Bok boycott a real threat

Watson, whom I consider a reverse coconut player - white on the outside but black on the inside - has as much chance of leaving rugby fields from here on forward (pun intended) without injury. If he plays locally, I guarantee the other players will smash the twit.

If he plays foreigners, his team mates will give him those "hospital passes" and if he is caught in a ruck, I guarantee he is going to get one of those size 15 "Dutchmen" shoes in his face. All together now...awww.

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The investigation into remarks allegedly made by Springbok loose forward Luke Watson are likely to be completed only on Wednesday.

But despite an emphatic denial by SA Rugby, senior members of the national side are considering a boycott of the Springbok tour of Britain next month if Watson is included.

Christo Ferreira, the SA Rugby Union’s manager of legal affairs, said that the investigation by Durban lawyer Dekker Govender was not likely to be completed before Wednesday.

Watson is alleged to have said in a recent speech that he had to restrain himself from vomiting on the Springbok jersey. It was also reported that he had railed again Afrikaners, referring to them as “Dutchmen.”

Andy Marinos, acting managing director of SA Rugby, on Monday denied that several Springboks might boycott the November tour if Watson were chosen for the squad.

However, a number of players have indicated that they would reconsider their participation.

The Johannesburg newspaper Beeld has learnt from a reliable source that “the players feel strongly about what Watson said”.

The boycott threat was unofficial, but had “not been made lightly”.

Hard to select Watson on merit
According to the source, only one prominent player still supported Watson. “The guys are the moer in for him; and I’m talking about black and white players.

“It’s probably a good thing that he won’t be playing in the Currie Cup final, because he might have left the field in a poor condition.”

The fact that it will be hard to select Watson on merit makes the task of the selectors a lot easier.

South Africa has an abundance of top-class loose forwards and it is highly unlikely that Watson will find himself, as in this year’s Tri-Nations series, in the national squad.

“The players were probably a little emotional, initially, but I believe the storm has passed because I don’t think Watson will be selected,” the insider said.

“I don’t think we should have sleepless nights about this matter. We may have had the cart in front of the horse.”

Marinos said he had spoken to Springbok coach Peter de Villiers and Bok captain John Smit last Friday and had also met with the players’ association.

“These were previously arranged operational meetings. At no stage were any verbal or written threats received in this regard,” Marinos said, adding that there was no truth in the rumours of a boycott.