It's better, but where is Luke?

"No Luke Watson, John Smit must be the luckiest over rated hooker on the planet. I reckon if Luke steps in, John must go? How Jake can even recognize Percy's performance on Saturday, I don't know.

"I have cancelled my world cup tickets, this not the team I will support. I would rather support the Cheetahs vs Blue Bulls, great South African Rugby.

"How the selectors miss De Vaal and Steyn, I don't know."
- David

"I think the current Bok squad is awesome. Ruan Pienaar and Butch to start againstthe ABs. The Boks are going to rock world rugby in the next few weeks, with some awesome home wins. The Boks could have easily won their last 2 away games and the abs and Ozzies know that!"
- Lee Williams

"It is a dangerous idea and action to now again consider a further flyhalf for the Springbok spot.
 
"Butch James has now been chosen, and has filled the boots of a totally out-of-form Jaco vd Westhuizen admirably well. He should now be given the chance to settle in and gel with the team and stamp his authority on our games!
 
"André Pretorius on the other hand, should be given lots of game time with the Lions, prove that he is over his injury prone phase, and gain confidence untill he may be considered for the 2nd flyhalf spot for the year-end tour."
- Uwe Böbs

"Hallo I am a former South African Provincial Rugby Player and have a couple of questions. Why was Guys Like Brent Russel, JP Petersen on tour if they were never going to see a second of game time. Look even with our current qota situation a talented player like JP Petersen could easily be played ahead of Ndongane or even Breyton if the plan was to release Breyton on the home leg, why then not give Petersen some Bok experience in a perfect situation, Brent Russel on the other hand has a lot of International experience and carries the name pocket rocket for a reason.

"We have certain issues in our rugby, the fly half and wing positions to be exact. But now we are denying guys like Luke watson who is arguably in the form of his life and could surely have an enormous impact against the Wallabie and Kiwis that are not so farmiliar with his style of play etc. We are lacking the services of Shcalk Burger and Bakkies Botha at the moment and we need enforcers against top quality teams ... guys who are in form but not in the Bok squad like AJ Venter, Luke Watson (who is playing out of his skin and the selectors are out of their minds not to include this guy.

"Play in form players and we are able to win the tri nations and be ready to win the World Cup."
- James Gardner

"An improvement on what he took overseas yes, but still no place for arguably the most influential player in the country in Luke Watson shows that Jake still hasn't learnt his lesson. Solly is not in the same league. On the whole the loose forwards in the squad are probably about the 8th best combination available at the moment.

"Unfortunately I am negative when I read the first name in the line up. Eddie Andrews. What the hell is that absolutely useless piece of ... still doing in a Springbok squad? He is the 10th best in his province, and they battle in the scrums...

"As for the axing of Paulse, that is long overdue. He has been challenging Victor Matfield for the laziest player for a while now. Matfield? Yes, I am criticizing him. This is the modern era. Locks need to do more than jump and he doesn't. Count his tackles. (Not the of the ball hits on unsuspecting scrum-halves, the ones that actually count). Compare that to Albert vd Berg (or any other lock for that matter) and you'll soon realize that he is severely overrated.

"Welcome back Jean de Villiers. What does Pretorious add to the squad? Another defensive weak point?  He is extremely limited in attack since he plays too deep and generally kicks everything away if the opposition defence is sound. Not what we need. Give me Butch or Bosman any day.

"Jacque Cronje has shown time and again he does not have the skill to compete in test rugby. Get rid of him. Ricci, best you stick with the Boks, cause you'll not make the Lions team. Again the 10th best player makes it at the expence of real talent.

"In Summary, it is better, but a far cry from the best."
- Willem Bleeker

"van der westhuizen and bosman out ... at last! Eddie Andrews - how long do we still have to put up with this loser ? Two out of three on my wish list."
- Peter Schuttes

"The debate continues ... Luke Watson should be a Springbok !!! Jake White announced the squad for the home leg of the Tri Nations and again Luke Watson's name is not on the list. My feelings are that it may be a personality clash, not between White and Watson but between the current Captain of the Springboks,
John Smit and Watson. In fact it may even be differences of opinion between Smit, Ian Mackintosh and Luke Watson. You know the Natal issues !

"Maybe someone out there could clarify exactly why Watson was again omitted from  a side that desperately needs a 'fetcher'.

"I think he is a very unlucky man not to be given a chance. In fact I would rate him as the kind of leader that the Springboks need on the field. Maybe you should make way Smit."
- Shaun Leonard

"Do we like the team? As it stands now I do not care what you do, not until you all pull your heads out of where the sun does not shine and play the best loose forward in SA which is Luke Watson. How dumb have you people got over there? If you do not want to select Luke you will keep on spiralling down the world rankings and prove that you are dumber than I think you allready are.

"Damn man you selectors are the laughing stock of the world, I say Sasol should pull it's sponsership because it shows you are not doing this for the public you have your own personal agenda, has someone taken a bribe over there to make sure we do not stand a chance in the World Cup, because when it is this blatant that one player has the skills and has the leadership and is the dominant player and yet you still don't select him what is left for us to think either you are stupid or you have taken a bribe, you are losing me as a springbok fan , Hasta la Vista."
- Booysen Hugo