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
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15 Jul 2008, 19:25 pm
#138 Rooinek07: Come, come Mr Rooinek-parrabek……… how’s your Afrikaans………. criticising Naas for his English…
Praat met my in jou beste Afrikaans…….. as jy enigsins kan……. sodat ek vir jou kan lag !
15 Jul 2008, 19:25 pm
#147 OCO:
rrmember = remember. ****, rolling my “r”s
15 Jul 2008, 19:26 pm
#149 OCO:
exactly my point.
greatestgay is sleeping by now
15 Jul 2008, 19:27 pm
Naas Das se Nuuskas hahahaha
15 Jul 2008, 19:27 pm
#148 Rooinek07: Foooooooook, dit het jou lank gevat om die ene te post…… het jy iemand intelligents genader om jou spelling en grammatika na te gaan ?
Jy suig laaaaaaaang mielies fookerrrrrrrr !!
15 Jul 2008, 19:27 pm
#141 Fern: Tell you what Fern, next time Naas is talking before the game or during half-time, take a few notes and then explain to me exactly what it is that he said. You’ll find it’s usually meaningless drivel.
Regards
15 Jul 2008, 19:29 pm
Greatest Girl13 is listening to “Liefling” on his MP3 player
15 Jul 2008, 19:30 pm
#154 grootblousmile: Lag vir jou gat grootbloudrol. Die een groot verskil is dat ek is nie betaal om Afrikaans te praat op nasionale TV nie. My Afrikaans is nie so delicious nie, maar wie sal dit weet?
Groete
15 Jul 2008, 19:30 pm
#147 OCO: Eishhhhhhh 1981…….
15 Jul 2008, 19:33 pm
#158 grootblousmile:
Had a lamb on the spit at a place called ‘Banana Beach’ on the Natal SC. We drank our way back to happiness!
15 Jul 2008, 19:33 pm
#157 Rooinek07: Maar dan rek jy jou bek oor Naas en Afrikaners in geheel hier jou baberbek……… bepaal jou by dit wat jy in goed is, indien enigiets………. want van rugby af weet jy vet mooi nokkol !
Jy bly seker in die “Last Brittish Outpost” of is kleintyd vet gebliksem deur die Afrikaanse seuntjies !
15 Jul 2008, 19:35 pm
#159 OCO: I know Banana Beach quite well…….. jeeeeeeeeeez that last penalty kick that sunk us was a bummer…… what was that full back’s surname ??
15 Jul 2008, 19:36 pm
Anyway alds, laddies, ladies and others!
Time to hit the sack. Factory phones me at 2 a.m. this morning.
Stay well all, GBS, Fern, Skoppies, WPF, Alla etc.
Mooi Bly!
15 Jul 2008, 19:37 pm
anyway hats off to Monty, I think over time we will come to realise that he was even better. I certainly never rated him at first but he won me round.
Lekker dag almal.
15 Jul 2008, 19:37 pm
#161 grootblousmile:
Mother something!
15 Jul 2008, 19:38 pm
#160 grootblousmile: Hey grootblou, is jy seker jy smile nog? Dit klink nie so nie. Miskien moet jy jou naam verander na grootblousnotentrane.
By the way, it’s “British”, bonehead, not “Brittish” and no, I don’t live in Natal.
Regards
15 Jul 2008, 19:39 pm
#161 grootblousmile: Alan Hewson.
Regards
15 Jul 2008, 19:39 pm
#133 grootblousmile:
well said..and I finish here by saying
Naas Botha..SA greatest playmaker, NTvl greatest son(Uli second)
everyone esle bow to him.
15 Jul 2008, 19:41 pm
Alan Hewson,was his name that WANKER ref Clive Norling gave them that penalty….
15 Jul 2008, 19:42 pm
Stuff that bow to him
15 Jul 2008, 19:43 pm
#165 Rooinek07: Ek gee nie ‘n fokkkkkkk om hoe spel jy British nie…………
You are one sorry retarded piece of dog dung !
My naam het ook niks met jou te doen nie, jou misgewas-modderotter-nippelneus-sponsparra-etteroog-drel !
15 Jul 2008, 19:43 pm
cheers mense,i gotta hit the gym at 5.
15 Jul 2008, 19:43 pm
#164 OCO: Hehehehe
15 Jul 2008, 19:45 pm
#170 grootblousmile: Oh dear, does this mean you don’t like me anymore?
Regards
15 Jul 2008, 19:46 pm
Anyway ek is nou gatvol om die langste regopstaande stuk kuk (Rooinek) te entertain……… nou kan hy maar rustig op sy eie in sy moerrrrrr in vlieg, met my komplimente !
15 Jul 2008, 19:46 pm
167 I thought “Nataniel” was NTvl greatest son
15 Jul 2008, 19:47 pm
Liefling kan ons nie maar vergeet en vergewe
Liefling ek kan nie sonder jou verder lewe
Dit weet jy goed
Jy weet dat ou herinnerings nooit vergaan nie
Jy weet dat niemand ooit in jou plek kan staan nie
Dit weet jy goed
#142 pierre:
my friend
Delport was a one season wonder
Russell was a two season wonder
both had their moments in the Bok 15 jersey. Russell was a freak when he exploded onto the scene from sevens rugby. Delport was our version of Leon MacDonald.
Montgomery is bets described as a good player who had his moments but was also consistently erractic.
end of story.
15 Jul 2008, 19:48 pm
#173 Rooinek07: Jy’s maar lekker stadig van begrip, nê !
Nie die brightste peanut innie pakkie nie !
15 Jul 2008, 19:50 pm
I hope Keo does an article looking at the greatest fullbacks to wear the Bok 15 jersey. It be an interesting debate and lets acknowledge that stats are secondary to ability.
15 Jul 2008, 19:50 pm
#175 wpforever: My ou tjom……… groete aan jou en daai wulpse, gewillige girls in jou geweste…….. ek “sien” jou weer oppie mails !
15 Jul 2008, 19:52 pm
#175 wpforever:
no..Naas is, followed by Uli..the greatest 2 SA has produced.
15 Jul 2008, 19:53 pm
Lekker Gbs en my Afrikaans is weer goed ! Lekker naweek gehad,Ek is trots oor ons manne in groen en goud
15 Jul 2008, 21:29 pm
naand you skollies. Lekker fire and brimstone earlier GBS. Been suiping that soetes from the vallei op jou eie. Lekka geraas. I enjoy Naastie’s summaries as the resident expert. His english is actually bloody good considering what it used to be like. Think that fat mate of his, Darren taught his the lingo. What’s quite amusing tho is the accent and the mannerisms. I find myself listening to him in ernest andthen repeating some of his words for a laugh. But Naas makes some hellava interesting observations sometimes. As a Capie, we used to ‘hate’ Naastie because heused to come down here and stuff the **** out of us,in the rain noggal. Anyway, chill boet and grab another glasie Tassies. Its dry. Never sweet.
15 Jul 2008, 22:50 pm
I first noticed Percy 10 years ago and have kept my eye on his progress ever since.
The World Cup Final 2007 was a strange moment, being English I should have been cheering Jonny and the boys on, but I found I was transfixed by Percy and the Boks and was the only person in our party changing sides half way through the evening and shouting everytime Percy scored. When “your side” won, I was really elated. I had changed allegiance.
Percy joined Perpignan, and I went to see him play some Heineken cup matches (when he had recovered from his world cup injury).
Quite strange really, I live a full and interesting life but was so thrilled to see Percy playing rugby over here. I am now hooked and hope to come over on the Lions Tour next year to see him play in South Africa.
I keep hearing retirement reports, but Percy please play in the Lions Tour before your well deserved holiday.
The 100 will be quite a milestone. Good Luck Mate, from your greatest English Supporter.
PS I saw Jonny Wilkinson in his Porche the other day, he looks so small!!!
15 Jul 2008, 22:59 pm
#5 Disa: As much as I like Percy, that honour has to go to The Rolls! Absolutely no doubt! When did you see Percy hitting the line at pace as Jouba used to. Percy has to settle for 2nd, I’m afraid. But he’s still a legend!
16 Jul 2008, 00:59 am
#37 allamapstieks:
Not bad, but I go for :
1. Hugo Porta
2.Phil Bennet
3. Mark Ella
4. Naas Botha.
Fullbacks :
1. Serge Blanco
2. JPR Williams
3.gavin Hastings
4. Andre Joubert.
(Btw, I am a big Percy fan.)
16 Jul 2008, 05:23 am
#10 Cal: …..Percy owes a lot to his family in Walvis Bay, Namibia (formerly SA). His father worked on the railways and the family really struggled to send him to school in Cape Town. I trust he has repaid then for all they have done for him.
If you ever get a chance to visit Walvis and Namibia, you should – it amazing.
(Beer, meat and rugby country!!)
16 Jul 2008, 07:36 am
Hugo always played on a losing side so it was hard to assess how good he could have been. Phil Bennet was very nippy and had a great boot. He was frail though and was a turnstyle in defense. Naas reminded me of Grant fox, outstanding boot and tactical awareness but no great athlete with ball in hand.
The two 5/8 that were so good that it changed the way NZ played its game were Barry John and Mark Ella
16 Jul 2008, 08:26 am
Percy you deserve it mate, well done!
Jouba, you will always be my Rolls Royce of fullbacks though, with brilliant runs and perfectly placed grubber kicks.
My only wish is that someone else could utilise the grubber to such perfection as Jouba did.
Take nothing away from Percy though, you are a LEGEND!!!
16 Jul 2008, 09:22 am
How do I get hold of a copy in the UK?
16 Jul 2008, 09:43 am
#190 wooden spoon: Click on ‘subscriptions’ on the home page
16 Jul 2008, 11:44 am
185 BokiNZ: erm, the 7th of June 2008?
16 Jul 2008, 11:56 am
#188 lapoftherugbygods:
Except when he scored all the points to beat the Boks.
16 Jul 2008, 12:12 pm
Monty you Beaut!!!
16 Jul 2008, 12:18 pm
#186
Pietman – is that really your top 4 fullbacks of all time? You seem like a knowledgeable rugby fan but your choice surprises me…
At the top of my list of fullbacks would be one Christian Cullen. Quite possibly the most complete player and most talented athlete to play rugby that I have ever seen. The fact that he was messed around by the incompetent coach Heart (who played at 13 in WC99) is further testiment to just how good he was.
Christian Cullen could carve up teams like few others and was a joy to watch on the run. How many tries did he score against the Boks again? A lot as I recall…
With respect to Andre Joubert, he was always 2nd best to Cullen during the first 5 years of the Tri-Nations.
Cullen could run like no other, was a hard tackler, solid under the high-ball, had a huge boot and was in my book the closest thing to the complete player as you could get (Jeff Wilson being another one).
Matt Burke was pretty handy too…
16 Jul 2008, 12:20 pm
I would like to make a suggestion to SA Rugby Magazine. Instead of printing a double sided poster each month, why don’t you make something more collectable, like in the old days. We used to be able to collect trading cards of all your favourite players. Make one or two trading cards (A5 size) as an insert to every issue. Each card would be dedicated to one of the greats of South African rugby and have some photos, all their personal and Springbok Stats.
Kids would love to collect something of this sort, and it would increase your readership
16 Jul 2008, 12:20 pm
Sorry, meant to say “who played HIM at 13 in WC99″…
16 Jul 2008, 12:39 pm
true legend!
16 Jul 2008, 12:53 pm
Remember when Percy played for Province with his silver boots and wavy hair. He was booed at every stadium except Newlands. Who would have thought that he would be running out for his hundreth test
16 Jul 2008, 12:53 pm
Can anyone advise me how to obtain tickets for the Bok fixture against England in November. thks.
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