Watson Stays !!

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Omac

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Hougaard added as Watson stays

Posted on 20 May 2007 - 22:30

With under a week to go until the opening test of the World Cup season, Springbok coach Jake White had to continue with the mentally draining game of political football on Sunday before announcing his reduced squad for the test against England.

Luke Watson was included in the group of 38, which was initially 37 before Derick Hougaard, the Bulls flyhalf, was added later in the day as a cover for the injured André Pretorius. Hougaard did not have a good Vodacom Super 14 final, where he was overshadowed by Butch James, but he has played improved rugby this year thanks to the influence of the Bulls' attack coach Todd Louden.

Watson was included at the expense of Kabamba Floors. A test debutant against England at Twickenham last November, Floors appears to have quite bizarrely and ironically become expendable because of the influence being brought behind the scenes by politicians who have convinced the South African Rugby Union (Saru) leadership that Watson is somehow a victim of his father's anti-apartheid activism of the 1970s and 1980s.

This legend has been pedalled repeatedly in the media in recent times, but none of those making the allegations have yet provided any evidence that White, who was a young schoolboy at Jeppe when Watson senior was making his political stand, had any political motive in excluding Watson junior from his squad.

White, whose track record when it comes to transformation cannot be challenged, has argued that Watson does not fit his mould as a loose-forward. The national coach simply doesn't believe in the small stature old-fashioned fetcher flank, and Watson is far from the only player to have suffered because of this view.

Rugby people in Durban are convinced that if anyone was unlucky to be left out, it was the Sharks' Jacques Botes, another small player but one who showed up well in the Super 14 final against the Bulls and who was also excellent against the new Super 14 champions in the opening match of the season.

Watson, when he has played for the Stormers against the full-strength Bulls, has tended to disappear, as indeed he has in matches against the Sharks.

There is a feeling that he has lost effectiveness because of a tendency to take on too much responsibility with the Stormers and WP, and he tends to operate as much as a link and carrier as he does as an out-and-out fetcher charged with the task of playing all over the ball.

Although he was in great form last year, Watson has always at best been a borderline case for Springbok selection this year.

White initially drew up a squad without Watson on Saturday, but this was rejected by the Saru presidency, who apparently tried to press White into excluding Bob Skinstad. White argued the point, and eventually it was Floors, who is the only other player in the squad who fits the same mould as Watson, who was excluded.

Ironically, after Floors's excellent Currie Cup season last year, it was the Cheetahs player that was fussed over when he was excluded from the squad for the end of year tour to Ireland and England. He only made it into the group for the last test at Twickenham after considerable pressure was exerted.

Watson played well last year and probably deserved to play for the Boks then, particularly when Schalk Burger was injured. Instead, White went with Solly Tyibilika, another great irony of this whole situation. Tyibilika, who has subsequently gone off the radar screen, is patently not in Watson's league.

However, Watson has not been as good this season, and his contemporaries are amazed that he is being given such special treatment. It is understood that White has been told that he must play Watson in one of the next five test matches, which means he will be capped for the Boks.

Odwa Ndungane, who was also forced on White, has been included at the expense of experienced test veteran Breyton Paulse.

Seven players were dropped from the squad on Sunday, including Floors and Paulse, while Jaque Fourie and Pretorius are among those who have gone home because they are unavailable for the first test. The absence of Fourie should give White the chance to blood the exciting young Sharks centre Waylon Murray in the No 13 jersey on Saturday.

The squad would have been bolstered on Sunday night by the arrival of senior Springboks involved in Saturday's Super 14 final.

Squad:

Backs - Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Ricky Januarie, Wayne Julies, Percy Montgomery, Waylon Murray, Odwa Ndungane, Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Ashwin Willemse.

Forwards - Johan Ackermann, BJ Botha, Bakkies Botha, Gary Botha, Schalk Burger, Deon Carstens, Bismarck du Plessis, Os du Randt, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, Danie Rossouw, Bob Skinstad, John Smit, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthro Steenkamp, Albert van den Berg, CJ van der Linde, Wikus van Heerden, Joe van Niekerk, AJ Venter, Luke Watson
Click to expand...

http://www.superrugby.co.za/default.asp?id=215879&des=article&scat=superrugby/springboks

I have no words for the sorry arsed situation. :mad:

I can't help feeling we've just lost the World Cup.
 
They were wings Tonderai Chavhanga, Breyton Paulse and Jaco Pretorius, fullback Bevin Fortuin, prop Eddie Andrews, lock Gerrie Britz and flanker Kabamba Floors.
Click to expand...
Not one of the above players was in better form than Watson, so I'm not too aggrieved about him making the cut... although Botes is probably the better player, lets stick with what we have now and support the team!
 
transcript of John Robbie vs Hoskins

http://www.news24.com/News24/Sport/Rugby/0,,2-9-838_2113687,00.html

John Robbie: Is it true that Jake did not pick Watson, and you guys did?

Oregon Hoskins: Yes.

John Robbie: Doesn't that make a mockery of the whole idea of having a selection panel?

Oregon Hoskins: I have just spoken to your sister station in Cape Town, Cape Talk, and they totally disagree with you.

John Robbie: Well I don't care about that Regan, doesn't it make a mockery of having a selection panel?

Oregon Hoskins: John that's, of course you are entitled to your opinion, I don't agree with you.

John Robbie: So why do you have a selection panel if they don't select the team?
 
Wonder how Kabamba feels today, some previously disadvantaged whiteboy from Grey College with political connections comes in and takes his spot.
Must suck.
 
Omac said:
....

I can't help feeling we've just lost the World Cup.
Click to expand...

It is of course still early days and much can change between now and the World Cup but I must admit that I've entertained the same thought in a moment of weakness ;)
 
if it was my team.....

Backs - Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Heinie Adams (drop Ricky Januarie), Brad Barret (drop Wayne Julies), Percy Montgomery, Waylon Murray, Odwa Ndungane, Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Ashwin Willemse.

Forwards - Johan Ackermann, BJ Botha, Bakkies Botha, Gary Botha, Schalk Burger, Deon Carstens, Bismarck du Plessis, Os du Randt, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, Danie Rossouw, Bob Skinstad, John Smit, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthro Steenkamp, Albert van den Berg, CJ van der Linde, Wikus van Heerden, Ryan Kankowski (Drop Joe van Niekerk) , AJ Venter, Jaques Boetes (drop Luke Watson)
 
Our forwards are superb and your selection there is strong.
Juan Smith Piere Spies and Schalk should cause havoc for opposing teams in defence and in securing the ball.
Watson should not be there in the first place however I would also like to see Kankowski instead of Joe. Not exactly sure what Joe's contribution has been this season but nothing memorable I am sure. He fits the mold of one of those old loyal Jake White players though. So many good loosies around oozing world class quality.

My team would not have either of the Ndungane brothers in it.
Julies out, but would opt for JP Nel as a new cap rather than Barret.Oodles of experience and he is an enforcer in the mid field and pairs well with Bulls center and team mate Olivier.
Murray in for sure, a stronger runner in the back is hard to find and he seems very quick for a big bloke.

Adams in for January any day of the week. He is dynamic and less likely to try and gouge an opponents eye out in front of the ref.
Adams was also the man who went looking for Habana in the dying moments of the Super14 final. He found him with a fantastic pass that split the defence in 2 opening up the hole. Excellent stuff!!!!

Sidenote, Francious Stey is being elevated up as the next best thing for SA Rugby.
He has magnificent talent for his age, but has one glaring weakness that was exposed in the Super14 and that is his lack of pace.
Not a major requirement for a number 10 though.

Cant wait for us to beat sevens colours of **** out of England in the very near future. Life is great!
:D
 
James said:
if it was my team.....

Backs - Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Heinie Adams (drop Ricky Januarie), Brad Barret (drop Wayne Julies), Percy Montgomery, Waylon Murray, Odwa Ndungane, Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Frans Steyn, Ashwin Willemse.

Forwards - Johan Ackermann, BJ Botha, Bakkies Botha, Gary Botha, Schalk Burger, Deon Carstens, Bismarck du Plessis, Os du Randt, Victor Matfield, Johann Muller, Danie Rossouw, Bob Skinstad, John Smit, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies, Gurthro Steenkamp, Albert van den Berg, CJ van der Linde, Wikus van Heerden, Ryan Kankowski (Drop Joe van Niekerk) , AJ Venter, Jaques Boetes (drop Luke Watson)
Click to expand...

I heartily agree
 
I would be too ashamed to join a squad and train with them knowing I'm not wanted there and that it is only by having "contacts" that I'm in the team.

But I presume some people can't think that far.
 
So do people feel Kabamba deserved to be in? I've watched no S14.
 
Sneeky said:
Our forwards are superb and your selection there is strong.
Juan Smith Piere Spies and Schalk should cause havoc for opposing teams in defence and in securing the ball.
Watson should not be there in the first place however I would also like to see Kankowski instead of Joe. Not exactly sure what Joe's contribution has been this season but nothing memorable I am sure. He fits the mold of one of those old loyal Jake White players though. So many good loosies around oozing world class quality.

My team would not have either of the Ndungane brothers in it.
Julies out, but would opt for JP Nel as a new cap rather than Barret.Oodles of experience and he is an enforcer in the mid field and pairs well with Bulls center and team mate Olivier.
Murray in for sure, a stronger runner in the back is hard to find and he seems very quick for a big bloke.

Adams in for January any day of the week. He is dynamic and less likely to try and gouge an opponents eye out in front of the ref.
Adams was also the man who went looking for Habana in the dying moments of the Super14 final. He found him with a fantastic pass that split the defence in 2 opening up the hole. Excellent stuff!!!!

Sidenote, Francious Stey is being elevated up as the next best thing for SA Rugby.
He has magnificent talent for his age, but has one glaring weakness that was exposed in the Super14 and that is his lack of pace.
Not a major requirement for a number 10 though.

Cant wait for us to beat sevens colours of **** out of England in the very near future. Life is great!
:D
Click to expand...

JP Nel has a big discipline problem, swinging arms and off the ball incidents galore, much rather have Barrit who focuses on the game and job at hand, i know Nel has alot of experience but his discipline is pretty shocking, im suprised alot more has not been picked up in regard to this.
 
justinct said:
JP Nel has a big discipline problem, swinging arms and off the ball incidents galore, much rather have Barrit who focuses on the game and job at hand, i know Nel has alot of experience but his discipline is pretty shocking, im suprised alot more has not been picked up in regard to this.
Click to expand...
Fair point but he is not nearly as bad as old Butchy :D Barrit has had a great season so far.
milomak said:
So do people feel Kabamba deserved to be in? I've watched no S14.
Click to expand...
Kabamba was also forced into the Springbok squad last year this time I think.
It was on the back of a great season by him and political pressure.

Both Kabamba and Watson are much shorter than the other loose forwards which Jake White has said does not fit his plans for the lineout. Hoskins & Co dont seem to care about that though :rolleyes:
Spies, Smith and Burger are first choice.
I would take Floors over Watson though, if I had to pick between the 2.
 
It has been reported that Watson will play in the last test.
Anyway, what is done cannot be undone.
The man will get a cap to hang in his pub, deserved or not, so be it.
 
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