Historic 100 for Percy Montgomery
Brad Morgan
13 August 2008
Percy Montgomery will become the first Springbok to make 100 test appearances when he runs onto Newlands for the Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks on Saturday. Only eight players in rugby history have previously achieved the milestone.
The fullback began his test career as a centre in June 1997 when he turned out in the second test against the British Lions. He scored a try in that match and South Africa outscored the Lions three tries to nil, but it was a stuttering start; as the Boks' kicker, he failed to land a kick and they lost 18-15, which ensured a series win for the tourists, who had won the first test 25-16.
The following week, Montgomery was on the scoresheet again as one of four try scorers in the Springboks' 35-16 romp over the Lions. Jannie de Beer took over as the kicker and it seemed that Montgomery would be left to rely on his other skills to make his mark in test rugby.
Fullback
When the great Andre Joubert retired and Nick Mallett took charge of the Springboks, Montgomery took over at fullback and South Africa went on a world record-equalling run of 18 successive test victories. From time to time he took charge of the goal kicking duties.
Later, in 2002, after he had already won 50 caps, and with South African rugby going through a bad spell, both at playing and administrative level, he moved to Newport in Wales to continue his career.
The move brought an end to the first part of his Springbok career. It also appeared to have brought an end to his Springbok career because overseas-based players were at that time not considered for the national team.
Return to test rugby
World Cup winning coach Jake White was responsible for bringing Montgomery back into test rugby, but his time spent abroad did not go entirely smoothly.
When he left South Africa, Montgomery was probably among the least liked players in the country; with his blonde locks and white boots, a so-called glamour boy, he was an easy target for frustrated rugby fans to hit out at. Welsh club rugby provided a good haven from the abuse.
However, while in Wales, in an out-of-character incident, he pushed a linesman and was handed a two-year ban. That was later reduced to six months, but it kept him out of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
When White brought him back to test rugby after he took over as Springbok coach following the disastrous World Cup in Australia, there were some doubters about the wisdom of the move, but it soon proved to be a masterstroke.
World Cup winner
Montgomery's return, along with White persuading Os du Randt to return to rugby, went a long way towards helping the Springboks win the Rugby World Cup in 2007. In France, Montgomery was the highest points' scorer in the tournament. His general play was also remarkably consistent and reliable.
When he returned to South African rugby from Wales, he had evolved into an accurate goal kicker. Since then, he has taken over as the Springboks' goal kicker.
Despite not being the first choice kicker for South Africa for most of the early part of his career, he has become the Springboks' leading scorer in tests by some distance with 887 points. Naas Botha, with 312, is second on the list.
Apart from playing a tactically astute game with his boot, Montgomery remains a danger with his forays on attack, even though he has lost a yard or two of the blistering pace he displayed when he was first selected for the Springboks.
He creates opportunities for himself with intelligent running lines that can split open even the most disciplined of defences. His 24 test tries rank him among South Africa's leading try scorers of all time.
A model professional
A player doesn't reach the magic century of test matches without being a model professional and it is a description of Montgomery that has been heard time and again from other players and coaches in recent years.
Part of that professionalism has been Montgomery's willingness to share his knowledge with less experienced players. It is an attitude that Bok coach Peter de Villiers has lauded.
World Cup winning coach Jake White has often suggested that Montgomery has not been truly appreciated by Springboks fans. He believes Montgomery will one day be elected to the International Rugby Board Hall of Fame and now, with the fullback reaching the 100-test milestone, that belief looks as if it will become a reality in the future.
Invaluable
Montgomery's experience and calm demeanour at the back have proved invaluable in South Africa's successes on the rugby field. They have helped give the backline structure in front of him and, with his trusty boot, he has helped keep the forwards moving forward.
It is for those reasons that he is back in the starting fifteen for Saturday's showdown against the All Blacks because, when the chips are down and the stakes are at their highest, Montgomery remains a world class performer.
When he leads the Springboks onto Newlands he will be greeted as one of the most popular men in the South African team, if not the most popular, which is a far cry from the days when he was SA rugby's favourite fall guy.
Percy Montgomery, through had work and strong performances, has earned his respected status and it is one that he well deserves.
There is, no doubt, only one way in which he would want to celebrate a century of tests and that is with a victory over the All Blacks. Despite his veteran status and despite the history-making nature of his appearance on Saturday, one knows that a victory is what truly matters to Montgomery, as should be the case with a model professional.
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