The New Zealand radio pundit called out last month by Sonny Bill Williams following his criticism of the All Blacks has gone on another epic rant following Saturday’s record-breaking loss to the Springboks.
After the All Blacks were beaten by Argentina in Buenos Aires on August 23 in Round Two of the Rugby Championship, Sport Nation NZ show host Mark Watson claimed that the “disastrous” performance was “simply unforgivable”.
He went on to suggest that New Zealand should get rid of its national anthem and “start playing the damn Welsh one because we are heading down the same path as Wales”.
The rant, published on social media, quickly drew the ire of Williams, the two-time Rugby World Cup winner, who commented: “Can we not just accept other nations have improved? Can we just appreciate how good international rugby is at the moment and how good the Pumas and Wallabies have been this international window? PS: Anyone else excited for All Blacks v Boks at Eden Park?”
“Can’t deal with the memes and the taunts and the cockiness being thrown at us…”
Watson has now revisited his criticism of the All Blacks, doubling down on his original allegation of “embarrassment” in the wake of Saturday’s 10-43 defeat to the Springboks in Wellington. Scott Robertson’s side led at the break in the Round Four match, but they collapsed in the second half of a six-tries-to-one beating.
Taking to the airwaves on Sunday following the record 33-point hammering, Watson began: “Last night the All Blacks were embarrassed. This morning, I wake up as a proud New Zealander and I feel embarrassed.
“So much so that I can’t even go on social media. I can’t deal with the memes and the taunts and the cockiness being thrown at us by South African fans and the rest of the world. I have watched a lot of rugby over my time, but that was probably the worst performance I have ever seen – and I said that after we lost to Argentina.”
All Blacks great: ‘We are a little arrogant here in New Zealand’
All Blacks count the cost of record defeat to Springboks as another player set to be sidelined
Having warmed up, Watson then went for the jugular, accusing the All Blacks of giving up. “It’s probably the first time in my life I have genuinely seen an All Black team give up,” he continued. “Who gives up in the All Black jersey?
“I have heard Scott Roberston this morning telling us that they are going to take it on the chin. I’ve heard Scott Barrett come out and say, ‘As a group you have to stick together, you have to look at your own game’. I have heard all the rhetoric. But the demise of the All Blacks continues, and now at a rapid rate. I am just absolutely heartbroken.
“This is who we are, man, this is what sport does. The All Black are the one team that lifts us, brings us together, takes us away from bad things that are going on in our lives, just gives us that little bit of escapism. A team we have always been proud of.
“Now I just feel embarrassed. I just want to go and hide in a damn corner somewhere. I am not going to take it on the chin. It’s heartbreaking. Just so damn disappointing. But ‘we’ll turn it around in two weeks against Australia in the Bledisloe Cup’ and ‘the rest of the world has caught up with us’ and all that other nonsense and crap we’ll hear.
“I just feel for the great players that have gone before us, what is happening right now. I can handle a loss to South Africa, but I can’t handle an All Black team giving up.”
With all four teams having two wins and two losses so far in this year’s Rugby Championship, the All Blacks finish their campaign with matches against Australia on September 27 in Auckland and October 4 in Perth. Australia are currently top of the table on 11 points, with South Africa and New Zealand on 10 and Argentina on nine.