Celebrating Monty’s century
16 Jul 2008
In an SA Rugby magazine exclusive, Andre Joubert, HO de Villiers and Chris Latham pay tribute to Percy Montgomery, who’s set to become the first Bok to play 100 Tests.
There can be no doubt about it. Montgomery, who will make his 99th appearance against the Wallabies on Saturday, is a Bok legend. During an international career spanning 11 years and four Bok coaches, he has scored nearly 900 Test points, and won a Tri-Nations and a World Cup. Next year, he is set to become the first man in 26 years to play two Test series against the British & Irish Lions.
Who better to pay tribute to Monty than someone who mentored him (HO), played with him (Jouba) and against him (Latham). Each former fullback gives a unique perspective on the South African who now holds 87 Springboks records.
We also talk to Monty about whether there is such a thing as the complete fullback, his favourite ground, his most memorable Test (apart from the World Cup final), why he prefers touring New Zealand to Australia, the funniest player he’s ever known, and what defines him.
Also in this issue:
– Conrad Jantjes on his fight for the Bok No 15 jersey, how he’s evolved as a player since his Test debut in 2001 and how he feels about Monty joining WP
– Zimbabwe has recently produced three Boks, but the state of the game north of our border is anything but healthy. We investigate
– Andries Bekker talks about his Test debut, what he’s learnt from Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield and the influence Luke Watson has had on his career
– We speak to Sharks coach John Plumtree about the challenge of them winning the Currie Cup (at last), keeping his youngsters in Durban, tweaking the set-up and why the squad needs to hurt when they lose
– Rory Kockott on failing to crack Springbok selection, why he left the Golden Lions, how he approaches goal-kicking and what it’s like to play alongside Frederic Michalak
– We visit Toulouse No 8 Shaun Sowerby in France, and find out why he wants to add to his one Bok cap
– Ollie le Roux discusses his short stint with Leinster, why he wouldn’t have brought John Smit and Victor Matfield back from France, and the threat he poses if he ever goes into coaching
PLUS: Luke Burgess + Lawrence Dallaglio + Top 14 final + SA U20s + free Monty poster
For article layouts visit SA Rugby mag’s group on Facebook
212 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 » Show All
15 Jul 2008, 18:10 pm
#47 grootblousmile:
the most feared modern flyhalf:lem
15 Jul 2008, 18:11 pm
#45 OCO:
the only kicker I know of that name is the ex Natalian
so the question is ..who the fck is Luke Smith and who cares?
no other SA player comes close to Naas in term s of natural talent
15 Jul 2008, 18:12 pm
#46 crowbar:
‘To compare any current rugby player with players that played 10 years ago is a joke.’
Why is that crowbar?
15 Jul 2008, 18:12 pm
Congratulations Percy Montgomery – well deserved!
Not only has he served the Springboks well over the past 10 years but he’s also had to endure some terrible critisism and disgusting crowd behaviour.
Who can forget the games at Loftus and Ellis Park in the early part of his carreer when the mostly northern fans booed him…. Hard to think of it now….so-called South African fans booing their own player! Hats off to Percy for showing the strength of character to ignore all that was thrown at him.
Of course Percy has always stuck out which makes him an easy target in SA, but he has to shoulder some of the blame for it. He can’t help it that he has a particularly English and feminine sounding name (the former which doesn’t endear him to certain Afrikaners who prefer their Boks to be called Willie, Carel, Gert and Corne), but he didn’t help himself by getting highlights in his hair or by wearing shinny boots. Of course had he not been South African, then these acts of self-expression probably wouldn’t have been an issue (in fact going on the likes of Dennis Rodman in the US or David Beckham in the UK, he’d probably have made a lot more money…not to suggest he didn’t, but he’d have probably coped less critisism for it).
What makes Percy Montgomery an even better player than he’s given credit for (in my opinion) was the fact that he played in some downright rubbish Springboks teams in his 10 years. Teams that were poorly selected, badly coaches and downright mismanaged.
I remember countless matches over the past 10 years where Percy was the unfortunate victim of having to do the job of the entire backline because his wings were so incompetent and constantly out of position. It’s easy to look bad and place blame with your fullback when all those around him are useless…. I played 15 for many years….it’s the most exposed position on the field and along with flyhalf, if your team is getting a pouding you’re likely to come off looking the worst.
Which is not to say Percy was flawless….when he was bad he was spectacularly bad. He could do 25 good things in a match but his one bad thing would be a howler….prone to making him look like a schoolboy player….but which wasn’t helped by the incompetence around him.
As for those who would believe Andre Joubert was in a different class….you have short memories. Joubert was good no doubt, with 2 or 3 particularly good seasons (94-97), but one thing he was particularly bad at was TACKLING…straight out of the James Small school of tackling (baring Small’s marking job on Lomu in the WC95 final).
Joubert used to call off more tackles than I can remember. Do yourself a favor and get hold of some early Trinations and Super 12 games in which he played….
He also lost a lot of pace in his later years and was often responsible for not covering his lines….
Fortunately for Joubert he was one of those likeable characters, less polarized than someone like Monty, and therefore many people conveniently overlook the many flaws in Joubert’s game. No doubt Jouba was class, but in my opinion taking the longevity of Monty’s carreer, and the contribution he made to SA rugby…. Monty comes out on top.
Our best fullback, and possible one of our best backs, of the profesional era!
15 Jul 2008, 18:13 pm
Congrats Percy
He was written of so many times, but continued to work on his shortcomings and came back a much improved player every time. Will never forget the day he got booed of Loftus, but he came back better than ever.
#41 allamapstieks: Monty wasn’t the first choice goal kicker in many of those tests.
15 Jul 2008, 18:13 pm
#50 Robzim:
fair point.
15 Jul 2008, 18:13 pm
#42 greatest13gerber: I’d pick Henry Honiball over every one of those flyhalves.
Best fullbacks I’ve seen . . . JPR Williams, Andre Joubert, Christian Cullen and Chris Latham.
Regards
15 Jul 2008, 18:13 pm
#51 Fern: Lem was good, and so strong on his feet, and great defensively, but his kicking was not always very solid, and his option taking not always the best. Both things that are key to the position.
15 Jul 2008, 18:15 pm
#55 Left upright:
ah that was the just the typical Loftus welcome for visiting CT girls
15 Jul 2008, 18:15 pm
#58 allamapstieks:
most feared in a physical sense
15 Jul 2008, 18:15 pm
#52 greatest13gerber:
Do you remember Gerald Bosch? He was a not too shabby kicker especially as far as drop kicks were concerned. I see he is currently the personal kicking mentor of the Aussie centre and flyhalf Barnes
15 Jul 2008, 18:15 pm
#54 Neil: Percy Montgomery sounds Scotish not English. Afrikaners have no problems with the Scots.
15 Jul 2008, 18:16 pm
#58 allamapstieks: The fact that Lem didn’t kick it away at every opportunity is what makes him such a great flyhalf. Oh and his option taking was immaculate.
Regards
15 Jul 2008, 18:17 pm
And everybody forgets that Monty is one of the first and certainly the greatest *** icon of Springbok rugby.
15 Jul 2008, 18:18 pm
# 53 because 10 years back a rugby ball was round
15 Jul 2008, 18:19 pm
#63 Rooinek07: If Lem was so good, why did he struggle for 3 seasons to unseat Stransky at Natal? Because each time they selected him instead of Stransky they realised the problems in his game.
15 Jul 2008, 18:20 pm
#52 greatest13gerber: Naas was a very good player, but would have struggled in the modern game. He would have nowhere to hide on defence and attacking teams would have exposed his dismal defence.
Reminds me a bit of Ismael Dollie.
Agree on his speed though, just a pity he didn’t use it much.
Naas is definately not the most talented player ever produced by SA.
15 Jul 2008, 18:21 pm
Honiball was good no doubt about, but he’s another player that was fortunate enough to play in that great Bok team of 97/98 as well as some great Natal teams.
Fortunately (for his reputation…and legend) he was injured and retired through periods of rubbish Bok teams and therefore never got exposed behind particularly bad packs.
Had Honniball played more regularly (he played relatively few tests) under some of the crapper coaching regeims, he’d have probably also been made to look **** on occasion and perhaps his legend wouldn’t be what it is today.
Look I liked Honniball, but fanboys tend to get carried away…
15 Jul 2008, 18:22 pm
# 64 “And everybody forgets that Monty is one of the first and certainly the greatest *** icon of Springbok rugby”
we all know that you will never forget that!
15 Jul 2008, 18:23 pm
#59 greatest13gerber: Lol, he didn’t do himself any favors with his hair and the boots. Loftus has their own girl now, Meisiekind Olivier.
15 Jul 2008, 18:23 pm
#66 allamapstieks: Both Ian McIntosh and Nick Mallett said that they didn’t recognise Henry Honiball’s genius at first. Read their books and see what they say about him.
Look, it’s all subjective and we all have our favourites. Honiball was easily my favourite player so I readily admit I’m biased . . . but trust me, you won’t change my mind. If I was picking a team of players at their best to play for my life, Henry Honiball would be the first name on my teamsheet.
Regards
15 Jul 2008, 18:24 pm
#69 crowbar: I once went to a *** club in Braamfontein and there was this huge poster of Monty above the bar.
15 Jul 2008, 18:24 pm
#69 crowbar: Good one!
15 Jul 2008, 18:24 pm
#61 Robzim:
I saw Bosch play when I was a boy..Gerald would later say that Naas was a great kicker then he ever was.
But Bosch was a greta drop kicker..never knew he was still active in rugby circles.
15 Jul 2008, 18:24 pm
#62 – his name might be more suggestive of Scotish decent, and you and I might be aware of this, but let’s face it….10 years ago to the average Pretorian he was a ‘rooinek wat lyk soon ‘n moffie me sy blond hare…’
15 Jul 2008, 18:27 pm
#75 Neil: He does not llok like a Rooinek at all. He looks like a boerseun which is why he made the manne feel so insecure.
15 Jul 2008, 18:27 pm
#71 Rooinek07:
Honiball was a strange one..an enigma..scored tries and yet had the same bland expression on his face. Then there was the time he retired from rugby then came back and played for Natal.
15 Jul 2008, 18:28 pm
#52 greatest13gerber:
Ja, at keeping his clothes clean.
As I suspected, you have no idea who Luke Smith was do you?
I think he had a 100% kicking average and didn’t he sink the BB too?
15 Jul 2008, 18:28 pm
Congrats to Monty. What a legend!All he has missing on his CV is a Super 14 winners medal. World Cup/Tri-Nations/Beat New Zealand in their backyard twice/Currie Cup!!
15 Jul 2008, 18:29 pm
#58 allamapstieks: Lem had a great rugby brain and great decision making. Don’t forget the move that led to Slapchips winning try in NZ in 1998 was his brainchild. He scribbled it on a napkin at breakfast. Jake White shows the utmost respect for Lem’s rugby brain and vision in his biography.
Agree on his kicking though.
15 Jul 2008, 18:29 pm
#69 crowbar:
Sounds like you can not get over it.
Leave the *** thing out of it. 100 is a milestone.
15 Jul 2008, 18:29 pm
Least we forget the time Percy was knocked to the floor in a Pretors niteclub by a local
15 Jul 2008, 18:29 pm
#77 greatest13gerber: Lem drove 150km’s from his farm in Underberg to train. Dedication for you.
15 Jul 2008, 18:30 pm
#77 greatest13gerber: Yes, he was something of an enigma and definitely one of the most unorthodox flyhalves of recent times.
I don’t remember him retiring and coming back. There was a lengthy injury-enforced layoff but I don’t believe he ever hung up his boots and then returned to rugby.
Regards
15 Jul 2008, 18:30 pm
Haha, all this stuff about Monty’s sexuality (and one of you admitting to going to a *** bar) is a good laugh…
Personally I don’t care about someone’s sexuality, but for the record Percy is married (as far as I recall reading) to that former Dove model Tamsin Tosbit. And as I recall she was one incredibly attractive woman…so not sure why his sexuality was ever brought into question. Speaking of which, Pretoria is apparently has more *** escorts than anywhere else in SA
15 Jul 2008, 18:31 pm
#77 greatest13gerber:
Honniball was the pre-eminent team plaer SA ever had. Remember him looking to pass the ball for the boks when someone shouted “put the ball down, your’e 5 meters in the goal area”.
Totally un-selfish player.
Ruan could develop the same way.
15 Jul 2008, 18:31 pm
# 72 all(e)aman(p)st(i)eek there you did it, you came out of the closet even your name says it all, it’s OK I am sure your mom still loves you
15 Jul 2008, 18:32 pm
#85 Neil: It certainly does not bother me. And no, I’m not ***. I bet Dan Carter’s photo is in *** clubs in NZ.
15 Jul 2008, 18:32 pm
#78 OCO:
Who cares?..you comparing an obvious nobody to the greatest match winner SA has produced?
you need to get with the consensus
15 Jul 2008, 18:33 pm
#85 Neil: I agree. Sounds like some of these guys are secretly wishing Percy was *** so they can fantasize at night.
Regards
15 Jul 2008, 18:33 pm
#75 Neil: Jinne…….. now Pretoria gets the freegin label 10 years ago………… gaan skop jou kinders man !
During that fateful Test at Loftus all those years ago, Percy was diabolical, he was kuk that day………… that’s all there is to it……… I was there !
But Percy trained hard, fought well, improved himself……… the Creatine worked…… Percy matured……… and he became great.
Maybe, just maybe, that performance at Loftus (booing included) was needed to make Percy great…………. in fact………. that’s a given.
Julle Soutpiele moet heel in julle moerrrrrrrrr vlieg om altyd Afrikaners kuk te maak………. julle fooooookin sponsparras !
15 Jul 2008, 18:34 pm
#88 No worries mate, glad you’re mature and open-minded about it. Not everyone is like that.
15 Jul 2008, 18:35 pm
#87 crowbar: Crowbar, you don’t need to be *** to go to a *** bar.
I bet there are some *** Springbok rugby supporters on this site, and yes I bet many of them are from Pretoria.
15 Jul 2008, 18:35 pm
#83 allamapstieks:
thats right..I think his “retirement” in the early 90s was injury related..
very unique character..definitely had his own distinctive playing style.
15 Jul 2008, 18:35 pm
#86 OCO:
honiball was clean and hard,same as
andre venter
andre joubert
teichmann
15 Jul 2008, 18:35 pm
#91 grootblousmile: There is no exuse for booing a Sprinbok player.
15 Jul 2008, 18:36 pm
#89 greatest13gerber:
Would like to see the stats for Naas, points scored vs. running into the stands.
15 Jul 2008, 18:36 pm
Hi jondood read my entry # 46 you cannot come in from the side that is a penalty
15 Jul 2008, 18:37 pm
#91 grootblousmile: I watched that game at Loftus, and Percy was very very kuk, and I whished he had never been picked.
15 Jul 2008, 18:37 pm
#95 Fern:
And he could tackle. Best we’ve ever had at F/H IMHO.
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.