Luke still has Bok ambition
17 May 2011
Luke Watson says he would be open to representing the Springboks again and believes they are in a stronger position than any other team to win the World Cup.
Watson was speaking in Cape Town en route to Port Elizabeth where he will commence duty with the EP Kings after two years at Bath in the Premiership.
He left South Africa in late 2009 having established a reputation for being outspoken on a range of issues, most notably representing the Springboks. At a dinner at University of Cape Town Rugby Club, he was alleged to have said, among other things, that he felt like vomiting on the Bok jersey when he debut in 2007 because of what it represented.
Although it was never confirmed that he said this, many of the senior Springboks, who had been vehemently opposed to his late inclusion in the 2007 World Cup training squad, used the claims to further justify their dislike and disregard for him.
Watson, whose father Cheeky was a prominent activist during the struggle years, intimated that his thinking and attitude at the time had been influenced by others. He, however, suggested that he returns a different person.
‘I grew up in a fundamentally different environment to most – every word was watched, every decision I made monitored,’ Watson told keo.co.za. ‘I remember being interviewed by CNN at the age of 10 and asked whether I support the Springboks. I said “yes”, but was quickly rapped over the knuckles by the powers that be because it wasn’t the correct thing to do politically.
‘I never really had an opportunity to establish my own identity and make my own decisions. These 18 months in Bath have been incredibly beneficial in that regard. It’s given me the opportunity to assess the things that I value.
‘It’s easy for me to sit here and tell you how mature I have become. But I can only hope that over the next few years you will notice that there are certain values and principles have have been altered. I’m still going to be the Luke Watson that speaks from my heart, not too worried about the consequences that come with the truth. I’m not going to shy away from any issues because of opposition I’ve received in the past.
‘Yes there are things that I still don’t agree with at a national and regional level. But if I do get the opportunity to represent my country again I will do so very proudly.’
Watson is unlikely to force his way into the Springbok World Cup squad, and never gave the impression that he expected to. But that didn’t stop him from sharing his views on where they stand at present.
‘As far as talent squad and depth goes, I don’t think any team can match the Springboks,’ he said. ‘If the All Blacks lose Dan Carter or Richie McCaw there are big, big holes to fill. We’re not in the same situation. Most of our players are very easily replaceable. We’re in a very strong position if the right team is selected and managed correctly.’
Watson added: ‘I’d like to see a couple of the youngsters who haven’t got an opportunity to play Test rugby get that chance before the World Cup. For example, for me it’s ridiculous that Duane Vermeulen hasn’t played any Tests. He has been the most consistent loose forward in the last two or three seasons of Super Rugby. Yes we have great loose forwards, but surely you have to find an opportunity somewhere for him.
‘Also, I’d like to see Pat Lambie play two or three Tests at 10. Peter Grant deserves an opportunity as well. We’ve seen what Morné Steyn can do, but we should go to the World Cup knowing that we have options in terms of playing different styles against different teams.’
The 27-year-old, who will compete with Eastern Province in the Currie Cup First Division and Vodacom Cup (in 2012) until the Kings’ entry into Super Rugby in 2013, said he wasn’t available to any other franchise in 2012.
Watson acknowledged the prevailing perception that he was taking a massive step backwards in his career, but explained the decision, saying: ‘I was in heaven in Bath, earning pounds and captaining the side. Life was easy. I could have stayed in Bath and taken comfortable, easy route. But I knew there was something greater that I could achieve.
‘I understand that people would look at the move from one of the top sides in Europe to playing Currie Cup First Division as a step down and a risk. But I look at the long-term potential of this decision, especially its ability to uplift a community and region. Sure there are a lot of things that are not ideal. But there are a lot more that are.
‘I really believe that the players and the resources are there for the Kings to be successful. It’s incredibly difficult to keep the talented players in the Eastern Cape without a Super Rugby franchise. The Kings solve that problem, although I appreciate that it will take time [to hold on to the region's best players].’
360 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] 8 » Show All
18 May 2011, 00:53 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-300:
and I love exposing serial bullsh*tters
looks like youre IT !
18 May 2011, 05:36 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-301: Bwahaha haha thats the pot calling the kettle.
You are the top of serial trolling and bs. More than half your posts are bitching at saffas, getting into handbags with all and sundry Peaches.
You have ignored one of my first questions when I arrived on this site, when you were still WAKA, as to why you constantly fight with every one. If you need a battle dont fight aparthieds ghosts, that 17 years ago, find a new just cause instead of trolling.
That was a greatest fishing expedition so far. Too easy. Here comes poops.
Luke Watson is back in SA and has signed a management deal with Highbury Safika Media where Mark Keohane is the COO. So we dont have any conflict of intrest Keo with your reporting and your new signings. Is that what the Mujati articles were all about?
18 May 2011, 05:43 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-299: Bleating!Go to the naughty step
18 May 2011, 08:42 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-302:
blah blah blah “all refs cheat” blah blah blah
“aparthied ghosts” ? Ive never ONCE talked, nor care for, politics on this blog. Ever.
as for Peaches, well I happen to think she’s rather cool. And she’s as proudly Safa as anyone here.
altho I do note that all scum here seem to stick together, always blaming refs, never acknowledging nthe opposition was better….look, and heres my little cockroach as if on cue…..
@JL1(JL1)-303:
……like 2 bullsh*tting peas in a pod.
18 May 2011, 09:05 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-302:
I made the deduction quite some time back that he is a serial Troller and Flamer.
The poopal is here for one reason and one reason only..to stir. You will not find one positive or reasonable comment that one could debate on in a positive light in any of his previous contributions…it’s all a wind-up for a potential *** for that girlish argument…which the Troll wants.
poppa69 is thankfully a genuine blogger and has made insightful contributions to this website, but this sad cretin has another agenda unfortunately.
His comments are childish and bitter and we should ignore him.
18 May 2011, 09:17 am
“we should ignore him” – so says PrePrawn, my personal stalker.
That’s awfully nice what you said about Pops tho, Im sure he will be delighted. It will be the first Minute to be discussed at the upcoming Trolls AGM.
18 May 2011, 09:25 am
poopal69 has been known to have genuine rugby banter with the evil nasty Serf Efriekens.
His posts are mostly tongue in cheek but he has the emotional intelligence (like Hurricane) to put aside deeper agendas to come down off his high horse to mix it up with genuine bloggers and talk sense.
You however are a strange fish.
18 May 2011, 09:40 am
Struggling a little with the ‘ignoring’ bit, aren’t you PrePrawn.
18 May 2011, 09:47 am
This will be the last time that I ever comment on or read a keo blog. I am afraid that next time I log on, there might be a picture of Keo gobbling on Puke’s c-o-c-k!
Cheers Keo, it has been real. Favourite tab deleted
18 May 2011, 09:50 am
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-253: A pretty decent post by you for once… No fkadilly or “coollycreeper” to be found anywhere. Strange. Lots of emo and maybe playing to your gallery of “vouching” sycophants. But lets dissect this long post of “wisdom” a little bit, if I may.
You start with: “White was sh’t scared of Luke”…. He was? Why would he be “scared”…? As you intimate, (it must be said rather inefficiently with all the colourful language), ex-school teacher White probably did not like his authority challenged and was obviously aware that with certain personalities he would have more friction with than others. Because he was building a TEAM it was paramount that he could trust his players and that they could trust him. He certainly could not trust many other people in the SARU setup and certainly not the Cheeky Watson and cronies faction who definitely had it in for White. Now White wasn’t the first coach or person in authority to distrust Luke Watson. This distrust and friction happened as early back as his time at High School and at the Sharks where he was seen as a divisive character. But White himself is no shrinking violet innocent because he also did not cover himself with glory in certain instances eg. his time at the Sharks and his time in Nick Mallet’s setup where it seemed to be that if he wasn’t seen as the “bees knees”, as such, he would cause friction himself. This probably stems back to his need to be in control as moulded by his many years as a teacher and being the classic “Big fish in a small pond”. So you have two quite flawed characters, one who was a mini-dictator and one who liked to see himself as a rebel with a cause. It would have helped if the rebel with a cause was a once in a lifetime outstanding talent – say a Reuben Kruger type player – but he wasn’t and still is not. In fact he is not even fit to polish the shoes of this Springbok legend.
Most, other than your emo responsive lackeys, would not agree with you that Watson was THE standout flanker in all SA franchises through 04-05-06 when Schalk Burger was at his best during 04 particularly. Indeed the man won the IRB player of the year award in that year and was considered the pre-eminent flank on the planet at that time. Not just by White but by the International Rugger community, hence his award. Its all very nice to cast these emotional pearls but not when it is tantamount to bulldust of the highest degree as just demonstrated.
You also talk of tricks, pacts and conspiracies to the level of Alex Jones and Prison Planet… They make for entertaining reading but they are fiction at best and downright untruths at worst verging on the libellous. I doubt White “poisoned” his players to ostracise Luke Watson, rather he was ostracised as a result of:
1. The Vomit on the Bok Jersey episode
2. By proclamations of him as being a “quota” player by politicians in Cheeky’s circle
3. By being forced on the team for a game with the appearance and perception of non-merit
“White protected his designated enclave of players at expense of ostracizing others” – Although you are right here, is that not what all coaches do? Kitch had his group, Mallet had his, Carel DuP had his etc, etc etc. Coaches the world over tend to entrust a certain group. Funnily enough, entrusting a core group is the foundation of success as demonstrated by successful coaches the world over eg Rod McCall, Clive Woodward, Ian McGeechan… and so on with your comments on “White needed to protect his protégées”….
As for the “threw out smoke screen bullsh’t like he’s too small or he don’t need fetchers except for beers from fridges and the rest of the bullsh’t jargon to evade the realities” – simple. His preference for certain player types is well documented, I consider it a fault, but it isn’t an anti-Luke conspiracy because the guy was and is not important enough talent wise.
I can’t really comment on the behind the scenes bulldust at WP but this seems to be another rehash of all the Prison Planet jargon you have mentioned but just reapplied to the Disa setup. A simple question comes up time and time again with Luke – at all these places and with all these people that Luke has a falling out with: from School, to his Junior representative level, to the Sharks, to the Boks, to WP… Is it that all these people are in the wrong and Luke is hard done by or at least poorly understood… Is he absolved of all responsibility and all these people are wrong?
Its obvious that you are a Luke supporter despite his many faults, but for me at the end of the day I would compare Luke to the highest benchmark: Reuben Kruger…. Team man, Leader, Body on the line in every match (running with a broken ankle to scored a try while being held by a couple of opposition), Universally admired, Trustworthy and undoubted talent and skill…. I, and many others, find Luke Watson coming up short. He just is not worthy.
18 May 2011, 09:52 am
hey, PrePrawn
someone with the same ‘emotional intelligence’ as you just left the building
I’m sure there’s still room for 1 more in the lift.
18 May 2011, 09:54 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-310:
Boet I think there are two bloggers using the same name. Either that or he has a split personality.
It just doesn’t make sense how the cretin can go from one type of grammar style to another…unless there are two people…
18 May 2011, 09:58 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-312: Lol
18 May 2011, 09:59 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-311: Fark off you sheepshagging twat…
18 May 2011, 10:00 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-310:
Notice how his dad deflects all the blame away from Loook and explaining it all away by saying that he was infuenced by others….
If Sheeke’ was my father I’d tell him to stop speaking on behalf of me. The more the buffoon opens his mouth the more the wounds will reopen.
Geez but this oke needs to get himself out from under his father’s dress. The time overseas clearly must have done him some good…he could finally discover that he did indeed have a pair of balls to stand up for himself in a POSITIVE way.
18 May 2011, 10:01 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-307: You are helluva right… Not the first time blogger’s see Panty for what he is… an unmitigated cnut…
18 May 2011, 10:03 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-314:
The saying goes that “the truth hurts”…it’s hurting right now.
Silly fellow isn’t he….fighting his one man crusade against the heathen South Africans…
18 May 2011, 10:05 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-310: You don’t have to go to such great lengths to explain mate! I don’t care what the Springbok emblem stood for in the past. For me, it is all about what it means today. And anyone who wants to puke on it because the sight of it makes him feel queasy, deserves to be left out in the cold. I don’t know about the other years but in ’05 Luke definitely was the form loosie (fetcher) in SA. And I use to have quite alot of time for him but that was before his “puke” comment. No matter how much growing up his done in the UK. He is a divisive character and hampers team spirit.
18 May 2011, 10:08 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-315: Look, it seems Cheeky has played a good part in farking up his son’s career… But Luke is just not as good as his one eyed supporters make out… There are better players… There have been better players… couple that with a rather divisive character that leads to distrust in the team and coaches and bob’s your uncle… rather have someone else in the team… Luke is just too high maintenance, but without spectacular talent… Now if you were talking about DC being a primadonna and having to make allowances then yeah sure people may not like it but would understand… But Luke is an at best fairly decent loosie… nothing more.
18 May 2011, 10:11 am
@BokiNZ(BokiNZ)-318: Just thinking and getting serious for a change
I don’t think Watson is a player good enough to deserve the hype…
Just thinking, I wonder why Mallet never selected him for the BaaBaas… or did he.
18 May 2011, 10:12 am
Anyway… My tuppence for the day… Got to go.
18 May 2011, 10:17 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-319:
In all honesty I have not seen the kid playing for some years. Lets give him the benefit of the doubt and see how he performs for the Satanyoka Kings. how that franchise will further his career is something I am not convinced about. Once again I think his father has a lot to account for there.
How long it’ll take before he gets on his moral high horse…well that’s yet to be seen. Maybe he has genuinely changed and has come back a more together youngster….we keep forgetting that these rugby players are quite young and Loook has been adversely influenced by his first and foremost influencial figure, which is his old man.
18 May 2011, 10:24 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-314:
ho ho ho ho
ha ha ha
HOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO !
keep THAT comin, sweetheart !
KevinRack offers up his sacrificial offering on the same day Boy Georges voice finally breaks
whats next – Big S.Hit finally reveals his Natalian Passport ?
its not my birthday…..is it ?!?
BaXXies !!!
18 May 2011, 10:26 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-316:
I’ll treasure this gift, forever.
Thank you so very very much. Its the thought that c’unts.
18 May 2011, 10:43 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-323: Mate, time to shut the fck up! On numerous occasions you have showed you are just as one-eyed as any Saffa supporter on here. In fact, one-eyedness is the pre-requisite for any passionate fan no matter where he hails from. And the reason why the threads and posts have a ‘slight’ SA slant to them is because this is a SA website afterall as denoted by the .za, if you didn’t notice. You’ll get the same thing on stuff.co.nz. In fact, have a read at what Jamie Joseph had to say about the difference between the NZ and Aus conferences. And then compare that to how Alistaire Coetzee’s dig at Aus rugby was portrayed on the same site. They are both saying the exact same thing. AC said it first though. Also, compare the comments on both threads and you will see your *** is as black as any other around here. Get off that fcking high horse, mate! You might fall off
18 May 2011, 10:48 am
@BokiNZ(BokiNZ)-325:
The Troll will come back with what she thinks is a clever snipe. Stand-by.
Emotional intelligence….
18 May 2011, 10:57 am
Sad to see keo still accurately symbolises the ‘harmony’ in our country.
Fair play to Watson for admitting all that he has, even though it’s common knowledge.
On the other hand, is it impossible to let your talent do the talking? Does he even have enough supporters to justify the publicity stunts? The whole affair is rather stale, and I’ll be damned if I get riled up by something that, in the grand scheme of things, does not matter.
The fact that a man who justifies murder, personifies hate and epitomises stupidity is an idol to the masses is a slightly more pressing matter, don’t you think. Off to vote for a racist, female ******.
18 May 2011, 10:59 am
M o n k e y isn’t allowed? Hahaha
18 May 2011, 10:59 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-326:
Can’t wait. By now, we all should see through this joker’s MO. Not to be taken seriously, I know, but it’s hard not to respond
18 May 2011, 11:05 am
@BokiNZ(BokiNZ)-329:
Not to be taken seriously has always been my mantra.
He’s on the Carter thread and talking his boys up as if they were conquering Nordic gods….too funny.
18 May 2011, 11:12 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-330: Its the Kiwi way. Pulling out the superlatives for mediocre players all the time. “Dangerous” Kahui and all that…Funny thing though that we as Saffas lap it up and actualy believe in the hype
18 May 2011, 11:14 am
Not that DC is mediocre in any way. Donald, Kahui, Cruden, Donnely etc, is tho.
18 May 2011, 11:21 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-307: Yeah, you’re right… Despite Pooper69 and I both having a good old go at eachother on Keo I could honestly say I could see myself having a good few beers with the b.ugger… We’d probably land up slugging in the carpark outside the pub…
but then again I have done that with my best mate who was my best man… Banshee and his other half farking dreads it when staying at one another’s houses or going holidaying together… Ends in tears but then man hugs all round…
I suppose its recapturing a bit of wild youth and also a change to the professional facade… Being real over a beer… or ten… reset the inner self.
With a fool like Panty you could never do that… Like Luke Watson, too untrustworthy…
18 May 2011, 11:22 am
@BokiNZ(BokiNZ)-325:
frankly m’dear, I dont give a damn.
The tosh and rubbish Ive read about all things NZ from you rather discount any credibility you now seek. I keep to rugby here, exclusively. I dont delve in to who’s wine is “sh*t” or try to make out my waves are bigger/better than Charos. Neither do I go anywhere near politics – and how many here on a ‘rugby blog’ can say that.
I do, however, have a natural predilection to exposing serial bullsh*tters but, you could be right on that front – because here, thats like fishing with a hand-grenade.
btw – noone owns .za or even .nz In fact, you can say whatever you like in NZ without fear of repercussions – they let you in to NZ, after all.
18 May 2011, 11:24 am
@BokiNZ(BokiNZ)-332:
Kahui is a superb player.
18 May 2011, 11:25 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-333:
*sob sob*
who blew out the candles ?
18 May 2011, 11:27 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-330:
so 1 minute youre advising bloggers “to ignore” me
and the next
youre telling them which other thread Im on ?
ho ho hooooooooooo
18 May 2011, 11:31 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-334: Try and blow smoke up someone elses ***. We’re not falling for it anymore and btw…about that predilection of yours. It doesn’t apply to you, does it? You must be the biggest bullshitter of all
18 May 2011, 11:31 am
I heard that NZ is trying to get people to live in the country due to their dwindling population.
if they need me to donate my superior blonde haired blue eyed genes then they should just say so. A couple of Arien 6 foot brickshithouses would be more representative of the Kiwi rugby team than cheap Island imports I’m sure….
18 May 2011, 11:34 am
Like talking down to a child. He knows I can see all the threads on the right side of this blog.
18 May 2011, 11:35 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-335: So you say. He is avg…at best. But we already know that superb is the Kiwi equivalent of what we know as avg. DC is superb. I’ll give you that. So is Read and a couple of others if I cared enough to list them all. Kahui? Seriously. He is not!
18 May 2011, 13:39 pm
@BokiNZ(BokiNZ)-338:
I tells ya what, if youre so convinced Im a “bullsh*tter” – a fabricator of information – then it must be incredibly easy to prove it here on a forum where every word is preserved and available for reproduction. Transie tried for a while (and he’s still “watching me”) thought he’d finally found the answer only for the Chinese melon to rudely blow up in his face.
It got a bit messy. But I must warn you, from the evidence proffered to date, Transie is – by some considerable distance – your greater superior in the forensics stakes.
I even offered to sacrifice myself on the Keo Altar to your fellow migrant, Whatever (aka ‘bottom-feeding pondlife’) if he was able to produce evidence that pegged me lower than him on the Moral Food Chain – and yet he’s still locked up in his smelly hideout in the basement with the curtains drawn and a ready supply of tissues.
but good luck, all the same.
18 May 2011, 13:40 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-339:
frankly, that was beneath even you, PrePrawn.
18 May 2011, 13:45 pm
@BokiNZ(BokiNZ)-341:
so, Kahui is “average, at best”
do you mean like “all NZ wines are sh*t” ?
or
“noone in NZ is going to the RWC” ?
I love Kiwi wines, amongst many other nations produce incl SAs. I also happen to think Kahui is a superbly skilled player and the only thing that has held back him reaching his potential is his bad luck with injuries.
But these are merely opinions, no right or wrong. Half of bloggers here want Smit at 2, others would prefer him at Saracens already. Doesnt make them ‘bullsh*tters’ either.
18 May 2011, 13:55 pm
I always find comparisons between Luke and Schalk not only ludicrous, but insulting to both players.
Very different personalities.
Completely different players.
One is a 6 flank, the other is not.
18 May 2011, 17:36 pm
OK so clearly I’ve missed 345 comments and we are now almost completely off topic… But doesn’t it piss you guys off that this article is basically saying that Luke is talking down to the Springboks by being “open” to representing the springboks??? Like he could be persuaded if the right deal was made etc… I don’t know if this is how he feels or if its just the wording of the article but it’s pathetic to volunteer the fact that you would be available for selection, as if the only reason you werent selected was because you hadn’t been open to it before… And he has Bok ambition? SO does every guy who’s ever played rugby man… If he’s aiming for the green and gold then he should say so. If he isnt, fine… But don’t make it seem like he’s has a choice to play or not as he feels like it.
18 May 2011, 18:02 pm
@Tarlo(Tarlo)-346:
“open to” is no less than journalistic mischief-making, surely.
18 May 2011, 21:21 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-310:
Top post HG.
I love your summing up at the end – brilliant!
18 May 2011, 21:23 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-312:
4 sure – 2 writers one name.
18 May 2011, 21:35 pm
wrong… same writer
that’s how exactly dumbfucked you all are so full of your dumbfuck highfalutin selves you dunno fuckall from nothing
especially where it comes down to the LW – JW issue which was a clear case of ostracized victimization… nothing but
The END result was all these mitigating or unmitigated factors like puking on jerseys and all the rest of the cancerous bullsh’t stories
Simply check it out as it exactly WAS through the development of the entire saga.
2005 -2006 LW was the form No.6 in this country – no two flying fuckadilly ifs about it … far superior to SB
in 2006 SB was injured and Boks got fucked up 49-0 by Australia under JW and JS – yet STILL no LW anywhere near after R. McCaw and G. Smith and others proclaimed him to be the best open side flank in SA as did a number of other people including the majority of his peers who voted him players player of the year here in SA.
JW ostracized and victimized and defended his position throughout
And the two faced cn’t in the saga is him and not the other… same as most you two faced cn’ts here are… especially this jelly wobbling piece of garbage two faced Rhodesian outright right wing racist Herr Goebeldigwatsticks hiding out in the mother country where the two faced little c’nt actually belongs.
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7] 8 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.