Fans slam Sharks, Watson debacle

Tuesday September 14 2004

Readers livid over Watson handling

It seems our readers have had it with the administrators of South African rugby. The news that the Natal Sharks were dropping flanker Luke Watson from their squad, while restricting him from playing elsewhere in the country, was the final straw. Sharks CEO Brian Van Zyl, in particular, comes in for some heavy treatment as he lets the star flanker go.

BIT CHILDISH REALLY:

"Well there is vision for you...Luke Watson has the potential to be a great springbok, but Van Zyl who I thought had vision is cutting Springbok potential just for the Sharks.Why are all these old idiots still so intent on proclaiming who has the best province when its just a breeding ground for the international arena.

"They all might as well go back to the stone ages or the seventies which ever comes first !"
- Justin Paget, South Africa

"For a Province that led the way in player relations and professionalism in the 90s while the rest of South Africas provinces were still stuck in the 1970 mentality, this is really a step backward. Luke has made a decision to join a young and exciting group of players to further his career at WP, and all the sharks can do is lick their wounds and get petty instead of addressing the real issues of a province without any direction anymore. The Sharks brand has suffered in the last couple of years, to which a half full shark tank lays testament to every other week. I hope, for there sake and South African rugbys sake that they put their dented pride a side and try to strive for the professionalism the achieved in the late 90s."
- Elton Ross, South Africa

"Being a Sharks fan from when they were still the "Banana Boys" & I didn't quite know the rules of the game, I regard myself as one of the true supporters of this team. However what they have done to Luke Watson is quite disgusting. I wonder to what levels they will stoop to next. It begs the question, if you are a player with the Sharks do you have to die there? I do understand loyalty but there has got to be a line that is drawn. He (Luke) first of all was being played @ No 8 where clearly his best suited on the flank.

"Secondly, he has aspirations of becoming a Springbok but with the current group of AVERAGE PLAYERS that have been contracted, there is no ways that he could achieve that goal. And what about the coach or lack there of??? Kevin Putt is the one that should be released with immediate effect, not one of the best flankers that we have, oh sorry had, on our books. Wake up & smell the cheese Sharks management, you are to blame for him looking to go else where cause you're signings in the off season (Sam Gerber to name one) and old, over the hill players (Deon Keyser, Ricardo Loubsher, Dave von Hoeselin to name a few). These are not the caliber players that will see us to the semi finals. And as for the signings for next year, I cringe already. Good Luck with you rugby in the Western Cape Luke & may you Springbok dreams be fulfilled."
- Sharks Fan

"To let Watson go during the season sound like someone is spitting the dummy.

"Grow up SA, the pro era has been around for almost a decade and it seems rather petty not to utilise this talented player to further your own cause in the time that is left."
- Pat Riche, South Africa

"This is what is wrong with SA Rugby! It's SOOO childish! I can't see how a professional manager of a team can allow something like this to happen.

"It won't only be a big loss for the team, as Luke played a vital role in the Sharks campaign, but Luke did as well. A player needs match time at a higher level to improve his skills.

"Whoever made this decision (and backed it) is just a complete idiot!

"Come on people - WAKE UP!!!"
- Martin, South Africa

"This act is childish and vindictive. I supported the sharks because of Luke but now I have no allegiance to that team anymore."
- Jimmy Crompton, South Africa

"I honestly believe that the Sharks Rugby Group, players and management, are turning from a once glorious and successful team into a bunch of sour, ungrateful and childish babies!

"I have been a loyal WP supporter all my life and have always shown the sharks great respect, especially during their extremely productive mid nineties where players like Ollie le Roux, Mark Andrews, Dick Muir, James Small, Henry Honiball, Jeremy Thomson and Andre Joubert played with distinction. The way they played was attacking constructive and cohesive rugby. Until the nemesis of SA Rugby entered the fray, Rudolph Straueli did things start to go Pete tong!

"The same way that SA Rugby went for two years, so did The Sharks in a battle of who is the biggest and who can run over who. Archaic Rugby for an archaic age. Ever since then players have been sour, if things don't go their way. Straueli coaching the boks and a good few sharks in the bok team, any complaints, NO! Craig Davidson had no right earlier this year to say that the coach had something personally against him!!. He cant be that arrogant to honestly believe that he is much better than Du Preez, De Kock and Conradie.

"So why the hell is a player of the caliber of Luke Watson not going to be playing Rugby for the rest of the season. I think it is an absolute disgrace and shows again what a shambles Sharks Rugby is in. We may have won the Tri-nations but we are not going to win much if our administrators continue to act like this. At the same time so is the comments made by Koos Basson What a prat!!! If players cannot make comments about players, referees, administrators etc why should administrators! What kind of a precedent are you setting!

"If I was in charge of WP rugby I would do my best to get Luke Watson playing for them now forget about next year. Of all times this year where Monsieur van Rooyen has stepped in here is where he really needs to show his strength!

"It is a sad day for SA Rugby that the sharks are in this state. I hope someone will wake up!"
- Peter, London

"Why cant Province send Koos Basson to Durban? He has the right mentality to slot in with the union and coach Putt.

"They can have him for free."
- Koos Pretorius, South Africa

SEE YA LUKE:

"If Luke doesn't want to play for the Sharks in the future, why make his future prospects of playing for the bokke all rosy. He made some derogatory remarks that make the Sharks seem to have no ambitions and that's not true. It breaks our hearts when talent leaves, et al Aitkin's in the 90's.

"The Springbok/Province side is full of talent and I cannot see the youngster starting for them, so I'm sure he's hoping for a real tough Super 12 to bring on injuries!! I'll be shouting for Luke when he wears the green and gold but until then, I hope you have ingrown toe nails!!

"SA Rugby needs to consider about bringing in limits to the bigger unions, including Sharks, poaching players from other unions. Maybe allow them to poach a max. 5 players from first team squads - across all unions not just one."
- Craig Corbett, South Africa