Monty keeps No 10 jersey warm
2 Feb 2006
Bok fullback Percy Montgomery sees his stint at flyhalf for the Sharks as a temporary positional switch.
With Butch James still fighting his way back from injury and Tony Brown tucking away on sushi in Japan, Monty will play flyhalf for the early rounds of the Super 14.
“I don’t see it as a permanent move,” Monty told keo.co.za. “I’m just helping out at flyhalf, until Butch and Tony are ready to play.”
Monty has shown his skills at flyhalf before, when he wore 10 against the Pumas in Buenos Aires and was instructed not to kick at all by new coach Harry Viljoen. It was only in the 73rd minute, when he was under massive pressure on his own tryline, that Monty finally put boot to ball. As Jake White said last year, “Do you know how good a guy has to be to play a Test under those restrictions and get it right?”
While happy to help out, when the situation demands it, Monty is more comfortable at fullback, where he has been used by White over the last two years.
“The two positions are very different,” said Monty. “You are probably more involved at flyhalf and you’re responsible for getting the backline away, while at fullback you hang back and only join the line when required. Where they are both quite similar is that you have to be able to read the game.”
18 Comments
2 Feb 2006, 12:25 pm
Dragons!!!!
Dragons!!!!!!! 
2 Feb 2006, 12:28 pm
Vleis, hoekom was jy so stil na die einde van laas jaar toe?
Ek dog jy kuier by Nancy?
2 Feb 2006, 12:30 pm
Kietie,ek’t gerou!
2 Feb 2006, 12:32 pm
O JAAA!!!!!!!
Ek het al vergeet van jou span!
Hoe is die nuwe huis, jy het mos getrek ne? Is jy nogsteeds in Parys?
2 Feb 2006, 12:35 pm
Nogsteeds hier,maar bly nou lekker op ‘n plaas hier in die Koepel Bewaar area.
2 Feb 2006, 12:37 pm
Think flyhalf is a perfect position for Monty, no high-balls and no defensive cover. Excellent kicker, quick and skillful (apart from under the high-ball). Also, allows JP or Brent to play fullback.
2 Feb 2006, 12:39 pm
cab, where the hell is brent? did he feature in last nights games? i know he wasn’t there last weekend against the bulls, or atleast i think he wasn’t. is he injured?
2 Feb 2006, 12:39 pm
Kietie – kom jy bietjie Touch speel volgende Sondag?
2 Feb 2006, 12:47 pm
rob, Volgende Sondag? Soos in die 13de? Weer selle plek? Sal n plan maak… Mail my met n map hoe om daar uit te kom asb, ek is Oos Rand boikie…
Klink lekker Vleis. Wanneer nooi jy ons nou uit vir n lekker kuier?
2 Feb 2006, 12:54 pm
12de – sal vir jou n mail stuur.
2 Feb 2006, 12:57 pm
Thanks Rob…
Hoop ek het my kar teen dan terug, ek het so bietjie van n ongelukkie gehad en nou sit hy al vir amper 2 weke by die paneelkloppers. Hou maar duim vas!
2 Feb 2006, 12:57 pm
the braais in cape town this weekend. 36 degrees.
no wind. mind you we don’t need another fire here.
maybe the Stormers will fire sometime.
2 Feb 2006, 12:57 pm
kners,
sorry mate i dont know, don’t get to see any of those warm-up games, wish i could. Brent’s another underrated flyhalf.
2 Feb 2006, 13:28 pm
Cab,
Bravo Sir we are in agreement.
Outside of the scrum half position Monty is the only back in SA rugby that is a credible test selection. And the boks need to pick him where he can most influence. At 10 or 12. Whereas England have shown that 15 is a centre forward in footballing speak in SA rugby 15 is a centre back. And Monty does not measure up there.
Get him playing at 10 and 12 and kick deep. The only real Bok strength is its lineout lets play to it. And if once in a while he spots a break in the defense Monty is the man to take it and perhaps play in our rather one-dimensional sprinters Habana and DeVillers.
2 Feb 2006, 13:50 pm
StM,
The only thing we are in agreement about is that Ruben Kruger is probably our favourite player, a genuine role model, its no surprise you’re in awe.
Purse is a good flyhalf, but its not his preferred position and we need a sharper spark to ignite our young midfield, who in JdV and Fourie are surely set for legendary status. These lads are only 22 or so, watch them take off the next 2 seasons. However, Purse is very useful to the boks and sharks as a good back-up, since he is a good ball-runner and skillful.
SA certainly do not want a kicking flyhalf, that is England’s game (and its the sort of outdated mindset which has kept us from realising our true potential). With the pace and creativity in the bok backline, it would be a crime to negate these talents with yet another kicking flyhalf. As you will appreciate the game has moved on since 2003.
2 Feb 2006, 13:50 pm
Knersboy – yes Brent is injured.
And i have to say that he has some good competition this year.
2 Feb 2006, 16:02 pm
I see a lot of “punt and chase” play coming for the sharks…
5 Feb 2006, 13:17 pm
Cab
You want to put Monty there cause he doesnt get high balls, and have defensive cover.
Put someone there who can do all of the above.
When was the last time to saw 2stepper make a good run? and now you put him at flyhalf?Makes no sense
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