Pick Luke and we won't play - senior Boks

Published Oct 20, 2008

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By Jacques van der Westhuyzen

Luke Watson's controversial statements about the Springbok jersey are claimed to have so infuriated senior members of the Bok squad that some have threatened to withdraw from next month's tour to the United Kingdom if he is selected.

Press reports om Sunday said a number of senior players had asked captain John Smit to pass on their ultimatum to coach Peter de Villiers and that a message expressing the players' feelings was sent to Andy Marinos, acting managing director of the SA Rugby Union (Saru).

But Saru's strategic communications manager Andy Colquhoun said on Sunday no letter had been handed yet to De Villiers or Marinos.

The national convener of selectors, Peter Jooste, and De Villiers were not available for comment.

It is known, however, that De Villiers and his fellow coaches, Gary Gold and Dick Muir, have been angered by Watson's comments.

It is also known that they and the other selectors and a number of senior players have had discussions about Watson and how best to deal with the matter.

The squad to face Wales, Scotland and England is to be named on Saturday evening.

Watson has been a regular in the Bok team under De Villiers this season.

He may yet have to face a disciplinary hearing should investigations find that his comments, recorded without his knowledge at a rugby festival in Cape Town at the beginning of the month, were in breach of Saru's code of conduct.

It is expected that Durban attorney Dekker Govender, appointed to investigate, will hand over his findings early this week.

If a hearing finds Watson overstepped the mark, he may be fined or suspended.

Whatever the outcome of Govender's investigation and any subsequent hearing, Watson seems destined to stay at home next month.

If it is true senior players have threatened to withdraw, no coach would be willing to put his reputation and record on the line with a sub-standard team for the sake of a single player.

De Villiers, like many coaches before him, has said often that the Springbok team is stronger and more important than any individual.

Watson has been showing no kind of form to suggest he should be selected.

The flank has had a disappointing year for Western Province and with the talent available at loose forward, is not an automatic choice.

If the political side shows are put aside, Watson's form alone should not get him into the squad. Dealing with the threat of a rebellion therefore promises to be easy for Saru and the Springbok coach.

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