Watson: Playtime’s over
13 Jun 2006
Western Province captain Luke Watson is not concerned by his side’s 49-31 defeat to the World XV at Newlands last Friday.
The WP Invitational team included a number of old-timers as part of Corne Krige’s benefit game, including Krige himself, Bobby Skinstad and Braam van Straaten. However, the rest of the side was made up of players who will play a major part in this year’s Currie Cup campaign.
“To be honest, we are reading absolutely nothing into this game,” Watson told keo.co.za. “It was just a bit of fun, as well as a chance for us to honour Corne.”
The WP Invitational players had no more than two practices together before the match, and not everybody was present at these somewhat informal get-togethers.
“We did not play properly on Friday,” says Watson. “It was more of a day for individual brilliance. We weren’t calling any of our backline moves, and none of the defensive patterns used on the day are those which we usually employ.”
The game produced a total of 14 tries, with WP also boasting their fair share of individual brilliance.
“I was really impressed with guys like Gio Aplon and Zhahier Ryland who scored some amazing tries, as well as Paul Delport, who put in an incredible performance when he came on,” Watson explained.
Along with these three players, the Province contingent included a whole host of youngsters. Having the opportunity to play against the great Carlos Spencer or Matthew Burke is a fantastic opportunity for any provincial player.
Although a lot could be said for the entertainment value of a spectacle such as this, it is not an ideal way to prepare for a Currie Cup. It is most certainly not the best way to kickstart a WP revival after a dismal Super 14.
“It was a bit disruptive having this game before the season kicks off,” admitted Watson. “We lost a whole week of training and preparation for the upcoming Currie Cup. But it was worth it. I mean, the honour to not only play against these World XV players, but to play with the likes of Corne and Bobby… it was a very special opportunity.”
Watson is confident that the hard work that WP has been putting in on the training paddock will pay dividends.
“We are looking to become a more well-rounded side, and a side that is more consistent. We lacked consistency in the Super 14, and it is something that we have worked at in all areas of our game.”
“We have a lot of exciting youngsters coming through, and a few of the older guys will feel that they still have a point to prove. I think it’s going to be a very good Currie Cup for us.”
By Jon Cardinelli
84 Comments
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13 Jun 2006, 11:21 am
St Petersburg
Those guys werent 17 when they went to the bulls. Most of them spent a season at other unions (or more)
Dont get me wrong, I’m not against buying players – its a professional era. Its life. The Bulls have bought wisely.
Those players may have not been household names but they must have shown to be something special for the Bulls to approach them. They would have had the talent back then. The Bulls wouldnt just sign them because they were out of contract
Those players were developed by other unions who spent money and time on their development. It must be a frustrating thing for the smaller unions who every time they have a player who shows a bit of form and skill, gets snapped up by the bigger unions who have all the cash. How can you build a team like that.
My arguement with wolfman is about development. The big unions buy from wherever they can. Its the nature of the professional era.
13 Jun 2006, 11:23 am
Chicken ,you should be asking the following, why does all the players want to go to the Bulls for less money.
Heynecke does not believe in high salaries , Victor gets 400-500 pa.
While Sharks and Wp pay up to R1.3-1.5m pa per player. You could get 3 players for the one that Wp buys.
Further you should ask, why does a player like DRossouw not want to go and play for WP or Sharks at double his salary ?
13 Jun 2006, 11:25 am
playtime is over… are they gonna leave their totties and bums alone now?
13 Jun 2006, 11:27 am
Student just one correction, Victor went to school in Pietersburg ( now Polesomething) he played for the Bulls one season, let for Griq and was then brought back home.
13 Jun 2006, 11:27 am
CFB
October last year
http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid=3112.html
“The Blue Bulls have quickly become South Africa’s richest union as a result of their on-field success”
13 Jun 2006, 11:31 am
Thanks RC
13 Jun 2006, 11:33 am
Cape Bull
The bulls player budget is reported to be about R20 million last year (It was being compared to the Cheetahs R5 million) I dont believe Victor only gets that, being probably their most valuable player and captain.
13 Jun 2006, 11:37 am
Just for interest sake, I heard a stat one day when the Sharks played EP. One Sharks player salary was bigger than the entire EP player budget.
How they expect to keep any players if an offer is made is beyond me. The best they can do is develop players and sell them for a profit. Make some cash to buy another half decent player back
13 Jun 2006, 11:42 am
EP didnt have money for the player’s cause the ceo’s jet’s fuel was so expensive
13 Jun 2006, 11:46 am
Anyway – the arguement about salaries and development is like kicking a dead dog. It happens.
In their hearts, players will always want to remain loyal to the team they supported as a youngster, but in the end money always talks.
If youre lucky, you have about 10 years as a career as a professional player. You want to try and make as much money out of that as possible. Because after that its too late. I’m sure no player near the end of his career wants to troop off to that cold miserable island up north above the equator, but money talks and they know they only have a short time left as a player. So they all go.
If I was fortunate enough to have become a pro player I would have too.
13 Jun 2006, 12:14 pm
Capebull – all the players does not want (sic) to go to the Bulls for less money. Stop talking rubbish.
13 Jun 2006, 13:00 pm
Pussycat
Which part do you think is rubbish,
The question I am asking is: why players will want play for the Bulls for less money ? I can’t answer
The fact that Bulls players get almost half of the pay a WP or Shark player does.
13 Jun 2006, 13:16 pm
Capebull – your whole premise is rubbish.
SOME players have stayed at the Bulls for less money, just as SOME players stay at other unions of their choice for less money.
As to your specific question as to why some Bulls will play for less money to live in Pretoria, presumably they don’t have the wit or the wardrobe to live elsewhere.
13 Jun 2006, 13:32 pm
Its a pro game so i dont have an issue if most of the bulls players dont come from pretoria. I think alot of the bulls players come from the swd and wp region perhaps becuse heyneke originates from swd. But to be fair alot of these player were poached by the bulls after craven week i.e. they join aged 19-20 so the bulls have played a big part in the development of these players. But besides this the bulls do buy alot of established players too the likes of habana (Lions), Engels(Boland), Welsh (Sharks), Jaco VDW(Sharks and Pumas),Leonard(SWD) , Ndugane (Border),Wannenburg (SWD and Sharks),Rayno Gerber(VS and Leeds) were bought after showing they were quality players but like i said its a pro game.
13 Jun 2006, 13:35 pm
Pussycat
Good Point , As reported on the supersport website and on keo both Andries Bekker & JD Moller were offered more money to play for the bulls last year but chose to stay at wp.
13 Jun 2006, 13:41 pm
Doesn’t Welsh also come from Mpumalanga? He wasn’t a Shark at school was he?
13 Jun 2006, 14:16 pm
Ig,
I saw the Wp squad for the CC this morning. Why are players like De Wet, Bolla and Jourbert not in the squad. It is not like they are going to play for the Boks this year?
13 Jun 2006, 14:17 pm
On Friday night’s game against the World XV – Pietie Ferreira you are a beaut! Amazing runs from the back.
Kobus you needs to sign him and Bobby but Bobby needs to play at 13!!!
13 Jun 2006, 14:20 pm
Stormsaam…. i think they will be part of the WP squad…they probably released the squad they are picking excluding their Boks…..
Maybe because they aren’t supposed to play CC rugby as per Jakes instruction !
13 Jun 2006, 14:21 pm
BTW, Gus + Greeff = the two biggest losers at Wp rugby ever. Now I want to add another name to that list = Marius “Wanker” Joubert!
13 Jun 2006, 14:26 pm
Pussycat
You are missing the point totally.
The difference in approach from the Bulls compared to Wp is as follows:
point 1) Bulls believe in a broad band of young contracted players they have between 40-50
(Wp does not believe that). In order for the Bulls to have that many players they can not afford to pay their top players like Victor R 1.2m pa
Wp believe that young players will come to the Cape because its a nice place. They further believe to buy talent at ( when the player is more mature ) a very high cost R 1.2m+ , this resulting that they can only contract 20-25 youngsters.
See if you can understand point 1 , and then see if you can understand that WP has a serious problem, then maybe we can go onto the second point.
13 Jun 2006, 14:41 pm
Ig,
A good team for Wp is:
15. Joe Pietersen – good attacking skills
14. Zhahier Ryland – fast as light
13. Gavin Hume – okay player
12. De Wet Barry – Boks do not need him
11. Egon Seconds – best winger ever
10. Naas Olivier – adds more to game than Grant
9. Bolla Conradie – plays well with Naas
8. Adri Badenhorst – who else is better?
7. Justin Melck – must improve this season
6. Like Watson (C) – enought said
5. Andries Bekker – will be a Bok
4. Selborne Boome – best lock the Cape has seen
3. JD Moller – must put on more weight
2. Schalk Brits – must put on more muscle
1. New Argentinan Prop – others are all injured
16. Huia Edmonds (the most useless signing ever)
17. Attie Winter (doesn’t get any worse)
18. Gerrie Brits (cover for loosies)
19. Ross Skeate (lock cover)
20. Paul Delport (De Kock needs to f-off)
21. New Fiji centre (maybe in starting XV)
22. Peter Grant (good second half player)
Okes that needs to f-off: Gus,Greef,Joubert and De Kock
13 Jun 2006, 14:50 pm
Ek sal graag wil sien dat WP ‘n slag begin bou vir volgende jaar. Bring jong spelers soos Leon Karemaker, Pieter Louw in.
13 Jun 2006, 14:53 pm
Not so sure about Hume….never really rated him.
13 Jun 2006, 15:03 pm
Who else do you have in mind? Barrit would have been a goos signing.
I still say that Wp should offer Jacques Fourie a contract from the Lions!
13 Jun 2006, 15:07 pm
Capebullshit. Be a man. You have been cornered and KO’d. Stop sliding sideways, blustering and changing the thrust of your argument.
13 Jun 2006, 15:08 pm
Barrit would have been a good sigining…in terms of replacement…What about Egon at 13.
13 Jun 2006, 15:11 pm
pussycat
Call me whatever you like ,it does not change the fact that you do not understand my argument.
13 Jun 2006, 15:44 pm
Stormsaam – that’s what WP always do,buy the good players…..what about working with what you have got already and see if your coaching structures are right rather than signing all the Boks!
13 Jun 2006, 15:51 pm
Capebullshit, aka Reeling on the Ropes. You don’t understand your own argument. We weren’t discussing the broad difference in approach by different unions. We were talking a specific.
Keep to the point and stop waffling is my advice to you. You could also shake your head from side to side and see if something rattles.
14 Jun 2006, 02:17 am
Imagine how well Manchester United would do in the English Premiership if they relied on their flagship team being made up of home-grown, hometown-coached Mancunians rather than assembling a team from the best professional players from all over the world and which met their budget.
what part of “professional” are the homeboys failing to grasp?
14 Jun 2006, 07:57 am
Capebullshit
Divide 20 by 15. Whats the answer?
The BB team that took part in the CC final last year was a R20 mil team compared to FS R5 mil team as per numerous press reports.
Matfield will not stay at BB for that amount of money. It is no secret that the most money is up in Gauteng. That’s why people flock over there from all over the country in all industries and disciplines – definitely not because quality of life is the best in the country or that it is the most beautiful region in ZA. Maybe Matfield only gets 400 to 500 a year from BB because they pay him per match played as he is away on national duty for the majority of the year.
14 Jun 2006, 08:03 am
Guys
And I want to support Staal on his Afrikaans comment. We must remember that this is the professional era, and then it is a fact that size does matter in the professional era. Therefore, Rhylands, Aplon etc. will have to be damn good on attack (they are) and be able to stop 120kg opponents in a tackle at least 10 times in a game to make it (they can not).
You only get the occasional small guy like Breytie that is clever enough to play that game – he actually beefed up to be reasonable in terms of size, and he is a very gifted all-round player.
I support WP/Stormpies, and would like to see as many players of colour make it at senior level, if for no other reason, then to make our country work and bury the ghosts of the past and bloody quota’s, but you have to realistic as well.
15 Jun 2006, 04:11 am
Luke Watson is a legend,the most explosive loose forward in the land by miles.Jusy a pity he’s playing for province,who will always rate him behind Schalk and “Big” joe…big my ***!
Luke return to Natal,we forgive u.Imagine a loose forward trio of 6.Tyibilka(he’s class no matter what anybody says,better than Cronje for sure)7.AJ and 8.Watson or vice versa.Does anybody remember Luke’s perfomances in the currie cup in 2004 playing 8thman? Simply OUTSTANDING…the boy is gifted.
All Luke asks for is a chance to play for the Boks…Lord help the opposition the day he finally dons the green and gold.its only a matter of time…..
WP just needs to be patient, its a long time till the glory days come back.long long time
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