Monty muzzles Stade
9 Mar 2008
Percy Montgomery and John Smit produced big performances in the French Top 14.
Montgomery, just six tests away from becoming the first Springbok to 100, converted three pressure second half kicks as Perpignan beat Stade Francais 26-12 in Paris.
It was Stade’s first home defeat in 60 matches. And what made it even worse was that they led 12-6.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is keen to involve Montgomery in this year’s international campaign and the veteran fullback is starting to find his radar after a cautious start to his French club career. Montgomery has played most of Perpignan’s matches, but he has had to rebuild the strength in his knee following a serious ligament injury in the World Cup final.
Perpignan, who are in the European Cup quarter-finals, have struggled in the domestic league, but the away win has boosted their top eight aspirations.
Smit, who has started the last four matches after a two month injury lay-off, produced his best performance of the season in Clermont’s 40-22 away win against Dax.
Smit, confirmed Springbok captain for 2008, told Keo.co.za his knee had stood up well to the demands of four successive matches and that he was close to full fitness.
Springbok coach De Villiers also met with Montgomery in Perpignan a month ago and the fullback’s latest performance will be a timely boost after the struggle of the SA teams in this year’s Super 14.
Former Cheetahs midfielder Ronnie Cooke was also in good form as Brive beat Bourgoin, but Springbok Ashwin Willemse’s French club woes continued when he left the field with a shoulder injury in Biarritz’s loss to Castres. Willemse has struggled to make the starting XV in the last six weeks and the latest injury is a further setback to his overseas aspirations.
Latest results
Castres 26-19 Biarritz
Albi 15-25 Montauban
Brive 29-13 Bourgoin
Dax 22-40 Clermont
Montpellier 29-24 Auch
Bayonne 10-25 Toulouse
Stade Français 12-23 Perpignan
League standings after Round 13 :
1 Toulouse 53
2 Clermont Auvergne 47
3 Stade Francais 39
4 Biarritz Olympique 36
5 Castres 31
6 Montauban TG15 31
7 Montpellier RC 30
8 Perpignan 30
9 Bourgoin-Jallieu 28
10 Bayonne28
11 CA Brive 26
12 Sporting club Albigeois 21
13 Dax 16
14 Auch 10
55 Comments
9 Mar 2008, 22:57 pm
nice to hear some good news bout our overseas players! percy is just what we need to guide our backs this years
9 Mar 2008, 23:06 pm
PdV must be all smiles under that rag of his. So far I can only see a problem at 10, 12 and 13 but Jonker looks good. All the other positions he is spoiled for choice, esp in the loosies.
Whats up with Ashwin? He’s bad run with injuries continues. No JW around anymore Ashwin, you’ll have to play to be in contention.
Keo, can you maybe find out about the player ratings PdV promised to give after each round? We are well into rnd 5 now. I know you can. Keo still means something around rugby circles, hey?
9 Mar 2008, 23:08 pm
Keo means everything in rugby circles!
I think Peter de Villiers gave up rating the boys after round 1.
9 Mar 2008, 23:10 pm
Nah, he struck me as an optimist. He wouldn’t have given up on the boys that easily. Drop a line
9 Mar 2008, 23:27 pm
too bad we dont get to see more of the french top 14 – some cracker fixtures coming up in the next few weeks
9 Mar 2008, 23:32 pm
Keo, how about giving us your shadow Springbok side after every weekend based on form only?
9 Mar 2008, 23:36 pm
6 – not a bad idea – they shld do ratings after each s14 game perhaps? is there a site that does it for the s14? i know the BBC does it for the 6 nations
9 Mar 2008, 23:41 pm
And wile you at it could you phone the MO in Chiefs/Cheetahs game and found out whats taking them with the citing of Sivivatu? Keo, are you getting all this? You have lots to do now?
9 Mar 2008, 23:42 pm
#7
I haven’t seen that on the web yet
I like reading those player ratings on BBC, especially Engalnd’s
The timesonline does it too….now that’s a quality newspaper and website
9 Mar 2008, 23:44 pm
8 – whats sivivatu being cited for? i didnt see that game?
9 – yeah i know an NZ site does it for the ABs games, but i def have not seen anything for s14; true i think most people bar big hitt will enjoy the eng ratings lol
9 Mar 2008, 23:48 pm
Percy is amoung the best full backs around when he plays his best.He can play some shockers to but on his good days he is one of the best.
What is his average at goal kicking,i am sure it must be one of the best around,anyone tell me?
9 Mar 2008, 23:50 pm
11 – yep percy has def gotten better thru out the years – brings a stability to the backline without a doubt
sorry no idea on the goalkicking %
9 Mar 2008, 23:53 pm
10 As far as speartackls go, the pick of the bunch. He took, I think it was Jonker, on the shoulder and flipped him over. Looked horrendous in real time. And slow mo, for that matter but its dead quite on the citing front. Kirchner got 2 weeks for in imo a far less dangerous 1.
9 Mar 2008, 23:57 pm
Did I mention it was nearly a full somersualt. He probably would’ve got about an 8 for degree of difficulty and 4 maybe for execution. Believe me, it was dangerous as hell. I remember actualy getting up from the couch when it happened.
10 Mar 2008, 00:00 am
thanks bokinz – i have no idea why the spear tackles are on the increase like this – and some of them have been pretty horrendous!
anyway its bed time for me folks; ciao enjoy ur day or eve wherever u r
10 Mar 2008, 00:07 am
I saw Collins and Nonu were cited too although I didn’t see why
10 Mar 2008, 00:10 am
This from rugbyheaven.co.nz
The Hurricanes are wondering why Ma’a Nonu was cited for a dangerous tackle and Chiefs wing Sitiveni Sivivatu wasn’t.
Sivivatu flipped Cheetahs centre J W Jonker over his head in a tackle that saw him sinbinned by Australian referee Paul Marks.
But New Zealand citing commissioner Steve Hinds found Sivivatu had no further case to answer.
Nonu was not so lucky. He was binned by referee Bryce Lawrence for a high tackle on Highlanders prop Clint Newland and later cited by commissioner Mike O’Leary.
The threshhold for a citing is that the commissioner has to deem the offence warranted a red card. O’Leary felt Nonu’s did, while Hinds thought Sivivatu’s didn’t.
The Hurricanes would not comment publicly on the two cases, but are fuming at the apparent inconsistency.
O’Leary also cited Hurricanes flanker Jerry Collins for an incident in the 67th minute when he rubbed his forearm in the face of Highlanders hooker David Hall. Collins was also cited for unsportsmanlike behaviour.
He and Nonu will appear before judicial officer Bruce Squire in Wellington today.
And a lot of Saffa’s raved about JP getting of too lightly. This week we all gonna rave on the inconsistency. Ah well…..
10 Mar 2008, 00:44 am
HELLO!!!! IS ANYBODY OUT THERE!!!!! HHEEELLLOOOOO!!!! CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME!!!!!
Vark! This place is a graveyard!
10 Mar 2008, 00:58 am
LOL
its the time thing fool
and who the hell cares about Monty?..who gives a sh*t about club rugby in France
10 Mar 2008, 01:05 am
Hi Bok and G13g
10 Mar 2008, 01:16 am
Coach pete
hello from beautiful sunny Auckland city.
10 Mar 2008, 01:16 am
#17
Hmmmm maybe its Nonu consistent foul plays he seems to get caught up in.
10 Mar 2008, 01:18 am
Yeah hello from a beautiful early spring day in N. California
10 Mar 2008, 01:19 am
Hey G13g what is Danie Gerber doing these days? Why is he not applying for the Bok backline assistant coaching job or even coaching a Super 14 team?
10 Mar 2008, 01:24 am
#7 and #9,
Supersport might be the ones doing it.
The Super XV for Week Three:
1. John Schwalger (Hurricanes), 2 Keven Mealamu (Blues), 3 John Afoa (Blues), 4 Brad Thorn (Crusaders), 5 Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), 6 Jerry Collins (Hurricanes), 7 Richie McCaw (Crusaders), 8 Stephen Hoiles (Brumbies), 9 Patrick Phibbs (Brumbies), 10 Jimmy Gopperth (Hurricanes), 11 Ma’a Nonu (Hurricanes), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 13 Isaia Toeava (Blues), 14 Joe Rokocoko (Blues), 15 Leon MacDonald (Crusaders).
The Bok Barometer for Week Three:
1. Heinke van der Merwe (Lions), 2 Adriaan Strauss (Cheetahs), 3 BJ Botha (Sharks), 4 Danie Rossouw (Bulls), 5 Johann Muller (Sharks), 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (Lions), 7 Heinrich Brussow (Cheetahs), 8 Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), 9 Jano Vermaak (Lions), 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Cheetahs), 11 JP Pietersen (Sharks), 12 Jean de Villiers (Stormers), 13 Waylon Murray (Sharks), 14 Odwa Ndungane (Sharks), 15 Francois Steyn (Sharks).
Match of the Week: In terms of the new laws it has to be the Cheetahs vs the Blues, not necessarily because it produced 11 tries and a 50-26 scoreline for the highest aggregate of the season, but because it showed that South African sides can score tries and play the rollicking kind of rugby administrators seem to want.
Try of the Week: There were some stunners from the Hurricanes, the Brumbies and the Blues but, in case you hadn’t noticed, the SuperWrap is proudly Seffrican so the Oscar goes to the Cheetahs’ second in which JW Jonker put the cherry on a move that contained ten phases.
Schlepper of the Week: JP Nel is the Schlepper of Schleppers in a week that produced a few. The Bulls centre has been running crazy for too long and his spear tackle on Francois Steyn, and subsequent yellow carding, by referee Mark Lawrence was the catalyst for the Sharks’ late burst of scoring which blew the Bulls away. Not far behind were Johan Ackermann, who punched Derick Kuun, right in front of the referee in the third minute and Jaco Engels who did the same to Johann Muller without being seen by the match officials but who was caught by the all-seeing TV cameras. *The Schlepper was so named by Phil Kearns. He, like us, has no idea where the word came from but it describes a really brainless act.
The Strasheim solution: On the subject of Schleppers – former South African test referee Bertie Strasheim apparently once levelled the following warning at a player. “If you get hit one more time I’ll send you off!†Strasheim knew only too well that the victim is often the instigator. The tale came to mind while the SuperWrap was considering the circumstances that led to the bestowing of the Schleppers. Johann Muller was alleged to have caused Schalk Burger’s angry outburst the week before because he had punched Brian Mujati and the Sharks skipper was the man whacked by Jaco Engels. Mmmm, coincidental or circumstantial?
Atoning for a Schlepper: Well done to Schalk Burger for the dignified and honourable way he responded to his suspension for his outburst — aimed at TJ Wee Willie Roos — at the Absa Stadium. Even though he might have had extenuating circumstances on his side Burger upheld the old values of the game by taking it on the chin and apologising.
Acres of heart: We’ll have to wait to see whether it’s really goodbye or just another “totsiens†but a heartfelt farewell from the SuperWrap to Johan “Akkers†Ackermann who, apparently, played his last match for the Sharks against the Bulls at the weekend. At 37 years, 272 days “Akkers†is the oldest player to play Super Rugby and the last player (standing) to have played in the first competition in 1996. In spite of numerous injuries, many of which would have broken a less brave heart, Ackermann earned a total of 66 Super Rugby caps; 12 for Northern Transvaal (the year he became a Springbok) in 1996, 24 for the Cats from 2000 to 2001 and 30 for the Sharks from 2004 to 2008. However, he’s apparently moving to the Cape so don’t rule out an appearance for the Stormers!
Irascible Rassie: His side might have been up against last year’s top three in the Bulls, the Sharks and the Crusaders, in the first three week’s of this year’s tournament but the numbers are not looking good for Rassie Erasmus. In their opening trio of games the Stormers have scored just 19 points, just one try, been whitewashed once and they have now gone 120 minutes (the second half against the Sharks and the whole game against the Stormers) without scoring a single point. All of which makes the Stormers’ concerted efforts to get a Crusader yellow-carded even more pathetic.
Breaking the rules: That’s the Blues, the Hurricanes, the Reds and the Waratahs who regularly number their wings incorrectly in defiance of an IRB ruling which states that the left-wing should be No 11 and the right-wing No 14. Just thought we’d mention it.
At last, an explanation: For Loffie Eloff’s pinstripe suit and white shirt. It’s a case of if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em because that’s exactly the outfit preferred by Robbie Deans of the Crusaders. Deans’s red tie is bad enough but now he’s also cultivating a droopy moustache, obviously to get ready for his stint with the Wallabies. Wonder who Robbie is trying to emulate — John Newcombe or, heaven help us, Merv Hughes?! Note to Loffie: Whatever you do, don’t copy the “mo!â€
Eddie’s niche: SA Rugby’s statistician Eddie Grieb never ceases to amaze with his attention to detail. Tane Tui`poluto’s last-gasp dropped-goal for the Hurricanes against the Chiefs was the 150th “droppy†in Super Rugby. Andrew Mehrtens, with 17, holds the record for the most drops with the Louis Koen the leading South African on 11. According to Eddie, there are two “odd men out†among the drop-kickers — prop Matt Dunning of the Waratahs (who will ever forget!) and, wait for it, Bob Skinstad. And, seeing as you ask, Zinzan Brooke did not kick a drop in Super Rugby — he saved it for the Springboks!
Ellis Park crisis: You’ve heard the one about people voting with their feet. The Lions and the Stormers played at home last Friday night — there were 43 724 spectators at Newlands and just 6 050 at Ellis Park.
Caning the Chiefs: Congratulations to the Hurricanes for displacing the Blues as the team with the fastest bonus point of the season — 31 minutes 14 seconds.
No joking matter: The Lions have three Van der Merwes in their squad — Heinke, Franco and Gert-Andries. As yet, no Koos.
Mysteries of the Super 14 I: What was Danwel Demas thinking running outside the field of play while waiting for a pass from Wynand Olivier?
Mysteries of the Super 14 II: Has anyone seen Kees Lensing? Remember him? The world’s most destructive prop when he played for the Bulls.
Continued Mysteries of the Super 14: When is JC Fortuin going to get a decent whistle — or should that be have a decent whistle?
Quote of the Week I: “The ebb and flow of psychic energy.†— He had to wait to Week Three but finally Murray Mexted, prompted by Ian Smith, got in his trademark remark.
Quote of the Week II: “We’ve got a hungry Hore tonight.†— The inimitable Mex on the Hurricanes’ hooker.
Quote of the Week III: “If you miss this I’m in trouble.†— Mark Lawrence to kicker Rory Kockott lining up a kick. Lawrence had awarded the Sharks a penalty right in front, blowing his whistle moments before Francois Steyn snapped off a dropped goal that went over.
Quote of the Week IV: “Of course they go and fluff it up.†— Garth Wright’s “quick recovery†while talking about the Bulls.
10 Mar 2008, 01:25 am
#24
re: Danie Gerber today
Not sure what Mr Gerber is doing today for a living but he is still involved from what I hear. I know from fact he is not keen on a pursuing a high level coaching job due to the restraints and pressure any role at that level would entail.
then again, great players don’t always make good coaches. As a back coach I think he would be awesome.
10 Mar 2008, 01:28 am
Yeah as a back coach he would be great maybe for the boks
10 Mar 2008, 01:32 am
#25
cheers, nice read
Garth Wright was the best talented SA halfback of the last 20 years..but as a comments man, I seriously don’t know.
10 Mar 2008, 01:35 am
and my friend Adri Geldenhuys as forward coach
10 Mar 2008, 01:42 am
Pretoria,NTvl born Pete
10 Mar 2008, 01:44 am
Ag Shame G13g.
Just kidding.
Was in the Navy with a bunch of Pretoria guys.
10 Mar 2008, 01:47 am
Pete,
I don’t know any navy guys but have lot of old friends from EP who were or are still correctional or police.
they had tough rugby sides as well..I did play against a SA defence side years ago.
10 Mar 2008, 01:48 am
I played with WP defence side years ago
So you also played center?
10 Mar 2008, 01:51 am
Hello! Hello! Hello! So that bad smell wasn’t rigor mortis afterall!
10 Mar 2008, 01:57 am
prop..predominently loosehead
I have met, trained with and seen Danie play in person and the aura of the man was something.
there was something magical about his play..worlds apart from other players. A freak of the game.
he was a perfectionist with training..many stories of his training routines. I heard once his fat to muscle ratio was the best of anyone around even when he was 34.
one of a kind.
10 Mar 2008, 01:58 am
Yes I would say one of the worlds best centers ever
10 Mar 2008, 01:59 am
What did you think of Cheetahs center Jonker?
I was impressed with him.
And Vermeulen is a future star.
10 Mar 2008, 02:02 am
Jonker looks to be a poor Helgard at his peak
Watermeyer is a good prospect IMO
10 Mar 2008, 02:04 am
Ek se MIRRAG!! You ignoring me or what? I’ve been waiting all morning for someone to show up! I’d prefer to c Carel as the backline coach. Still, after all these yrs can’t get over the attacking style we had ’96-’97. Hopefuly he’s learned a defensive structure by now as well.
10 Mar 2008, 02:07 am
#39
boring day at work eh?
I always thought Jacques du Plessis had protential to be better then Carel..as a player though.
10 Mar 2008, 02:13 am
Nah, I’m home alone. Got 1 eye on Keo the other on Sharks/Blues replay. Isn’t he dead? Accident or something?
10 Mar 2008, 02:14 am
Who Keo?
10 Mar 2008, 02:18 am
Jacques du Plessis(ex WP, ex EP wing)
youngest of the du Plessis brothers
dead? WTF?
10 Mar 2008, 02:22 am
I’m asking. If not, I apologise to him and his family. But somehow a bell rang that sort of tune in my empty head. Thought he was much better for EP than WP. Had his moments in CPT but for EP was influential.
10 Mar 2008, 02:27 am
yes
he played better for EP, retired early to do minsitry work or something.
was one of five most promising players back in 1987 when he made his debut at cc level.
10 Mar 2008, 08:23 am
So far I can see:
15.) Percy Montgomery/Conrad Jantjies
14.) JP Pietersen/Akona Ndungane
13.) Jacque Fourie/Waylon Murray
12.) Jean de Villiers/Brad Barrit
11.) Bryan Habana/Tonderai Chavanga
10.) Butch James/Frans Steyn
9.) Fourie du Preez/Ruan Pienaar
boy what talented backline players:
8.) Ryan Kankowski/Robbie Diack
7.) Juan Smith/Joe van Niekerk
6.) Schalk Burger/Wikus van Heerden
5.) Victor Matfield/Johan Muller
4.) Bakkies Botha/Danie Rossouw
3.) CJ van der Linde/BJ Botha
2.) John Smit/Bismarck du Plessis
1.) Guthro Steenkamp/Beast Mtawaria
10 Mar 2008, 08:31 am
Percy will have to come back , no on in the south african teams are realy up to international standard at the moment. Maybe it will come beter as the S14 progresses.
10 Mar 2008, 08:44 am
So PDV is reeling in Smit and Monty.
KEO – do you know if he also spoke to James and Matfield?
I hope he did.
If I was PDV, the biggest change from the White era I’d look at is at inside centre. I’d bring in Francois Steyn and Brad Barrit and shift De Villiers to wing.
Despite the SA teams not doing too well in the Super 14 up to now, there is still an abundance of talent in this country.
Take the openside flanks as an example:
Schalk Burger
Luke Watson
Keegan Daniel
Jacques Botes
Heinrich Brussouw
Hendro Scholtz
Kabamba Floors
Cobus Grobelaar
Wikus Van Heerden
Some are better than others, but none of them would do injustice to a Springbok jersey.
10 Mar 2008, 08:47 am
When PDV was coaching the under 21s, his loose forward combination consisted of:
Keegan Daniel
Hilton Lobberts
Pierre Spies
Now that’s a well-balanced loose trio, wouldn’t you say?
And his backline consisted of:
Jano Vermaak
Ismael Dollie
Marius Delport
Brad Barrit
Waylon Murray
JP Pieterson
Scott Spedding.
Prior to that, he played Paul Delport at scrumhalf, Ruan Pienaar at flyhalf and Morne Steyn at inside centre.
Seems to me PDV has an eye for which position suits each player best.
10 Mar 2008, 09:07 am
No he did not speak personally to James or Matfield. But no doubt he will!!
10 Mar 2008, 10:11 am
So KEO
PDV’S spoken to Smit and Monty.
Plus he has a five-pillar plan that includes a World Cup winning hooker (Smit), lock (Botha and/or Matfield), loose forward (Burger), scrumhalf (Du Preez) and outside back (Habana and/or Montgomery).
Add Juan Smith, Butch James, Jacques Fourie and Francois Steyn and you have twelve premier Springboks round which to build a squad of 30.
Not so?
10 Mar 2008, 12:15 pm
1. BJ Botha (Hienke Backup)
2.John Smit (Bismarck Backup)
3. Jannie Du Plessis (Heinke backup)
4. Matfield (Albert Backup)
5. Bakkies (Muller Backup)
6.Schalk Burger (Jacque Botes Backup)
7. Juan Smith( Keegan Daniel Backup)
8. Kankowski (Spies Backup)
9.Fourie Du Preez (Ruan P Backup)
10.Ruan Piennar (Peter G backup)
11. Bryan Habana
12. Brad Barrit (A Jacobs Backup)
13. Jacque Fourie (Waylon Murray Backup)
14. JP Pietersen (Tonderai Backup)
15. Frans Steyn
Guess which team i support???
10 Mar 2008, 12:16 pm
apologies i forgot to add Percy there in 15 …
maybe play steyn at 10 with Percy holding the 15 fort.
10 Mar 2008, 12:35 pm
1. BJ Botha
2. John Smit
3. Jannie Du Plessis
4. Victor Matfield
5. Bakkies Botha
6. Schalk Burger
7. Juan Smith
8. Pierre Spies
9. Fourie Du Preez
10. Frans Steyn
11. Bryan Habana
12. Brad Barrit
13. Jacque Fourie
14. JP Pietersen
15. Percy Montgomery
16. Heinke Van De Merwe
17. Bismarck Du Plessis
18. Bekker (Stormers)
19. Ryan Kankowski
20. Ruan Pienaar
21. AD Jacobs
22. Tonderai Chavanga
10 Mar 2008, 21:28 pm
Any news on Brent Russel, Keo?
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