Luke Watson
Simon S-B
decimated the club, but they seem to have got it right in Watson. Pretty
much single-handedly pulling a depressed Bath out of the mire at the moment.
I hope he can keep it up until the end of the season.
Spizz
news:hhsdh5$i8g$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
You've no idea how glad I am to read a comment like this. He's a great
player alright, but he just had to get away and start afresh, for everyone's
sake. Of course, in an ideal world, he'd be training with the Stormers,
getting ready to win the Super 14 with his new team mates Habana and Fourie.
But he is a such a divisive force in South Africa, I don't think either of
those players would have signed if he was still in Cape Town.
So it's a great compromise for me as I think the Stormers are stronger
without him and can actually do something this year, AND I've also become a
Bath supporter, hoping Watson keeps playing out of his skin and proving the
Watson/WP/Stormers haters all wrong.
Spizz
Simon S-B
"Spizz" <y...@okay.com> wrote in message
news:hhuie6$fju$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
Baths style is the offloading game, but they've not been able to get it
going as they weren't getting over the gainline. Last couple of games they
have and the difference is huge. As much as anything else it's a
psychological thing. Bath were badly rocked by the coke scandal, and didn't
replace some of the players they lost immediately. This left a small squad
bereft of senior players and the two club-captains starting a new season
under a cloud. They got into the losing habit and I could actually see that
some of the players just couldn't be arsed. Guys that were chasing
everything last year were just standing and watching.
Watson turned up and ran around like a mental. He's got a great engine and
gives the side someone to follow, just like Lipman used to. Energy levels
throughout the side seem to have gone up as others try and keep up. The
offloading game is sneaking back in and players like Mears and Short are
coming out of their shells again. It's too late to win anything this season,
so I'm expecting them to look to turn on the style for the rest of the
season. If they can get anywhere near last year when they really
entertained, I'll be happy.
Spizz
One of the charges leveled against Watson in SA, is that he's always hanging
out at the back of the ruck, playing fly half or centre, and generally
picking when to get involved rather than diving in head first.
Now I always thought that he had a brain on him and he simply wouldn't jump
in when not required, rather hoping to secure a turnover at the next phase.
And to be fair, I'd be surprised if this wasn't the coaches orders. But
essentially, he's not your typical South African back rower, and I don't
think he tried to be. He brought so much more to the game by using his
brain, offloading in contact at the right time, turning over ball at
critical times, but still gaining the hard yards and tackling when required.
To me his commitment and skill were unquestionable.
I've watched a couple of his first games for Bath, and he looks the same
player to me. He's in a similar role as he was while playing 8th man at WP.
Maybe the new setting and the unbiased eyes have seen him in a different
light, while doing the same thing he has being doing for a few years already
in SA. I haven't seen any rugby for a month or so, so maybe I'm talking out
of my arse, but I'm back in Togo now after a holiday in SA and hope to catch
up on things now I've got no wife nagging me to cut the lawn or paint the
fence.
What's your thoughts Simon? I'm thinking the baggage has been left behind
and the guy is being judged on his rugby now, something that hasn't happened
in SA for a few seasons now.
Spizz
Simon S-B
"Spizz" <y...@okay.com> wrote in message
news:hi1vrv$ljt$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
That's what we're coached to do over here!
> Now I always thought that he had a brain on him and he simply wouldn't
> jump in when not required, rather hoping to secure a turnover at the next
> phase. And to be fair, I'd be surprised if this wasn't the coaches orders.
> But essentially, he's not your typical South African back rower, and I
> don't think he tried to be. He brought so much more to the game by using
> his brain, offloading in contact at the right time, turning over ball at
> critical times, but still gaining the hard yards and tackling when
> required. To me his commitment and skill were unquestionable.
>
His commitment is excellent. Usually when people arrive they take a little
time to bed in, but he's just gone apeshit from minute 1. There's no way
they had time to do anything other than tell him to just go out and play, so
he must have a good brain on him.
> I've watched a couple of his first games for Bath, and he looks the same
> player to me. He's in a similar role as he was while playing 8th man at
> WP. Maybe the new setting and the unbiased eyes have seen him in a
> different light, while doing the same thing he has being doing for a few
> years already in SA. I haven't seen any rugby for a month or so, so maybe
> I'm talking out of my arse, but I'm back in Togo now after a holiday in SA
> and hope to catch up on things now I've got no wife nagging me to cut the
> lawn or paint the fence.
>
> What's your thoughts Simon? I'm thinking the baggage has been left behind
> and the guy is being judged on his rugby now, something that hasn't
> happened in SA for a few seasons now.
>
Bath fans won't give a toss about his past, simply what he can do for the
club. I've had several texts/mails from mates who think he's just what we
need, and they'd be right. The gossip from the staff there is that he's a
very polite young man and they like him. Not sure how well he's going down
with the players, especially the SA ones, but I doubt he'd have been signed
if Claassens and James didn't want him.
Bath fans can be a bit elitist, but they also very knowledgeable. Most of
the people you see at their relatively small ground are season ticket
holders who go to every game. It's bloody hard getting tickets if you
aren't. There is a player popularity meter available at every game - they
read out the teamsheet and the crowd cheers. Flatman, Bell, Mears (they like
a pieman), Claasens and Hape tend to get a lot more volume, as do club
stalwarts such a Grewcock. Watson has been the loudest cheer the last 2
games, and that's unusual. They wouldn't do it if he wasn't playing really
good rugby.
Mark (newsgroups)
> "Spizz" <y...@okay.com> wrote in message
> news:hi1vrv$ljt$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
> >news:hhv12k$qfu$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
>
> >> "Spizz" <y...@okay.com> wrote in message
> >>news:hhuie6$fju$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
A problem I had with him was precisely this, he always did look good.
He popped up at the right times, probably had more ball time than
anyone else on the Stormers team at one stage, yet the team continued
to lose.
He's a great fetcher, and a good ball player, I worry that he plays
other people out the game though (despite being a good offloader).
But good on him, he's making his mark and I hope he's successful and
that Bath come back from their problems.
Simon S-B
"Mark (newsgroups)" <marknew...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:904cd79f-fca3-4803...@r24g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
Not sure I get why that's his problem. Are you suggesting he's a selfish
player? Bath have only been winning since he turned up so at the moment he's
got lucky talisman status ;o)
> He's a great fetcher, and a good ball player, I worry that he plays
> other people out the game though (despite being a good offloader).
>
I'll keep an eye on that, but at the moment I think he's bringing others
into the game.
> But good on him, he's making his mark and I hope he's successful and
> that Bath come back from their problems.
Butch will be back soon and much as I despaired at him for large parts of
last season when we were fighting for the very top, he's just what Bath need
for their current table position. Little is not bossing the games very well.
Mark (newsgroups)
> "Mark (newsgroups)" <marknewsgro...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:904cd79f-fca3-4803...@r24g2000yqd.googlegroups.com...
> > On Jan 6, 1:03 pm, "Simon S-B" <baitt...@gmail.com> wrote:
[...]
> >> Bath fans can be a bit elitist, but they also very knowledgeable. Most of
> >> the people you see at their relatively small ground are season ticket
> >> holders who go to every game. It's bloody hard getting tickets if you
> >> aren't. There is a player popularity meter available at every game - they
> >> read out the teamsheet and the crowd cheers. Flatman, Bell, Mears (they
> >> like
> >> a pieman), Claasens and Hape tend to get a lot more volume, as do club
> >> stalwarts such a Grewcock. Watson has been the loudest cheer the last 2
> >> games, and that's unusual. They wouldn't do it if he wasn't playing
> >> really
> >> good rugby.
>
> > A problem I had with him was precisely this, he always did look good.
> > He popped up at the right times, probably had more ball time than
> > anyone else on the Stormers team at one stage, yet the team continued
> > to lose.
>
> Not sure I get why that's his problem. Are you suggesting he's a selfish
> player? Bath have only been winning since he turned up so at the moment he's
> got lucky talisman status ;o)
It may not be a problem at all. It was just the impression I got. He's
a very popular player and the reason is he gets a lot of ball time.
Don't get me wrong, he also makes a lot of turnovers, tackles and huge
work rate, so he's a good plater. But considering the talent WP had in
the outside backs it really frustrated me when Watson would pop up in
the flyhalf channel for the nth time.
> > He's a great fetcher, and a good ball player, I worry that he plays
> > other people out the game though (despite being a good offloader).
>
> I'll keep an eye on that, but at the moment I think he's bringing others
> into the game.
Good, and it may be that his style of play fits in well at Bath. And
since the team is winning, that's what matters.
> > But good on him, he's making his mark and I hope he's successful and
> > that Bath come back from their problems.
>
> Butch will be back soon and much as I despaired at him for large parts of
> last season when we were fighting for the very top, he's just what Bath need
> for their current table position. Little is not bossing the games very well.
Funny that. We bashed heads over Butch a few times last year (and year
before), and now I'm thinking he's surely pretty much past it, you're
hoping for his return. Heh, well guess we'll see.
Simon S-B
"Mark (newsgroups)" <marknew...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8dba0b28-f28c-4d69...@m3g2000yqf.googlegroups.com...
It's been a problem position for us. Butch is obviously injured and Ryan
Davies was not cutting it. Barkley is also out injured, so we got Little in
who is not bossing games very well. I think Butch is past it for the top
level as he makes too many errors and misses too many kicks. However, the
best Bath can hope for is to avoid relegation this year (and they will) so I
want to be entertained, and he's certainly entertaining even if it is often
for the wrong reasons!
Dave (SA)
> "Mark (newsgroups)" <marknewsgro...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
I have never been a Watson fan more for his off field demeanor than
anything else.
I also believed that whilst he was damn good he wasn't our best.
However in 2009 he really cleaned up his act. During his swansong
Currie Cup he played some of his best rugby. He also seems to have
healed many of his off field relationships with his teammates and even
some with his former 'enemies'. He is a very religious man these days.
Who knows maybe that helped him a bit (not that I am religious because
I'm not)
Brent Hadley
Was Watson always as stocky as he is now? Or was he just rugged up to
keep warm for that Leeds game? He looked much bigger than I remember
when I was watching the highlights on the Rugby Club; I thought his
size was always one of the knocks against him.
Cheers
Brent
Dave (SA)
He has always been pretty muscular/stocky.
Its his sheer lack of heiht and bulk that counted against him.
Before Brussouw came on the scene we considered Schalk Burger and Juan
Smith as mn size