Hatchet media job on Watson
28 Jan 2013
Luke Watson, contrary to reports, has not launched any form of attack on Afrikaners and the administration of South African rugby.
But he now knows that there will always be a divisive element aimed at destruction in South African rugby to further individual and provincial agendas. There will also be more attacks on his credibility this season as so many within rugby and associated with rugby disgustingly celebrate undermining the Kings’ debut season because of the South African Rugby Football Union’s disgraceful handling of the Lions-Kings Super Rugby participation.
Watson three years ago described South African rugby as a game run by ‘Dutchman’. He never shied away from having made the comment but at the time expressed disappointment that a private discussion had been reported to the media and so misrepresented within the media.
He left to play for English club Bath but returned to South Africa three years ago as part of a three-year contract to be a part of the Kings’ historical entry into Super Rugby. On his return he spoke officially of his regret at the comment, however informal the occasion, and spoke of his desire to make a contribution to a unified Eastern Province and South African rugby.
He apologised to those he said he may have offended and in the last three years has concentrated on the job at hand. For some that will never be good enough and Watson’s Super Rugby challenge will be made even tougher by continued efforts to undermine and misrepresent him from the field.
In a recent interview with 702 Talkback Radio Watson was again asked about his criticism of South African rugby three years ago. The ‘Dutchman’ remark was again highlighted and he was asked for an opinion on the administration of the game.
The player confirmed the remark he had made three years ago, added that he had dealt with it on his return and in relation to a question said South African rugby as a whole was still struggling to come to terms with transformation the equal of the society that reflects change in South Africa.
Transformation, he added, would always be an ongoing issue.
Media reports singled out Watson for saying the game was still being run by ‘Dutchmen’.
‘I have always taken accountability for how I have played and for what I have said. Where I have got it wrong or regretted an action or a comment I have always been prepared to make the necessary apology and I really thought that fronting the issue of what I said three years ago was dealt with three years ago,’ said Watson, adding: ‘It really disappoints me that an interview was so badly misrepresented and a comment of three years ago made the focus and given the appearance that I have again criticised a cultural element of South African rugby. I did not in a 702 Radio interview say the game in 2013 was still being run by Dutchmen and transformation, not just in a playing numbers, will and should always be a discussion and a debate because the purpose has to be to get the desired transformation as a country, not just in one particular sporting code.’
Watson told keo.co.za that just like the Lions players suffered as a result of the uncertainty in their Super Rugby participation, the players within the Southern Kings are representative of South Africa and that players did not decide policy or participation in tournaments.
‘Every bloke in the squad will give his everything for the Kings and by extension for South African rugby. We can only influence our actions but it is not made any easier with media misrepresentation on issues as sensitive as culture and provincialism in the South African game.
‘I learn and I learned from three years ago. All I can do set the record straight on the inaccuracy of the reports attributing remarks made three years ago to a recent radio interview.’
The Kings will play in the tournament for the first time this year but are not guaranteed an automatic second year. Participation in 2014 Super Rugby will be determined through league results.
774 Comments
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28 Jan 2013, 10:09 am
Really!
28 Jan 2013, 10:13 am
This is the type of media managed article that his detractors will feed on.
Allow the man to play without all the drama and attention, now you’re just awaking sleeping dogs.
28 Jan 2013, 10:14 am
Actually what was more the issue for me was his comment that he wants to vomit on the Springbok jersey. Combined with the “D.utchman” comment, I know all I need to know about this divisive contentious twat.
28 Jan 2013, 10:15 am
So did he or did he not puke his guts out on the Bok jersey? Or was that also something he did in private, not for private consumption?
28 Jan 2013, 10:17 am
don’t worry about maggots luke…see you at gym dude…
28 Jan 2013, 10:20 am
@Liewe Luiperd-3: nothing but respect for the bloke
shame more werent like him
may have saved millions from the hardships they faced..
28 Jan 2013, 10:23 am
Puplic consumption.
@Transformation-5: ask him about the R3 million a year from the superrugby pie SARU has been dishing out to the Kings since 2009.
28 Jan 2013, 10:26 am
@the curse-6: I’m surprised it matters so much to a bitter kiwi expat living in Seedney Australia. Whatever rocks your agenda, bro.
Trans – is EP/Kings the most corrupt rugby union in SA? Honest answer, on a postcard, please.
28 Jan 2013, 10:26 am
I actually expressed a similar view (sans the Watson angle) 2 weeks ago about how I cannot understand how the SA rugby public would wish the things they do against the Kings players.
Sure, be pissed at SA Rugby, the Lions administration for their **** ups in the last 8 years and Eastern Province administration for the lack of just that, administration – but to wish some of the things I read against the players is somewhat sad to be honest.
28 Jan 2013, 10:31 am
@RL-7:
When you translate it into Rands per minute played it makes him one of the highest paid players in world rugby.
28 Jan 2013, 10:36 am
@Liewe: not a chance! the Lions followed by SWD (Stag Cronje era)
EP had their bad times too when the likes of George Davids & Phillip Josephs.
28 Jan 2013, 10:42 am
wlll do RL.
how much did the Lions pay D.ick Muir for losing all 13 games in 2010 & doing fokkol since then?
could that money have been used to pay your franchise partners the Pumas & Leopards?
28 Jan 2013, 10:42 am
@gunther-10:
He still does not come close to Juan Smith who by now must have broken the record previously held by Andre Pretorius.(rands per minute played)
28 Jan 2013, 10:43 am
@Robzim-13:
Schalk Burger is also in hot pursuit.
28 Jan 2013, 10:43 am
I dont really care what was said 3 years ago and how it was taken out of context etc.
What gets me is this constant issue of transformation that is brought up by the Watsons and how the Kings will be champions of this initiative and yet they appear to be the least transformed side in SA.
Smoke and mirrors by the Cheeky Boys.
28 Jan 2013, 10:46 am
the Rand is worth fokkol, so presuming they are the highest paid player due to rands per minute is rather stupid
28 Jan 2013, 10:47 am
@Transformation-12: millions transformer, millions.
28 Jan 2013, 10:47 am
So what exactly prompted this piece spin? I mean, other than the usual HSM agent spin. Seriously Mark, aren’t there other, less obvious ways of getting column inches for your man?
And regarding the d.utchman comment, yes let’s forget it and move on. Just like we all forgot the racist Markgraaf brainfart and welcomed him back. Oh, hang on, we didn’t, did we?
28 Jan 2013, 10:49 am
@Robzim-14:
It would be interesting to see the calculations.
28 Jan 2013, 10:50 am
@katman-18:
Indeed.
I thought Keo lost Luke along with his HSM sponsored Corsa Lite.
28 Jan 2013, 10:52 am
This is all fire & brimstone rhetoric from the “young, dumb and full of come” brigade who have a party in their pants everytime they see a rugby ball, smell Deep Heat & the sweat smell of crushed chlorophyl in a tackle.
Time to show a little restraint without the premature ejaculation foot in the mouth lot who want to see the whistle blown now, right now, like right right now, instead of biding their time till the final whistle of each of the fixtures.
28 Jan 2013, 10:53 am
I know we are about to have loads of silly comments about the RIGHT way the Kings should have used to gain entry to the competition. I wonder just how much people actualy know about the formation of franchises for SR. A lot here keep repeating things that make no sense as facts. Hope the Kings do well.
28 Jan 2013, 10:53 am
@PissAnt-9: Bloody well said!!!!!!
It beggars belief some of the nonsense being dished out to players who had fuckall to do with any of the SARU incompetence.
Folk should be hating SARU, and the Lions uberkak management, if they HAVE to hate someone: Not Kings players……….
28 Jan 2013, 10:55 am
@the curse-16: don’t be thick poops – how many cheats is paid USD 333333 or ZAR 3000000 a year?
28 Jan 2013, 10:56 am
He said it and “puked” on the jersey, but he apologised for both. I still think he is a wally, but he is a very good rugby player and leader… his time at Bath confirmed this.
Give him and the Kings the opportunity to prove themselves and let the past reside just there. The Lions don’t really have the moral legs to stand on. They had plenty of opportunity to get their house in order and didn’t.
28 Jan 2013, 10:56 am
@gunther-20: How can he lose Luke? He ain’t exactly a set of fcking car keys now is he?
No, their bond is stronger than ever. In fact, keo spent some time over Christmas wring his piece in which he punts Luke for Super Rugby player of the year for 2013.
28 Jan 2013, 10:56 am
@RL-24: 1 Rand equals almost 8 NZ dollars
try and do the maths RL
if your SA education allows working with such big, meaningless numbers
28 Jan 2013, 10:57 am
@katman-26: wring – writing
28 Jan 2013, 10:58 am
@the curse-27: So if I go to your work and ask for a Big Mac, how much will that be?
28 Jan 2013, 11:00 am
@katman-29:
and youre apparently a funny guy?
pathetic…
28 Jan 2013, 11:01 am
@katman-29:
Depends if he offers you his employees discount.
28 Jan 2013, 11:02 am
@the curse-27: poops you are slow man – how many kiwis get paid USD 333333 a year?
28 Jan 2013, 11:03 am
@katman-29: @gunther-31: I see a couple of d.utchmen who think they are the bees knees
what a laugh..
keep going ladies..
28 Jan 2013, 11:03 am
@RL-32: quite a few actually..
how many SA;s get a wage at all?
28 Jan 2013, 11:07 am
@the curse-34: name the players who are paid Luke’s salary?
28 Jan 2013, 11:08 am
@RL-35: SBWs for one…
28 Jan 2013, 11:09 am
@RL-32:
I tell you one thing.
It buys you a pretty decent waka.
One of those fancy ones with a bar fridge a pioneer sound system and sat nav so you can find your way back from Oz.
The cannon is an optional extra though.
28 Jan 2013, 11:11 am
@gunther-37: lmao
good one
28 Jan 2013, 11:13 am
@the curse-38: this is a Kings article. You don’t need to do the winding up, they’ll tear each other apart anyway. Just sit back and watch
28 Jan 2013, 11:14 am
Poeps doesn’t do open-water waka. He’s never even ventured beyond shitcreek.
28 Jan 2013, 11:16 am
@katman-40: my word, the jokes are top notch this evening..
seriously, can you be any funnier?
28 Jan 2013, 11:18 am
@the curse-41: I’m dumbing it down for you, my culturally sensitive friend. Once you’re up to speed, we’ll try something a little more advanced.
28 Jan 2013, 11:18 am
@the curse-36: fool he is paid by the J.aps not the NZRU.
@gunther-37: or a Range Rover or two.
28 Jan 2013, 11:18 am
Luke should realise that politics and players dont mix.
I have respected bok captains in the past who have kept quiet during political **** storms and chose to only talk rugby even when confronted with difficult questions, questions they probably would have liked to speak their minds about…
Who gives LW the right to say a word about the way rugby is run and the politics involved with SA rugby? He’s just a player and therefore should play rugby. Its a shame that he cant identify himself as just as a rugby player.
Imo thats why people hate him so much.
28 Jan 2013, 11:19 am
@katman-42: dont hold back mate, my sides are splitting at the moment..
you should give up your day job to concentrate on your routine…
youll go far with the high level of “wit” youve displayed so far..
28 Jan 2013, 11:20 am
@katman-40:
To be fair though he knows it like the back of his hand.
28 Jan 2013, 11:23 am
@RL-43: d’oh
SBW got $NZD550,000 for his first contract with the NZRFU
that is approx. 440 000 US dollars
again, your SA education is working real well..
28 Jan 2013, 11:26 am
Speaking of Sunni Bin, I see he’s already preparing for his boxing retirement.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/8228264/Botha-bout-may-be-last-for-Williams
28 Jan 2013, 11:26 am
I’m sitting back and watching
Popcorn ready
28 Jan 2013, 11:28 am
@the curse-47: so he is getting what Burger is paid and not Luke’s salary – just say so next time.
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