Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, like his predecessor Jake White, simply does not rate Luke Watson enough to select him for the national squad.
Rugby 365 reports that this is the reason why the controversial Stormers loose forward failed to make the South African ‘training squad’ that will face a Namibian selection in Windhoek next Friday, May 29.
De Villiers, in explaining why there’s no room for Watson in his squad, said he does not share the same views as Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus – who this week rated Watson as “one of the best loose forwards in the world”.
The absence of Watson, Sharks scrumhalf Rory Kockott and Sharks fullback Stefan Terblanche – along with the inclusion of Lions utility back Earl Rose and Western Province centre Morgan Newman – caused a big stir when De Villiers released the squad to plat Namibia.
While it is only a ‘training squad’ and by no means an indication of what the Bok team will look like when De Villiers names his chosen few to ace the British and Irish Lions next month, the most significant aspect is not who were named, but rather who were left out.
In this regard the absence of Watson, who earned himself the ire of the South African public with his outspoken views on the Bok jersey and Afrikaanse speaking people, is significant.
But unlike most would expect, De Villiers left Watson out because he does not rate him enough to warrant selection.
De Villiers made no secret of the fact that he rates the Bulls No.8 Pierre Spies and Sharks eighthman Ryan Kankowski higher.
“I don’t want to play games; I want them to start believing in my plan,” De Villiers told the Afrikaans daily, Volksblad.
“Pierre and Ryan are my first and second choice in the position and Luke is under them,” said De Villiers.
De Villiers also expressed his views on the scrumhalf position, where Lions No.9 Jano Vermaak was selected ahead of Kockott.
“I have looked at both, but Jano have showed some promise from a young age,” De Villiers said.
Springbok captain, John Smit, is the only tighthead prop in the squad, which is on par with De Villiers’ stated intention of using the Bok captain as his premier No.3 for the Test series against the British and Irish Lions.
“It is a practice match and not the real thing,” he said of the game against Namibia.
“Things can still change a lot before the series [against the Lions]. But we show trust in John in another position as hooker by selecting him at prop,” said De Villiers.
The match in Windhoek doesn’t have Test status, but the selection of players give a bit away of which players is in De Villiers bigger plan.
Apart from the absence of the Bulls players – who are involved in the Super 14 play-offs – the SA XV will be missing injured stars Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar, Deon Carstens, as well as Jaque Fourie (who is getting married).
Missing, but not injured, are players like Sharks fullback Stefan Terblanche, and tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis.
The other big surprise is the inclusion of Lions utility back Earl Rose ahead of his Lions teammate Louis Ludik – ostensibly as a fullback. Rose’s selection comes despite his season of howlers that cost his team so dearly – even prompting Lions coach Eugene Eloff to shift him from fullback to wing in an attempt to minimise the damage he was doing to his own team in the recent Super 14 match between the Lions and Highlanders.
In another surprise the talented 23-year-old Morgan Newman has been included as one of six uncapped players in the squad of 23 for the Windhoek match. He has a total of only 26 minutes of Super Rugby to his credit, all off the bench, before he made it to the SA Squad – 14 minutes against the Chiefs, ten against the Western Force and two against the Cheetahs, with another bench experience where he did not run on.
Dylan des Fountain and Bok flyhalf Peter Grant who was moved to centre, were preferred to Newman.
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Watson’s non selection is a surprise as he can play as an openside flank as well as 8th man whereas the likes of Brussow and Deysel are specialists in their positions.
I think PDV does not want to upset team spirit in the camp and that is why Luke is not being considered.
Last year he selected Spies, Kanko AND Joe Van Niekerk and all of them are primarily 8th men.
Luke was then selected as an openside flank along with Burger.
maybe he is scared of being puked on, or he just doesnt want to cause a bad vibe between players and/or supporters. Imo watson was the best all round stormers player in the S14 this year, if feel for him not being included.
I don’t know how I feel about this.
on the one hand I do think he had a great season
on the other hand I feel he could have been disruptive and think it is good for the team that he isn’t there.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) :
I have been supporting Lukas for some time now but I have to agree with you KSA Shark, at this stage the needs of the team are more NB.
Some say there is no “I” in team. LookX says there is a “Me”!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) : @wpw (Comment 4) : very true words, i think i said something along those earlier. The guys are all playing badly on purpous which made him look good
@wpw (Comment 1) : But Brussow has been playing at 8th man most of the Cheetah’s comp, I think he’ll be more than able to cover there.
Crap reason – he selected him last year.
One must wonder if the Watson Senior spat might have had some influence…
@Big Fish (Comment 8) : and that was before the puking and dutchmen statement
Who cares? 😈 😆
In general the core of the team is solid and it is a warm up game.
Besides, as I have said many times before, what counts is what the coach sees in the player and thinks he can get out of them.
@Big Fish (Comment 8) :
What about the senior Boks and their relationship with Jake White??
I am sure the likes of Burger, Matfield, FDP, Smit and Smith did not take kindly to Luke having a go at Jake.
@Ollie (Comment 10) : but some coaches watches the games and players with both eyes closed
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) : @wpw (Comment 4) :
I wrote something on RW yesterday RE this subject and Luke’s supposed disruptive influence…
@Morné (Comment 13) :
Looking for ‘hits’ are we Morne???
@wpw (Comment 1) : he can also be selected as wing and flyhalf
morning …
@wpw (Comment 14) : Wes ❗
@KSA Shark © (Comment 3) : but did he really have better season than kanko, spies or brussouw? or just better than other stormers guys 😆
@wpw (Comment 14) :
Nah I thought it was time to get under some skin with my ‘liberal’ views.
@Morné (Comment 13) : what’s RW ❓
@Morné (Comment 13) : Was a cool article boet.
@Big Fish (Comment 8) : +1
@Claytie (Comment 16) :
What??? 😕
@Claytie (Comment 20) :
Ja and today I did one punting Wynand Olivier which should totally confuse everyone!!!
@Morné (Comment 23) : 😆 😆
‘the squad to plat Namibia’
Is this a rugby site or a hairdressers convention?
@Morné (Comment 23) :
‘Meisie Meisie’ LMAO
You got that from Kurt Darren… hahaha
@Rahul (Comment 25) :
I don’t know, what is a plat Rahul… 😈
@wpw (Comment 26) :
I saw him live in Namibia (if only for one song), it was the highlight of the year in Namibia…
@Morné (Comment 28) : He often performs concerts at your old high school
@Morné (Comment 27) : You’re the one listening to Kurt Darren… 😉
@Rahul (Comment 30) :
He was performing at a beerfest…
@Claytie (Comment 29) :
My oh my… My old school has really hit rock bottom…
I see we have a few Kurt Darren fans on the site.
Claytie?? 😯
@Morné (Comment 31) : Mine too 😕 Their first rugby team lost 76-7 to a team we regularly used to beat when I was still there 😥
@wpw (Comment 32) : Dude I work 25 seconds drive away from the school.
Solid reason then…
Luke was the dim light at the end of the Stormers tunnel…but I would also select Spies and Kanko ahead of him. Case closed for me. Same goes for the Kockott thing.
@rekinek (Comment 17) :
Hard call to make, that. 😳
@rekinek (Comment 17) : Not better than Spies, he was awesome this year!!
Look, let’s be honest no matter how well Watson is playing you can’t make comments like he has about his paymasters and expect to get selected.
He simply is more trouble than he’s worth.
Do you really think he’s going to walk into the team and keep his opinions to himself?
If he is selected it’ll be one game max before he starts mouthing off about his team mates again.
And does anybody really think he’s better than Spies or Kanko? Come on.
As for the Kockott Rocket – I really rate him but he is his own worst enemy. Bok rugby has finally cleaned up it’s act and become a disciplined side – you cant have somebody there that thinks it’s okay to hit somebody on the field.
So long as Puke is down the pecking order I am A OK. 😎
And he is in a position where we have incredible depth. No need to pick a disruptive player…especially as the senior guys like Matfield, JS, Bakkies etc in all likelihood would not have wanted him in the squad!
PdV: 1st Spies, 2nd Kankow, Luke is under them
Spies isn’t playing… so first Kanko then L 😯 😯 k? But he’s still not selected