1
'Anyone booing the kneeling should do their own research before they boo something'
Anthony Watson believes it is crucial for sportsmen and women to continue using their platform to take the knee in protest against racial injustice. Watson was among the England players to perform the symbolic gesture before matches during last year’s autumn campaign and the recent Six Nations, with individuals given the choice of whether or not to act.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Bath wing will now be involved when the British and Irish Lions squad begin discussions over what approach should be adopted in South Africa when a pre-tour training camp begins in Jersey next week. England’s football team were booed by some fans for taking a knee before their recent Euro 2020 warm-up games against Australia and Romania – a response Watson finds frustratingly predictable.
Four months ago the 27-year-old called out critics on social media who objected to Eddie Jones’ team showing their support in the fight against racism. “Am I disappointed by the reaction? I don’t know. I expected it a little bit if I’m honest,” said England winger Watson.
“You see so many people on social media platforms who have got so much to say with so little real substance behind their reasoning. Only six months ago I said I knew this would continue to happen. I don’t think anybody should be forced to do anything. People should do what they feel is right. If I’m asked when I’m with the Lions and if it’s universally discussed, then I will throw my opinion into the hat in terms of what I would do.
"We have seen young players come into the England set-up before and disappear without a trace soon afterwards or suffer serious injuries"
– @AndyGoode10 gives his take on the 34-strong England summer series squad that includes 21 uncapped players
https://t.co/fa6qvUjEK9— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 11, 2021
“I want to continue to raise awareness around some of the racial inequalities that I believe are still prevalent in this country and worldwide. The racial abuse that footballers and sportspeople get is unacceptable, whether it’s online or wherever. While that continues to happen, especially at the frequency and magnitude at which it’s happening, it’s important to continue to raise awareness. I do think it’s an important message. The footballers are doing a great job and I’m glad that conversations are still being had as a result of people taking the knee because that is very important. I’m starting to see more and more people discuss it in the right kind of context and understand more why athletes are taking a knee.”
Watson, whose mother Vivian is Nigerian, disagrees that sport should be separated from causes such as anti-racism and also rejects the link made between taking the knee and Black Lives Matter as a political movement. “Whether a sportsman should concentrate on their sport… that’s a double-edged sword,” said England international Watson as he prepares to embark on his second Lions tour after making three Test starts against New Zealand four years ago.
“In one way I agree in that your primary focus should be doing your job to the best of your ability, but I’d also say that by performing to the best of your ability you have so much influence on so many people and kids worldwide, to not do good with that would be such a waste of that platform.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Kneeling has been around well before this politicised agenda that people have thrown around and in my opinion, they use this as an excuse to mask some of their own issues. If you do any research – and anyone who is booing the kneeling should do their own research before they boo something – it shows that kneeling has been around since… the first example I can think of is Martin Luther King in 1965. But it goes back even before that to the slave trade. To draw that link between kneeling and a political organisation is absurd and in my opinion, that is an excuse to suit their fit their agenda.”
RugbyPass Offload EP 33 with Jack Nowell & Freddie Burns 🚨
Massively excited to announce @nowellsy15 as a new panellist on the podcast 👏
Jack talks us through his return from injury while we are also joined by Freddie Burns fresh from Japan 🇯🇵
🎙️ – https://t.co/Jk2H9HA0ci pic.twitter.com/g39WMcNQzf
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 9, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Billy's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
28 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to comments