MAILBOX: Watsons and emblems
Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:00
In our latest instalment of reader feedback, the greater South African public takes a more 'diplomatic' stance on the Luke Watson saga. If you have an opinion, you have the Write of Reply!
I have a dream...
2010 and the Soccer World Cup is on the go. Also the rugby scene in sunny RSA has completely changed!
By now Mad Bob the 2nd, Butana, and Luke, son of Cheeky, have transformed Rugby SA. The Swastika,
read "Springbok Emblem" has been thankfully replaced. A unifying emblem has been found. Selected is the "Plastic Bag", an alternative national flower suitably mounted on an assegai. The national jersey is now bright yellow with Taxi tyre treads running down each arm. The motivation for the taxi treads? "Fearlessly demolish anyone who gets in the way" and is our answer to the "Haka." Opposite the National Flower emblem, on the right chest, is a badge
depicting strips of biltong. This represents the demise of the Springbok and what has become of it!
We have played Swaziland and Botswana and shown them who's who in the zoo. This is now the new benchmark, and the rest of Africa trembles at the thought of playing us in the All Africa Cup. We have arranged some off-shore matches against Madagascar and Mauritius, and despite their apprehension of having to face up to the "Plastic Bags", or Banana Banana as they are fondly regarded, the games are on! Somebody please wake me up!
- Rex
How laughable it is that this poor little boy claims to have fought the struggle throughout his life and career. Let Luke be reminded that he went to one of the finest schools in South Africa. Grey PE is respected by all who have attended and played against them in all forms of sport. Having played against Luke in schoolboy rugby he was always a very arrogant person who believed in himself only and nobody else. Whilst he bemoans his struggle and tough times, I somehow doubt as a 1st Team rugby player at an Institute of Rugby such as Grey PE he was frowned upon and experienced any tough times. The part mentioned in the article where Luke wanted to pack his bag and go - blatantly displayed the attitude that he was not willing to disprove anyone (the public doubters and his team mates, that he did warrant a place in the team) and that once his father's powers were nullified and he could not do anything for him, Luke felt compelled to leave.
When you get other people to earn things for you (by this I refer to his unwarranted Springbok selection) you cannot expect to gain respect and acknowledgement from your peers.
This is something that echoes true in every aspect of life.
Luke Watson you have brought shame on yourself, your family, your supporters and everyone who wished you would make it into the Bok mix.
Hopefully the Newlands faithful will shun you and support players like Schalk Burger who would rather land up in a wheelchair than give up his Bok jersey.
It just goes to show that Rassie Erasmus knew exactly what he was doing when he removed Watson as captain.
- Jared
Any organization is governed by loyalties and rules. Belonging means that you submit to those rules of conduct. Watson clearly does not qualify for membership to promote the ideal of being, aspiring or supporting the Springbok emblem - being the best your country has to offer. Every country in the world has an emblem that every member of that community reveres, and in South Africa that emblem has been the springbok since its inception. By expressing that "he felt so nauseated by wearing the Springbok jersey that he wanted to vomit on it", Watson unequivocally says that he does not belong. He should be totally expelled from all affiliated rugby structures, preferably from playing rugby in South Africa.
Rapport has a transcription of his
speech. Seeing the backlash he now seems to back-pedal, making his retorts even more despicable. Can't he at least be honest and honourable, taking his hiding like a man.
- Hennie
I am again shocked at comments made by most visitors to your site who criticizing Luke Watson. Those that irritate me the most are the daft individuals who say he was not good enough when he was selected. A bit of history. Luke forced selection had been preceded by a stunning performance in 2006 which led to his selection as 2006 Super 14 player of the year. The same public questioned his non selection by Jake White into the squad. A little later, information came out about Jake white's dislike for Luke Watson as Khuleka commented. This was one of the reasons for him not being selected, not because he did not deserve to be selected. He was not even selected for the training squads although he was 1 of the best Loose forwards in the country during that time.
I love rugby, I play club because I enjoy it, I went to a multiracial school. My club teammates are mostly Afrikaans speaking Caucasians. I know how they react if a person of color is perceived to speak out of turn. The divisions are even there between the English speaking and the Afrikaans speaking. Now in walks Luke Watson, English speaking and representing individuals pushing for transformation due to his stance on the matter and his family history. I am definite his team mates would have treated him as an outsider, after all even his coach did not want him there.
Please put yourself in his shoes and being thrust into this situation. Most of you would have probably walked out and then later criticized by the same public and media.
- Michael Amui
I don't understand what struggle Luke Watson is referring to. The last time I checked he is a white person who went to one of the most privileged rugby schools in the country and captained most of the teams he played in. Also what does he have to do with transformation, he is white. If anything he is holding back transformation while his political connections are getting him a spot ahead of guys like Kabamba Floors who is a better player and more honorable person. (He turned down Jake White when he thought he was a quota player) And his referral to people laying down their lives to get him there is surely an insult to all those black activist who died for the democracy we now have, after all his father is still alive so how could he have laid down his life. Finally, if the government and all the anti- Springbok politicians had bothered to put money into developing grass root rugby in the non-white area's then we would have twice as many no white players competing for Bok Jerseys, instead that sit back and criticize white people for being proud of their rugby team.
Proudly South African - Proud Bok Supporter.
- Scott
I have been one of the few people in my part of the world to believe in Luke Watson. I have always felt and believed that he had the talent and ability to be a Springbok. On occasion I have even stood up to my friends who felt he was not good enough to be a Bok. Not that he asked me to or ever would seeing that I am what he apparently calls a "Dutchmen"!
I still play rugby at club level and have loved the game ever since I first picked up a Super Springbok leather rugby ball . To me it has always been an honour just to be part of the team, the game and the whole rugby culture. Not to even mentioning being a very proud South African, Springbok supporter and someone who would just like our country as a whole to move forward!
If the things that Luke has apparently said turn out to be true...Well then I believe he owes the whole country not only us so called "Dutchmen" an apology! As for hanging up his boots because of this...
Everything his father, his family and he himself has done and achieved will come to nothing if it is true what he said in his speech. I for one would still like to believe in Luke the rugby player! Not Luke the politician!
He is very more than good enough to be a Bok! Leave the sideshows Luke, say what needs to be said as you always have on the field!
- Werner
And on the Springbok emblem...
Keep the Springbok emblem!
Who can forget images of Nelson Mandela, the greatest statesman in modern history, wearing Jappie Mulder's Springbok cap, and Francois Pienaar's number 6 jersey? Who can forget the jubilation in the streets of South Africa, with people from all creeds, races and walks of life UNITED in celebrations as one nation, brothers and sisters of South Africa, just one year after the introduction of democracy in this country?
If I can remember that great feeling and as a 10 year old child at the time, who never used to be a rugby fan can identify that moment as the turning point to becoming the fan I am today. If Nelson Mandella, whom we all respect and look up to can embrace the Springbok emblem after wrongfully spending the prime of his life behind bars, then how can the "powers that be" so quickly forget how important that moment was in UNITING our country as one!
Especially when we were reminded of that great feeling shorter than a year ago, when again, our country was UNITED together in celebration, as we repeated that amazing feat for the 2nd time in 13 years.
Yes our country has a sketchy past to say the least, but why try and erase that? Let's embrace it and turn it into something positive as a reminder to never go down that road again! If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem!
Let us as a country UNITED hold on to the Springbok emblem, the only icon in this country that currently affords us that feeling! We should embrace the Springbok emblem, players and team with pride!
Keep the Sprinbok emblem!!!! Bokke
forever!!!!!
- David Dooley
