I am not too sure if Luke Watson expected the treatment he got at Newlands on Sunday when the Stormers played Saracens in their Super 14 warm-up match. Every time Watson got a hold of the ball during the game, he was booed by the fans, even when he scored a try, boo’s rang around Newlands. You would think the opposition fans would be the ones booing but really, there were not that many Saracens fans to begin with and why would they boo Watson. So instead it were Stormers fans booing Watson who are against his, “I felt like puking on the Bok jersey” statement last year.
Watson’s statement has caused a lot of controversy and it did not go down well with a lot of Springbok players and subsequently Springbok fans. And Newlands would have been filled with Springbok fans on Sunday and thus the booing. It looks like Watson is going to be booed during every game he plays in South Africa in the Super 14 this season including games he is playing infront of his own home fans. Is this right?
I can see where the people booing him are coming from, they clearly hate Watson but should you put your personal hatred for one player ahead of the team? How can fans of a team boo one of their own players? Luke is part of the Stormers and according to their coach, Rassie, Luke is going to play a critical role for the Stormers this season and Rassie is not likely to drop Watson just because of this booing.
I personally do not think Luke Watson is an outstanding player, there are several players who are better than him in the loose forward position throughout South Africa but for the Stormers and Western Province, Watson is one of the best they have and thus he will play for the Stormers this season.
What is your take on all of this?
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7 comments
kambas says:
Jan 27, 2009
i believe the fans have the right to vocalise their disdain for any player. Please remember he is a public figure in the public domain and as such if people feel like they should boo him then it is their right.
As for him, lets face it, the man knew what was coming to him when the season got underway, you cannot diss your national team and hope that people don’t state their opinion of you.
Manny says:
Jan 27, 2009
I agree with Kambas….he knew what was gonna happen after he made his comments, so he must be able to bear the brunt of the fans’ reactions. They’re not booing the team, they’re booing him, and his teammates know this. If he can’t handle the heat then he can always just quit rugby and get out of the public eye.
Whats interesting to me is that the boos clearly show the mindset of the average south african rugby fan, which seems to be to turn a blind eye to the issues of racism that Watson was talking about.
BP says:
Jan 27, 2009
While i understand the point that watson was trying to make during his speech, i think he could have been a bit more tactful and less insulting, to say he felt like puking on the jersey is completely out of hand and disrespectful to the team and the nation who support the boks, especially after having won two world cups. i think he could have worded his arguement better and not have insulted the people that gave him the opportunity to represent his country.
Tonderai Chavanga stands by watson, and rightly so for his willingness to stand up for what should be the way forward for south african rugby, but i think there is a time,place and a way of saying it that wouldve got the point across even better, because now people will remember the speech for the wrong reasons….and not what, i believe, it was intended for
Ron says:
Jan 27, 2009
After reading the above comments I thought about they way Beckham was being booed after his red card in the 1998 world cup and how quickly the supporters forgot about it when Man Utd started winning. The same may just happen to Watson, if he blocks out all these boo’s and knuckles down and starts to play some decent rugby and the Stormers are winning, the boo’s will become fewer and fewer from the Stormers fans. It will be very hard for them to forget what Watson said but maybe over time they will forget about it. They will certainly not agree with him but knowing SA rugby as it is, they will always be something new that has happened and someone else will hog the spotlight.
Guru says:
Jan 27, 2009
Funny thing is, the Luke Watson I have known through media reports would not be half as traumatised as we may think. From the post game reports I’ve read, he actually had a decent game and held his own. Being in the public eye comes with its perks and vices. One second everyone wants your autograph and the next, they are all booing you. That’s part and parcel of the package of being in the public eye and I’m sure Luke knows that.
However, I would like to disagree with a few of the comments so far. While I do not think that Luke is good enough to even be in the bok squad come Lions series, I think some of the comments show a bit of underestimation of Luke’s talent, at least at S14 level. He certainly is good enough to make the Stormers team and will be a vital part of their S14 campaign. Make no mistake, Luke is a good flanker and would add value to any S14 Franchise. He is one of the better readers of the game, has better ball handling skills than 80% of SA flankers and his commitment to the team cannot be questioned.
While I cannot defend his statements surrounding the Bok jersey, I would oppose any notion suggesting that he is not good enough at S14 level. He will definitely be a major factor and one of the key players for the Stormers, barring injury ofcourse.
Odie says:
Jan 27, 2009
Firstly, Watson’s statements were taken out of context, but that debate is tired. People wanted to dislike him before the speech anyway. We cannot pretend that the majority of a certain group of SA rugby supporters did not hate Luke before the speech.
Secondly, you all appear to say, that he deserved what he got, and fans ought to be able to voice their anger. Fair enough, but what kind of “fans” do we have in this country when players like:
Gert van Schalkwyk of the Waterkloof 4 can murder someone and get no booos from tbe crowds when he runs onto the park, much less scored a try.
Henry Tromp was sellected to play for the boks and murdered a farm worker, also gets no booos.
Toks van der Linde reportedly was ordered home from a tour for calling a black SA woman a “kaffir girl”. He gets no boos, but a tv programme with Kobus Wiese.
Markgraaff makes racial slurrs, and Strauli goes kamp staaldraad mad, and no slurs or sanction. In fact. Strauli often appears on Superrugby talk discussions.
So ask yourself. The crime that is more offensive to rugby and the rugby public, not forgetting that Luke’s statements were taken out of context, is that he said that after the way he was treated he felt like vomiting on the jersey, or van Schalkwyk and Tromp commiting murder. It appears that the rugby public is happier with racial murderers on the park, then someone having an opinion.
Manny says:
Jan 27, 2009
Your spot on Odie. And thats the mindset of the average rugby fan that I am talking about. As much as people are angry about the comments regarding the Bok jersey, I think there’s also a section of the rugby public that are angry that a white person has, shall I say “sold out”, by admitting to racism within rugby in SA.
How does one justify not booing one of the Waterkloof 4 and yet booing Watson? I don’t think you can except by admitting that the sentiments towards Watson goes beyond the issue of insulting the Bok jersey and to something else completely.