While hell did not exactly freeze over on Wednesday, an unseasonal bitter winter rain and a little hail and thunder accompanied the announcement that Luke Watson will make his controversial debut for the Springboks against Samoa at Ellis Park on Saturday writes Kevin McCallum for IOL.
With his father’s history having been used by SA Rugby Union administrators and others as a motivating factor for his inclusion in the Springboks, a quote from Watson’s own recent history was thrown at him yesterday.
“Obviously I would love to play for the Springboks, but I don’t want to … compromise my beliefs and integrity and honour. I believe Jake has lost the integrity, honour and pride the Boks should be about,” Watson told a magazine last year. What, he was asked, had changed since then?
“First and foremost, the matter at hand is the Samoa Test, but to entertain you I’ll answer your question,” said Watson. “For myself personally, I still stand on that. At no stage will I compromise the beliefs and values that I have been brought up with and that my family has stood for. I think to a certain extent that we are enjoying those values in our democracy today.
“As everyone is fully aware, there has been a certain controversy about me being in the side. But I am very, very glad to be donning the Springbok jersey, and looking forward to running out in the number six green and gold. I haven’t spoken to my dad yet, but I’m sure he’s very proud of me because he knows the hard work I put in to get here, and some of the adversities I’ve had to conquer to get here.”
Lest we forget, and it has been surprisingly easy to do so, Watson was just one of 13 changes made to the Springbok starting XV from the team that beat England at Loftus Versfeld last week. Sharks centre Waylon Murray will make his debut in a backline that has five players of colour, while Bob Skinstad will start his first Test in five years. When, as expected, John Smit leaves the field at some time on Saturday, Skinstad will take over the captaincy.
Bryan Habana, who had surgery earlier this week to drain fluid from his knee, could be out for anything from two to five weeks, and coach Jake White hinted that he may rest the wing for the entire Tri-Nations.
Saturday represents a chance for players to impress the selectors.
The combination of Wayne Julies, who plays his 10th Test in eight years, and Derick Hougaard, pulling on the Bok jersey for the first time since the 2003 World Cup, will be vital against a Samoan backline that includes some heavy hitters from the Super 14.
“It is a young team, and what I’m expecting from them is accuracy on the field,” said White. “It’s all well and good to do it in practice, but we need them to carry out what they have done in training.”
On Saturday , all eyes will be watching Watson to see what he has learnt in training with the Boks.