The Unique Puke Watson and the Southern Kings

We are not going to say that we can immediately do that in the first season but our long-term goal is to be a team, a union and a hub where young black talent has the opportunity to further their career and make the most of their potential.

It might just be me, but I thought that South Africa's provincial teams were already doing this, but without taking into consideration a players race?

Political correctness has no place in sport and needs no place . The article is here by the way: http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2013/rugby/story/177396.html

Southern Kings recorded an opening win on their debut into the competition, beating the Western Force 22-10 (I missed the game). I didn't recognise any players names on the Kings team though. And from looking at the available image the players are white men... Was there any point in disbanding the Lions in favour of this team?

Yeah, long section about his charity work in that article I see. What a barsteward!

"We have established three soup kitchens in local townships and have also built three crèches - slowly but surely we are taking step by step to contributing towards a good cause. We make hospital visits and hand out second-hand clothes to young kids, new born babies and their mothers, for example. We don't stick to one thing and whatever comes across our path we try and make the most of it."

Not exactly the kind of rugby player you'd see as a positive role model- especially when he comes out with this kind of thing.

"For me life is very, very short and my legacy does not lie in my accomplishments and instead in the lives I have touched and blessed along the way.

"And it is important for me that my kids grow up learning that. We can achieve many great things in life but if you haven't had the simple achievement of helping or touching someone else's life then the trophies in the cabinet aren't worth much."

Obviously an awful guy.

Re. the Southern Kings, personally think you or I are in no real position to judge whether this is the right thing to do or not. All I will say is that in a divided society anything that encourages mixing between different ethnic groups is positive, and sport is a massively powerful tool to do just that. His father did a lot in that regard. And a more welcoming approach to black talent will make South African rugby even more formidable in the long term.

Whereas its perfectly OK for "your lot" to bang on about nurturing local Welsh talent?

Yeah, he has a history of being an awful guy. Talk about stabbing your team-mates in the back. I think you've missed the point. This isn't about the merits of one guy although I will admit I'm not a fan of his.

You'll find a fair few teams take part in charity work Notch. Good on the Kings for doing so though but like I said it's not uncommon. I think Biltong mentioned that Watson is now commanding a hefty wage back in SA; and that is due to once again, the politics.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Whereas its perfectly OK for "your lot" to bang on about nurturing local Welsh talent?

The man is unfortunately just a puppet for his father, Cheeky Watson.

I honestly believe that if Cheeky hadn't spat bile at Luke over the springboks then he could have become an all-time great bok. He just never had the desire to play for the boks. His heart was never in it.
They see themselves as victims and the moral authority in rugby which just makes me want to puke. What did they ever do for up and coming young black or coloured players? Nothing.

Look at John Smit.... when a young bok he was introduced to a promising young hooker in his teens. What did he do, he got him a place at his alma mata Pretoria boys high and paid his school fees and board. That kid is Chilliboy Ralepelle.
How about Jake White. As a youth rugby coach he personally mentored and fought for a young township kid called Ashwin Willemse who could not seem to get a pro contract. Eventually he helped to secure him a contract after cashing in some favours and years later Willemse repaid with a RWC winners medal. Willemse has said he owes it all to Jake.

These guys don't scream and shout about it but I'm sure their are many other players like them out there. How many players can say the same about the Watson's???

In terms of harnessing young black talent its all a smoke screen for power. Jo'burg is easily a bigger market for young black potential rugby players. The Watson's just want to dismantle the rugby establishment for their own purposes.

Saying they stand up for the Africans is simply bull. Watson was one of the major champions of getting PDV elected as head coach in 2008... as soon as he was elected however and stood up against them wanting to destroy the boks his family was assulted, his kids threatened and someone tried to frame him in a bogus sex scandal.
Who did all this??? No one fully knows although PDV claimed in his book it was all down to Cheeky in his mind and I can't recall any lawsuit being actioned on Cheeky's behalf.

These days whatever Cheeky and subsequently Luke touches tends to leave a filthy mark.

Anyhow, what they did is typical of South Africa in the 21st century. They never earnt their place at the head table.... they stole it, and in all probability they will lose it to the Lions come the end of the season.

Really pleased that they won on the weekend though. Catrakilis at pivot was impressive but we all knew that already. The new superstar kid Petersen looks very promising for a little guy and Sykes looks impressive... the added responsibility as pack leader seems to have made him come out of his shell though.

Reality check mind - they were outplayed for much of the game by in all probability the worst team in SR outside of themselves. They did very well to romp home mind but when I look at their schedule I can't see where else the wins will come from.

And from looking at the available image the players are white men...

You maybe should of watched the game..... before making that comment.
Note the try scorer a young mr Sergeal Petersen

Impossible Standards

1 guy hardly makes a case.

Please note... the lions franchise was taken away from them (regardless of it being contractually sound.... SARU just tore it up) for the purpose of proportional representation... i.e. having more ACI (African, Coloured, Indian) players in SR.

How many non white players were their on the field on the weekend? 3 by my count... Petersen, Maku and Sampson.

How many did the other Franchises field?

Stormers 4
Bulls 4
Sharks 3
Cheetahs 2

So the only franchise where they played more ACI players were the Cheetahs. Hardly the standard bearer for ACI rugby.

Colour has nothing to do with their creation and SR licence.... Power and Cronyism is the real reason.... a sad thing for sport and rugby.

fa00019 - To be fair I know little of the SA franchises and the politics surrounding them but I think the statement needed to be amended to match his argument. But I can see where you are coming from.

The thing which disappoints people here is that the team was filled with ACI players prior to them getting a SR licence.

But when they got it they literally turfed out all these players, some guys who have played their whole career in the side and bought in a whole new team with a few exceptions.

In the end you might as well have transported the lions players to the Kings and changed their shirts. It changed nothing... South Africa doesn't need another ACI winger or front row forward. They need them in other positions like openside and Pivot... like the Stormers have with Kolisi and Jantjies (Openside and Flyhalf).... now thats a side with transformation on its mind.

Well done for understanding why I brought this subject to V2's attention, fa. The Lions were based in Jo'burg if I remember rightly? And where do the majority of the King's players come from? I don't recognise their names as I was saying. As I was also saying I don't see why they dropped the Lions franchise, it's clear to me it is all for political reasons that have no place in the sport.