Luke Watson

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Luke Watson
Personal information
Full name	Luke Watson
Date of birth	October 26, 1983 (1983-10-26) (age 24)
Place of birth	Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Height	1.84 m (6 ft +1⁄2 in)
Weight	105 kg (16 st 7 lb)
Nickname	King Luke, No46
School	Grey High School, Port Elizabeth, RSA
Notable relative(s)	Dan Cheeky Watson (father)
Occupation(s)	Professional rugby union footballer
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	loose forward
Provincial/State sides		Caps	(points)
2002 2003-2004 2005-	Eastern Province Natal Sharks Western Province
Super Rugby
2003-2004 2005-	Sharks Stormers
National team(s)
	South Africa	caps 2
7's National teams		Tournaments
	South Africa	2002

Luke Asher Watson (born 26 October 1983 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa) is a South African rugby union footballer who currently plays in the position of loose-forward, primarily openside flank. He has two Springbok caps as of June 2008. He currently plays for Western Province in the domestic Currie Cup competition and the Stormers in the Southern Hemisphere Super 14 tournament. A natural leader in his youth, he has represented and captained the South African Schools rugby team (201), South Africa's under 19 (2002) and under 21 (2004) teams, as well as the Springbok Sevens team (2001). He distinguished himself as a member of the victorious side that won the under-21 Rugby World Cup that beat New Zealand in Johannesburg in 2002 and by wining the 2006 Super 14 Player of the Year at the South African Rugby Awards. Watson has also captained both the Western Province and the Stormers. Under new coach Rassie Erasmus, he was relieved of the captaincy of the Stormers for the 2008 season, and was replaced as captain by Jean de Villiers.

[edit] Controversies

Luke Watson has been one of the most controversial figures in recent South African sport. This was largely due to his non-selection for the Springboks in 2006, when he showed good form in the Super 14 competition, followed by his forced selection to the Springboks in 2007, against the will of the then national coach. He and many of his supporters claim ^[1] that his non-selection was due to personal differences with the then national coach Jake White. Coach White however has always maintained that his reasons for not selecting Watson were purely rugby-related, and had nothing to do with personal issues.

Jake White won the 2007 Rugby World Cup as Springbok coach and was awarded the 2007 IRB International Coach of the Year Award. His credentials thus demand respect. His team selection strategy has always been that rugby is a team sport and players play in combinations, and therefore a successful combination is more important than individual skills. Since players get injured in high-intensity tournaments, players who have the ability to adapt to more than one role are very valuable. This can be contrasted with the alternative rugby wisdom which maintains that certain positions are specialist positions, and selects the best players in those positions. White has in particular repeatedly emphasised the need for tall loose-forwards who can add extra line-out options. In summary, White’s view of Watson is that he offers limited options beyond his specialist “fetcher” role, and White does not believe that a team needs a specialist fetcher – on the contrary, he believes that South Africa has many quality loose forwards who can play multiple roles at the highest level, and Watson simply isn’t one of them. ^[2] White once said of Watson: "I don't think he's a good rugby player. He is a most overrated player.” ^[3] When direct political interference finally gave Watson the chance to play for the Springboks against Samoa in 2007, his one-dimensional approach and his inability to adapt to alternative patterns were starkly exposed according to his detractors ^{[4] [5]}; a dubious claim since he was only on the field for about 20 minutes before going off injured.

Watson has been particularly criticized by Jake White for being less effective in line-outs than many of the other players who also play in Watson's chosen position, a criticism which appears particularly flimsy given that almost any two other loose forwards in the current Springbok set-up may be used as alternative line-out targets. ^[6] Watson has dismissed White's claims about his small stature, on the basis that several high-profile international flankers, such as George Smith of Australia (1.80 m), Neil Back of England (1.77 m), Serge Betsen of France (1.82m) and Richie McCaw (1.87m)—are similar in height to Watson (1.84m). ^[7] However, it is a matter of record that England started the World Cup Final with flankers Martin Corry (1.95m) ^[8] and Lewis Moody (1.95m).^[9], and lost to a Bok team who overpowered them. The dispute is really a difference in rugby philosophy. Traditional "white" rugby has evolved to be a style of rugby which is bruising, in-your-face and rooted in defensive structure, whereas "black" rugby puts more emphasis on creative attacking play, of which Watson is clearly a leading protagonist linking the loose forwards and backs better than anyone one else in South African rugby, and has done so for many years. This style of rugby is similar to the traditional All Blacks style of rugby, which is partially why there is such a large support base for the All Blacks amongst Black South African rugby fans, along with historical political reasons.

Italy coach and former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has been a supporter of Watson, and had said in 2006 that he would have selected Watson to be in the Springbok team, based on Burger's then absence due to serious injury.^[10] Early in 2008 Mallet was asked why in his opinion the Boks won the World Cup. Mallett asked Springbok World Cup hero Schalk Burger to stand up, and told the audience that the reason the Boks won was because Burger is the smallest player in the Bok forward pack. ^[11] Schalk Burger is officially 1,93m tall, as opposed to Watson's 1,84m.

In an interview in March 2008 with the SA Rugby Magazine, new Bok coach Peter de Villiers summed up the reality once and for all with the comment: “A small talented guy will always be better than a big untalented guy, and a big talented guy is better than a small talented guy. I will select the best player for the job.” ^[12]

Luke Watson is known to have a very strong personality, and his outspokenness often borders on abrasiveness and even arrogance according to his detractors. Coach White has implied that Watson would consequently have been a divisive influence on the Springbok team under him.^{[13] [14][15] [16]} One other coach has had a difference of opinion with Watson. Watson clashed with his Stormers coach Kobus Van der Merwe after being substituted in a Stormers Super 14 match in 2007. After a dressing room bust up between the player and coach, Watson did not attend the post-match press conference. ^{[17] [18][19]} Although his personal profile on the Stormers’ website www.thestormers.com says that “His great leadership skills, affable personality and consistent form inspires great confidence in his team mates,” the website www.sarugby.com, which is dominated by his detractors, has reported that one of the reasons he was relieved of the captaincy in 2008 was because “his leadership skills have come under fire from a number of senior players.” ^[20] New Stormers coach Johan "Rassie" Erasmus, who dropped Watson as Stormers captain for the 2008 competition, has separately stated that in his view, a good leader doesn’t polarize opinion, and doesn’t make waves or headlines. ^[21]

Watson accused Jake White in a 2006 SA Sports Illustrated article of a "lack of integrity". He also questioned the credentials of captain John Smit and said there was no longer any pride and passion in the Boks. The Springbok code of conduct includes a commitment to never discredit or insult a Springbok teammate, but when Watson was finally selected as a Springok in 2007 and was asked in media interviews to comment on his earlier public criticisms, he maintained that he stood by what he had said a year earlier in the magazine article, demonstrating his integrity at the expense of possible sanction. ^[22] Such comments by any other South African player would have been sanctioned for "bringing the game into disrepute", as happened to former Springbok coach Nick Mallet, ^[23] and was threatened against Jake White himself. ^[24] However, there is no indication that any action was ever taken against Watson for this blatant contravention of the code of conduct.

Watson was initially invited to play against the Springboks for the World XV in 2006. This created much initial excitement, as Watson would seemingly have the chance to match himself against Jake White's first choice loose forwards. However the Western Province director of rugby, Nick Mallett, reportedly talked him into refusing the invitation so as to "avoid the risk of injury shortly before the start of the Currie Cup series".^[25]

Part of his controversial forced selection in 2007 included being selected to tour Australia and New Zealand for the away leg of the Tri Nations series, as Coach White had elected to rest many of his first-choice players. Watson withdrew from the tour pleading injury, but then made a “remarkable recovery” to play for his province in the Currie Cup on the same day as the first Tri-Nations match.^[26]

Just hours after being officially relieved of the Stormers captaincy in December 2007, Watson breached the terms of the team’s Adidas sponsorship contract by wearing rival Nike logos at an official training session. The matter was dealt with internally. ^[27]

Watson and his supporters also claim his non-selection is due partly to the fact that his father Daniel "Cheeky" Watson is a former anti-apartheid activist, who alienated himself from the SA Rugby establishment by playing club rugby in the 'black' townships of Eastern Province^[28] at a time when this was illegal in terms of racist apartheid legislation. No actual evidence of such victimisation has ever been presented, and Jake White has publicly denied any such motive, but it is an open secret in South African rugby politics that there are two opposing camps divided along racial lines.

[edit] SA Rugby Awards (November 2006)

For the 2006 SA Rugby awards, Luke Watson was nominated in 4 categories:

• SA Player's Player of the year award 2006
  
• ABSA SA Rugby Player of the year 2006
  
• Vodacom Super Rugby Player of the tournament 2006
  
• ABSA Currie Cup player of the tournament 2006
  

At the awards ceremony, Watson was given the award for "Vodacom Super Rugby Player of the Tournament 2006". Watson's supporters have with good reason made much of this award, since these awards are the most prestigious annual rugby awards in South Africa. They have used it as a further justification for forcing Coach White to accept Watson into the Springbok team in 2007.^[29] Watson's detractors point out that, as this award is adjudicated by a panel consisting almost entirely of media representatives, ^[30] the award is thus more an indication of newsworthiness than actual player merit, a claim they do not make against any other winners of this or other awards at the SA Rugby Awards ceremony in recent history.

[edit] Springbok Selection 2007

Another controversy involved Watson's forced selection on 12 May 2007 for the Springbok training squad. National Coach White and his selectors (Peter Jooste and former national coach Ian Macintosh), submitted a list of 45 players to the South African Rugby Union. Without Coach White's knowledge and behind his back, Watson was added to the list as a 46th player by SARU President Hoskins, fellow SARU executive council member Koos Basson, and Springbok team manager Zola Yeye, who is a long-standing personal friend of the Watson family.^[31] Hoskins later admitted in a radio interview that he had personally interfered in team selection and added Watson,^[32] because the media had decided that Watson was South Africa's 2006 Super 14 Player of the Year. Politicians such as Butana Komphela, ANC chairman of the parliamentary sports portfolio committee, and Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool, also insisted on Watson's inclusion.^[33] Rasool went so far as to say that Watson should be regarded as a "black player" and that he should therefore be included in the Springbok team ahead of "white players of equal talent". Selector Jooste expressed disappointment that the executive had undermined the selectors in such a manner.^[34]

Jake White threatened legal action if the SARU executive interfered further with his final team selection.^[35] However, White eventually accepted the political reality, and allowed Watson a chance to play for the Springboks. The senior players then refused to include him in the traditional initiation ceremony for newly capped players, due to the nepotistic manner of his selection.^[36][37] Watson made his controversial Springbok debut against Manu Samoa on June 9, 2007. He started the Test, but failed to make an impression, ^{[38][39] [40]} despite playing in a second-string Springbok team against a Samoan team which was then ranked 10th on the International Rugby Board's rankings.^[41] Watson was substituted early in the second half with an injury. He was offered two more chances to prove himself against stronger opposition when he was included in the Tri-Nations squad to tour Australia and New Zealand. However he withdrew from the tour, reportedly on the basis of injury, although he nonetheless played for his province on the same day as the first Tri-Nations match. ^[42] He was injured for most of the season, and hardly featured in the 2007 Currie Cup.^[43]

Watson's father has since told South African newspapers that son Luke never wanted to play for the Springboks under White, though failing to explain why Luke didn't therefore withdraw from the Samoa Test, especially as that selection was so seriously tainted by politics and nepotism. Watson Snr also boycotted his son's capping ceremony, apparently in protest against Coach White’s attitude towards his son. ^[44]

Watson was ignored for the 2007 World Cup, and Jake White's first choice loose forwards acquitted themselves with distinction. In particular England line-out specialist Ben Kay has been quoted as saying: “Their line-out was fantastic and was a major difference between the two teams. They have been the best line-out in the world for many years and gave us enormous problems."^[45] Comments like this from respected opponents validate White’s theory that large loose forwards are essential in the modern game.

[edit] Subsequent Events

Former coach Jake White has since published his autobiography, titled “IN BLACK AND WHITE - The Jake White Story”. (Zebra Press, Cape Town) In the book White mentions that he was approached on the eve of the World Cup by a lawyer claiming to represent the Watson family, and was given an ultimatum to include Luke Watson in the World Cup squad. In return White’s contract with SA Rugby would be extended beyond the 2007 World Cup, but failure to co-operate would result in him losing his job before the World Cup. White claims that the Watsons subsequently backed down, but father Dan Watson has denied everything. ^[46]

Subsequent to the 2007 World Cup, Watson Snr has been co-opted onto the Presidents Council, which controls rugby in South Africa. This was despite his having stated that he was supporting the All Blacks over South Africa at the World Cup 2007. ^[47] As the Presidents Council interferes regularly with matters concerning Springbok selections, this has again fuelled concerns about future nepotism.

In December 2007 new Stormers coach Johan Erasmus appointed Springbok backline veteran Jean de Villiers as captain of the Stormers for the 2008 Super 14 tournament, in place of Luke Watson, although Watson still has the opportunity to retain his place in the team.^[48] Under their new captain the Stormers have enjoyed their best Super 14 season in a long time, and at the halfway mark were still in the running for a semi-final berth. Erasmus has elsewhere stated that in his view, a good leader doesn’t polarize opinion, and doesn’t make waves or headlines. ^[49]

It was reported on IOL Sport in March 2008 that the original decision had been for World Cup hero Schalk Burger to take over as captain. However, coach Erasmus saw fit to meet with father Dan Watson first, “to discuss … the role that (Luke) should play in the Stormers side”. Dan Watson reportedly told the coach that he had no problem with Luke not captaining the side, provided Schalk Burger did not have a higher profile than Luke. The appropriateness of a coach seeking the approval of a player’s father before making a critical decision was not commented upon in the article. ^[50]

Following the appointment in January 2008 of Peter de Villiers as the new coach of the Springbok rugby team, there is renewed speculation that Watson may yet be appointed national captain of the team, because at the start of the 2007 season De Villiers publicly stated his support for Watson. However Watson’s form saw a serious decline in 2007 while his chief rivals were outstanding at the World Cup. This rumour has been fanned in particular by an article in the British newspaper, The Observer, which has “reported” the rumour that the appointment of De Villiers (who is black) is part of a "sweeping revolution" to seize political control of South African rugby. The Observer reported that Watson’s father, the politically-connected Daniel Watson, was the architect of the plan. ^[51] Mike Stofile, deputy president of the South African Rugby Union and brother of the very high-ranking Minister of Sport, has described the rumour as "total nonsense". Coach De Villiers himself has also denied the rumour. He has further rejected any speculation that he has promised Watson the captaincy, and has stated that World Cup captain John Smit would continue as captain through to the Lions series in 2009, provided he avoided injury and maintained top form. In various interviews and conferences De Villiers has also stated that he has no favourites, and that players of all colours would be judged on form in the Super 14 and not on race. He has also indicated that he would follow the obvious plan of relying primarily on the bulk of the World Cup winning squad to sustain momentum, provided they maintain form. De Villiers won many supporters over with the statement: “I have no favourites. If they want to represent my country they have to be the best. I take a really detached view because that's me. I worked hard to be the best, others must do likewise. Because the ultimate point is, I want our country to be the best." ^{[52] [53] [54] [55]}

[edit] Playing History

2007: Springbok team (Samoa test match)

2005-current: Stormers (Super 12, Super 14)
2005-current: Western Province (Currie Cup)

2004: South African Under 21 national team (captain, IRB Under 21 World Championships)

2003-2004: Sharks (Super 12, Currie Cup)
2003: Selected to represent SA ‘A’ (injured)

2002: Eastern Province "Mighty Elephants" (Currie Cup)
2002: Eastern Province "Mighty Elephants" Under 21
2002: South African Sevens national squad (Commonwealth Games)
2002: South African Under 19 national squad

2001: South African Schools^[56][57]

[edit] See also

• Cheeky Watson
• Jake White
• Springbok Rugby
• Rugby World Cup
• Peter de Villiers

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Stormers profile
• Luke Watson at SARugby.co.za