Luke Watson has never been publicly mentioned in the sex-tape blackmail scandal that threatened the job of Springboks coach Pieter de Villiers earlier this year, but his was the name that was constantly whispered when the Herald began inquiring about the sorry saga over the past month.
The rumour, which does not hold up to serious scrutiny, goes that Watson convinced Springboks communications manager Chris Hewitt to approach de Villiers and say he was in possession of a video tape showing the married coach receiving oral sex in a London car park from a woman earlier this year, but silence could be guaranteed if Watson were selected in the team. It's quite a rumour, and one never proven. (Nor, for that matter, has the existence of such a tape). No accusation of blackmail has ever formally been made.
It's also no surprise that Watson - probably the most hated man in South Africa - has been portrayed as some Machiavellian mastermind by his detractors.
Hewitt resigned before an internal investigation was held into the affair months ago. Ten days ago, he was killed, aged just 24, flying a light plane which crashed north-west of Johannesburg. Hewitt's mother said her son, a former award-winning journalist, was in the midst of penning a book about the sex-tape scandal.
To the end, Hewitt supported his friend Watson, the player who pulled out of the Springboks tour to Wales, Scotland and England - the Wales Test kicks off early tomorrow NSW time - after creating national furore and international fascination with his comments about wanting to vomit on the national jersey.
In his final published piece, Hewitt wrote in a newspaper column: "As a kid, Watson had his house petrol-bombed because of his father's anti-apartheid stance. He went to a school where 'Kill the Watsons' was carved into the desks in class. He learnt from an early age that faith and family were the only constants, the only pillars he knew would not collapse.
"If we are a nation that values democracy, that values freedom, Watson's comments should be similarly valued. The comments of an honest man in a free society should not be investigated. His reasons for making such remarks are where the real story lies."
Watson, who claims his speech to a university rugby club was twisted for propaganda, will face an SARU disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.
The sex-tape rumour has nothing to do with the pressing issue of whether the Springboks emblem will be discarded. Yet because it was Watson's comments that flung the debate into the public arena, many pro-emblem supporters link the two as a way of highlighting - in their view - Watson's dubious character.
Watson said in a recent statement there was no point in clarifying the meaning of his comments because he had already been judged in the media, although he has previously stated that his speech was about transformation in rugby, namely the inclusion of blacks in the national team.
"It is very clear to me that a hidden hand is at work crafting spurious allegations and half-truths as to what I was purported to have said," he said.
"The very same group of instigators has conducted a trial by media, without affording me an opportunity for stating my case at the appropriate time and in the proper forum, given this trial by media to do so at this stage serves no purpose.
"I wish to assure the rugby-supporting public that I remain committed and dedicated to South African rugby and to this wonderful democracy of ours, however, I will never sacrifice the ideals and beliefs regarding transformation in rugby that the majority of South Africans hold dear to their hearts."
And that transformation must include, many say, the removal of the Springbok emblem from the national jersey. To most blacks, the emblem is not a symbol of unity but a reminder of a time when no coloured man was allowed to wear the uniform and represent his country.
This issue is quickly becoming divided along racial lines, with the majority of emblem supporters white, and the majority seeking its removal black. Even the players are split; the white Jaco Pretorius believes it is "the worst thing that could happen" should the emblem be removed, but his black teammate Gcobani Bobo supports its eradication.
Could it be any different in a country where many whites had no idea how "normal" their mysterious black countrymen were until The Cosby Show appeared on their television screens in the 1980s?
Many whites fear this could be the start of a long series of reprisals stemming from the apartheid era. The ruling African National Congress party, which instigated the push for the emblem's removal, said it was simply seeking the axing of the Springbok logo from the only team that uses it, after all other national sports teams changed from the springbok to the protea - the country's national flower - after the first democratic election in 1994.
Nelson Mandela declared the rugby team could keep using the springbok because it had a long history - in 1906 South African rugby captain Paul Roos told British media during their first tour, to England, to refer to the team as the Springboks, and this has remained their moniker since.
In an emailed response to the Herald's questions, the acting head of SA Rugby, Andy Marinos, supported the emblem and said the union stood to lose a significant amount of marketing money if it were removed.
"This badge was accepted in a non-apartheid environment and government and has remained in place since," Marinos said. "We have received enormous support for the logo, from all racial groups in South Africa.
"Commercially, it would have a significant impact, and given the fact that the springbok has been placed as one of the super brands in SA's basket and has a worldwide appeal …"
Marinos also hinted that Watson's decision not to tour saved him from being dumped.
"All I can say is that this is a team game, and no player or individual is bigger or greater than the game," he said. "To lose the confidence of the dressing room for any player or coach is significant, and the morale of the team and dynamics within the team must come first."
Watson allegedly claimed in his speech that he had become so detached from his national teammates they refused to eat with him, while journalists have recently recounted seeing Watson during this year's Tri Nations tournament sitting on bags next to the team bus in Dunedin, listening to his iPod, while the rest of the side were in the dressing room celebrating their historic win over the All Blacks. Former Springboks under-21 captain Clyde Rathbone, who switched allegiances to Australia and is a Wallaby, is a friend of Watson. He suggests Watson might be better to play out his career overseas.
"He has got to ask himself if he really is enjoying what he is doing right now, because once the enjoyment is gone there is no point," Rathbone said.
When Rathbone toured his former country with the Wallabies, a death threat was faxed to his parents' house, and an anonymous caller phoned him and said: "When you get home, your house will no longer be standing."
"I can imagine what Luke is going through," Rathbone said. At last year's World Cup final in France, the South African team stood, to a man, with right hands resting over their left breast where the Springbok logo is stitched. Some had tears in their eyes, and they sang with gusto. After the song came the battle with England, and victory. WHAT THEY SAID 'If we are a nation that values democracy, that values freedom, Watson's comments should be similarly valued. His reasons for making such remarks are where the real story lies.' Former Springboks communications manager CHRIS HEWITT
'It is very clear to me that a hidden hand is at work crafting spurious allegations and LUKE WATSON
half-truths.'
'I can't see how anybody can justify this. There is so much rich tradition associated with the Springbok jersey. Imagine if they said in Australia you can't use the Wallabies logo.' Springbok
JACO PRETORIUS
'We have received enormous support for the logo, from all racial groups in South Africa … Commercially, [changing] it would have a significant impact.' Acting head of SA Rugby
ANDY MARINOS
'I am in favour of any change that is made for the right reasons and will have a positive effect … There are a lot of things we have to come to terms with.' Springbok GCOBANI BOBO