of Dan Carter or Ritchie McCaw’s calibre being left out of the AB squad.
There seems to be a strangely romanticised view here on Keo of Watson, the unsung hero. As if, through his non-inclusion, his legend has grown.
At this rate, if he’s left out of the Bok squad for one more year it will be a complete travesty of justice if he’s not voted IRB player of the decade.
1 Jun 2006, 11:36 am
here hear Katman…
agreed..!
1 Jun 2006, 11:39 am
I’m becoming a big fan of Luke. Not just as a player, cos we know he can jol.
But as a person, his never-say-die attitude that smells Proudly-South-African, just gotta love it.
I can’t stand Province, but Luke – give it horns boy!
1 Jun 2006, 12:35 pm
Yeah BMM, I think you got this one right (post 77). After the run-in they had at the U’21s he might see Luke as a problem child that he really doesn’t want the team to have to deal with.
I would categorically like to state that I am not a Stormers fan. I also feel that Jaques Botes had a great season. In fact he had arguably a better season than any of the selected loosies for Saturdays game (except maybe AJ)
Jaques Botes > Joe > Wannenburg > van Heerden
I guess Jake wants that experience to solidify the team.
1 Jun 2006, 23:12 pm
bok se piel ..jy kry nie die punt nie, what are you doing on this site anyways?
18 Dec 2009, 19:12 pm
Talk about a blast from the past! Look at how many people liked Luke… then came 07 and and he lost em all… and then 08 and he lost even more
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