Luke Watson

Rugger
name = Luke Watson


caption =
birthname = Luke Watson
nickname = King Luke, No46, Fluke Watson, Frodo
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|10|26
placeofbirth = Port Elizabeth, South Africa
height = convert|1.84|m|ftin|abbr=on
weight = convert|105|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = loose forward
ru_province = Eastern Province
Natal Sharks
Western Province
ru_provinceyears = 2002
2003-2004
2005-
ru_provincecaps =
ru_provincepoints =
ru_provinceupdate = Dec 2007
ru_nationalteam = ru|ZAF
ru_nationalyears =
ru_nationalcaps = caps 9
ru_nationalpoints =
ru_ntupdate = Aug 2008
super14 = Sharks
Stormers
super14years = 2003-2004
2005-
super14caps =
super14points =
super14update = Dec 2007
ru_sevensnationalyears =
ru_sevensnationalteam = flagicon|ZAF South Africa
ru_sevensnationalcomp = 2002
ru_sevensnationalcaps =
ru_sevensnationalpoints =
ru_sevensupdate = Dec 2007
other = yes
occupation = Professional rugby union footballer
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives = Dan Cheeky Watson (father)
school = Grey High School, Port Elizabeth, RSA

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. 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). 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.

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 [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=18&art_id=vn20060818123220504C800295 IOL: Watson launches scathing attack on White ] ] 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 was that successful combinations of players are more important than individual skills, and that players who have the ability to adapt to more than one role are more valuable. White has in particular repeatedly emphasised the need for tall loose-forwards who can add extra line-out options. White’s stated view of Watson is that he offers limited options, that South Africa has many quality loose forwards who can play multiple roles at the highest level, and that Watson simply isn’t one of them. [ [http://www.keo.co.za/2007/06/01/whites-world-cup-way/ Keo.co.za » White’s World Cup way ] ] White once said of Watson: "I don't think he's a good rugby player. He is a most overrated player.” [ [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=3045&art_id=vn20071112024850224C854216 IOL: Luke is the most overrated player - Jake ] ] 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 [http://www.keo.co.za/2007/06/10/luke-how-watson-performed/ Keo.co.za » Luke how Watson performed ] ] [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=18&art_id=vn20070704115210753C618659 IOL: Luke misses World Cup boat ] ] .

Much has been made of Watson's relatively short stature. 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 Schalk Burger's then absence due to serious injury. [ [http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Rugby/0,,2-9-838_2018988,00.html Q&A: Nick Mallett: Sport: Rugby: News24 ] ] When asked in 2008 why in his opinion the Boks won the World Cup, Mallett told the audience that the reason the Boks won was because Schalk Burger is the smallest player in the Bok forward pack. [ [http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=739402 The Times - Duanne’s in the fast lane ] ] 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.” [ [http://www.keo.co.za/2008/03/07/de-villiers-believe-in-me/ Keo.co.za » De Villiers: Believe in me ] ]

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. [http://www.capeargus.co.za/?fArticleId=4119670 Cape Argus: Stomers boot out Luke Watson as Captain ] ] [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=18&set_id=6&art_id=vn20071108111203778C787238 IOL: Luke loses the captaincy ] ] [ [http://www.news24.com/News24/Columnists/JJ_Harmse/0,,2-1630-1631_2125897,00.html The day White picked Watson: Columnists: JJ Harmse: News24 ] ] White is not the only coach who 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. [ [http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20071108111203778C787238 Mercury ] ] The website www.sarugby.com 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.” [ [http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid=8105.html SARugby.com › News › De Villiers Stormers skipper? ] ] Perhaps coincidentally, 2008 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. [http://www.sportsillustrated.co.za/static/feature/story.php?id=7410 Sports Illustrated - Know It All ] ]

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. [http://www.keo.co.za/2007/06/08/lukes-fight-for-acceptance/ Keo.co.za » Luke’s fight for acceptance ] ] 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, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Mallett] and was threatened against Jake White himself. [ [http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=52787,1,22 The Citizen: Will Jake White be disciplined? ] ] 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". [ [http://www.steinhoffinternational.com/steinhoff_worldxv/news_cobus.htm World XV Latest News ] ]

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.

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. [ [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=4&art_id=vn20071213113533299C354745 IOL: Watson in sponsor furore ] ]

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 [ [http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=305922&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__sport/ Airbrushed out of rugby history : Mail & Guardian Online ] ] 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.

A Rugby Awards (November 2006)

At the 2006 SA Rugby awards, Luke Watson was given the award for "Vodacom Super Rugby Player of the Tournament 2006". Watson's supporters have made much of this award, and have used it as a further justification for forcing Coach White to accept Watson into the Springbok team in 2007. [http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Rugby/0,,2-9-838_2113687,00.html Robbie v Hoskins: Sport: Rugby: News24 ] ] Watson's detractors point out that, as this award is adjudicated by a panel consisting almost entirely of media representatives, [ [http://www.thestormers.com/default.asp?aid=195639 The Vodacom Stormers - Official Website ] ] the award is thus more an indication of newsworthiness than actual player merit.

pringbok 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. [ [http://southafrica.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2007/05/26/rugby-race-and-nationalism-with-a-twist/ South Africa » Blog Archive » Rugby, Race, and Nationalism (With a Twist) ] ] Hoskins later admitted in a radio interview that he had personally interfered in team selection and added Watson, 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. [ [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=4&art_id=vn20070515111258166C200046 IOL: Luke Watson is black - Rasool ] ] Rasool went so far as to say that Watson should be regarded as a "black player" based on his father's anti-apartheid contribution, and that he should therefore be included in the Springbok team ahead of "white players of equal talent". The emphasis of the political motivation over the merit motivation was not denied.

Jake White threatened legal action if the SARU executive interfered further with his final team selection. [ [http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=18&art_id=vn20070515111258166C200046 IOL: Luke Watson is black - Rasool ] ] 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. [ [http://www.carteblanche.co.za/Display/Display.asp?Id=3420 Carte Blanche ] ] Watson made his controversial Springbok debut against Manu Samoa on June 9, 2007. He started the Test, but failed to make an impression, despite playing in a second-string Springbok team against a Samoan team which was then ranked 10th on the International Rugby Board's rankings. [ [http://www.irb.com/EN/World+Rankings/ International Rugby Board - Home ] ] 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. He was injured for most of the season, and hardly featured in the 2007 Currie Cup. [ [http://www.superrugby.co.za/default.asp?id=218215&des=article&scat=superrugby/springboks SuperRugby ] ]

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. [ [http://sport.iafrica.com/rugby/team/news/674165.htm sport.iafrica.com | rugby | springboks | news Watson hits back ] ]

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." [ [http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=104/match=10120/analysis.html RWC 2007 - Springboks struggle to describe elation ] ] Comments like this from respected opponents validate White’s theory that large loose forwards are essential in the modern game.

ubsequent 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. [ [http://www.witness.co.za/?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=1147 The Witness ] ]

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. [ [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=18&set_id=6&art_id=vn20071113110312593C964037 IOL: Cheeky gets seat on Saru council ] ] 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 was retained in the team. [ [http://www.sarugby.co.za/default.asp?des=article&id=238229 SA Rugby - www.sarugby.co.za - The official home of rugby in South Africa ] ] Under their new captain the Stormers have enjoyed their best Super 14 season in a long time, and only fell short of a semi-final berth by a single point. Erasmus has elsewhere stated that in his view, a good leader doesn’t polarize opinion, and doesn’t make waves or headlines.

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. [ [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=4&art_id=vn20080312112523258C205264 IOL: Did Schalk take offence after Watson swap? ] ]

Following the appointment in January 2008 of Peter de Villiers as the new coach of the Springbok rugby team, there was 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. Coach De Villiers himself has rejected any speculation that he has promised Watson the captaincy, and has selected World Cup captain John Smit to continue as captain through to the Lions series in 2009, provided he avoids injury and maintains top form. De Villiers also appointed World Cup hero Victor Matfield as vice captain for the season, thereby shutting the door on Watson's leadership ambitions for the time being.

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." [ [http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=55899,1,22 The Citizen: De Villiers named Springbok coach ] ] [ [http://www.24.com/sport/?p=rugby_article&i=808988 Sport24 - Sport Saru denies rugby revolution ] ] [ [http://www.keo.co.za/2008/01/13/watson-to-replace-smit/ Keo.co.za » Watson captaincy story resurfaces ] ] [ [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=18&art_id=vn20080113101519445C657946 IOL: Don't expect any favours, warns new Bok coach ] ]

Coach De Villiers selected Watson for the first two Tests of the 2008 international season, as World Cup heros Schalk Burger and Wikus van Heerden were both unavailable due to injury. Watson played reasonably well against a depleted Welsh team, but failed to answer lingering questions about his true ability at the highest level. [ [http://www.keo.co.za/2008/06/14/jean-the-jewel-of-loftus/ Keo.co.za » Jean the jewel of Loftus ] ] In the third Test of the 2008 season, against a depleted Italy, Watson was decidedly ordinary and appeared uninterested. [ [http://www.keo.co.za/2008/06/21/frans-bismarck-best-of-rudderless-boks/ Keo.co.za » Frans, Bismarck best of rudderless Boks ] ] He was then relegated to the bench for South Africa's first two TriNations Tests of 2008, against New Zealand, and when he came on in the second half of each match he was again "anonymous", leading to renewed doubts about the basis for his selection. [ [http://www.keo.co.za/2008/07/05/not-so-super-subs/ Keo.co.za » Not so super-subs ] ] [ [http://www.keo.co.za/2008/07/06/defeat-exposes-de-villiers/ Keo.co.za » Defeat exposes De Villiers ] ] [ [http://www.keo.co.za/2008/07/05/jean-the-beacon-of-light/ Keo.co.za » Jean the beacon of light ] ] [ [http://sport.iafrica.com/news/1024560.htm iafrica.com | sport | today Springbok player ratings ] ] Finally, he was dropped from the match squad altogether for the test against Australia in Perth.

Watson got another chance in the home round of the Tri-Nations tournament, starting with a "friendly" against an under-strength Argentina in August 2008. Watson played the entire game against Argentina, due to yet another injury to Schalk Burger, but played off the bench in the three home TriNations Tests. Watson made no impact, and a number of the journalists who have been supporting Watson since his heroics in the Super 14 in 2006 have started admitting that he has not lived up to that promise during an extended run at the highest level. [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=18&art_id=vn20080817093416362C132991] [http://www.stuff.co.nz/4659112a1823.html] [http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=6&click_id=4&art_id=vn20080817101924476C416816] [http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid=9808.html] [http://www.thetimes.co.za/Sport/Article.aspx?id=825380] [http://www.sarugby.com/news/News/article/sid=9844.html] [http://sport.iafrica.com/news/1103960.htm] [http://sport.iafrica.com/features/1102660.htm] Two South African rugby journalists summed up his TriNations contribution by saying: "Like a dirty smell, he has tended to hang around in this year's tournament." [http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Tri_Nations/0,,2-9-2185_2387790,00.html]

Watson had a very average Currie Cup in 2008, and by the end of the season he was no longer the media favourite he had once been. An article published on the Supersport website by Gavin Rich, a former Watson cheerleader, said: "Surely Grobbelaar has done enough to finally end any argument in favour of continuing with Luke Watson as one of the loose-forward back-up players." [http://www.supersport.co.za/rugby/article.aspx?id=273201&headline=Opportunity%20knocks%20for%20Cobus%20and%20Heinke]

Playing History

2007: first Springbok cap

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 [ [http://www.sarfu.org.za/profiles.asp?id=21697&Search=watson SA Rugby - www.sarugby.co.za - The official home of rugby in South Africa ] ] [ [http://www.sarfu.org.za/includes/profiles.asp?Job=Squads&id=21697 Squads ] ]

ee also

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

References

External links

* [http://www.thestormers.com/profiles.asp?id=80 Stormers profile]
*Springboks|id=21697|name=Luke Watson