Centurion Percy still focused
12 Aug 2008
Percy Montgomery will not let reaching a century of Test caps distract his focus from the match against the All Blacks.
Montgomery will be the first Springbok to reach the milestone and will run out in front of his home crowd at Newlands, but he doesn’t want to let the sentimentality of the moment take away any of the importance on the job at hand.
“I’m trying not to talk about it too much – I haven’t even got there and played the game yet,” Montgomery said at the team announcement. “The guys have been chirping me at practice about it, but we all know we have to focus on the Tri-Nations – the next three weeks – and that all starts this Saturday and winning there.”
Coach Peter de Villiers heaped praise on the soon-to-be centurion. “I don’t think it could happen to a greater rugby player. The professional he is now and the experience he brings to the side is massive. He is an extraordinary person who is willing to share everything he knows with everyone in the side. Even if he is not playing, he is still the same character who doesn’t change – it is a privilege to work with him,” said De Villiers.
The Bok coach also dispelled any notions that his inclusion was based on an emotional decision, highlighting the qualities Montgomery brings to the team. “We all know Percy’s strengths, and he helped us in Dunedin [when he started and the Boks beat the All Blacks]. We will need to use those attributes again this weekend.”
Montgomery has been playing international rugby for 11 years, while he also spent two sabbaticals overseas in Wales and France. He acknowledged the experience in Newport may have prolonged his career. “It may have rejuvenated me, after four or five years of international rugby, fatigue could’ve been setting in. The key to returning in 2004 under Jake White was that I had a good pre-season, and my fitness came through from there,” Montgomery said.
The veteran fullback said it was not a difficult decision to return to Bok rugby after his time with Perpignan earlier this season. “It was easy to come back when Peter approached me. I love playing for my country and I know I’ve got a lot to offer younger players like Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar and Conrad Jantjes.”
Montgomery lauded the man-management of De Villiers. “His honesty stands out for me, you always know where you stand with him. I’m also enjoying some expansive rugby.”
By Grant Ball
44 Comments
12 Aug 2008, 15:03 pm
Go Bokke!!!
12 Aug 2008, 15:05 pm
I was at the Lions match at Kings Park in 1997, when Percy started at outside centre (and when the Lions ate us to win the series). Who would have thought, watching that game 11 years ago, that Percy would be the first bok to make 100 caps!
12 Aug 2008, 15:11 pm
you go miss percy! jou beauty….
12 Aug 2008, 15:12 pm
#2 wooden spoon: ja, i was there too.
horrible memory.
go percy and well done!
12 Aug 2008, 15:14 pm
Go Monty………I had forgotten how quick and lethal Percy was back then…till i started watching the Springbok Saga a couple of weeks back. Percy really deserves the Milestone………
12 Aug 2008, 15:14 pm
#4 rangerman:
I think Carel was the coach then…
12 Aug 2008, 15:15 pm
remember that blistering pace when he scored THAT try against the wallabies in 97 when we beat them with 60odd points on the board under carel dup. It was a looong lineout throw-in by dalton (i think, maybe slap chips) and he outsprinted everyone to run in a 70meter try.
12 Aug 2008, 15:17 pm
Well done Percy, it’s going to be an awesome game.
12 Aug 2008, 15:19 pm
Well done Percival Montgomery!
Now go out there and do the business for us!
12 Aug 2008, 15:21 pm
#6 Pietman: yup, beginning of the end for him that tour.
12 Aug 2008, 15:21 pm
Percy is a great servant of the game.
12 Aug 2008, 15:25 pm
You go Percy ! score a try sommer vir ons
12 Aug 2008, 15:33 pm
Fantastic achievement. Well done Percy!
I wonder how much money he has made over the years.
12 Aug 2008, 15:33 pm
Hel ou Persie…… jy kom ‘n vêrrrrrr pad ou bees…….. van daai wille dom seun met die stokkiesbene wat Creatine moes gebruik om sy gewig op te stoot…… al die pad tot die staatmaker wat jy nou is !
Gooi Mielietjiesssssssss
Jy is steeds SA se beste Heelagter !
12 Aug 2008, 15:40 pm
#14 grootblousmile:
Ja, baie mense het hom afgeskryf in ’97 al.
Ek nie, soos jy weet, het gehoop en bid Jake roep hom op vir die WB.
En kyk nou?
Sy pa sou trots gewees het op hom.
12 Aug 2008, 15:41 pm
#15 Pietman: jy bedoel jy het hom ondersteun toe hy nog die pienk vetertjies gedra het en die hi-lights in die hare??
12 Aug 2008, 15:42 pm
#16 Windhond_Sharks:
Al die pad !
12 Aug 2008, 15:43 pm
#16 Windhond_Sharks:
Maar PdeV ken hom, van Tygerberg/Tech se dae af.
12 Aug 2008, 15:43 pm
#14 grootblousmile:
Graphic designer homself, Percy….
12 Aug 2008, 15:46 pm
#18 Pietman: ai, ek moet bieg. ek het hom afgeskryf saam met ou robbie fleck…..al twee het baie goeie rugby in europa gaan speel.
12 Aug 2008, 15:46 pm
Go Percy! Well done! You deserve it.
12 Aug 2008, 15:48 pm
#19 Pietman: Gits, so hy kan goed teken… my magtig..
Interessant !
Ou Aspersie lyk deesdae na so ‘n nederige ou….. glad nie windtie nie.
12 Aug 2008, 15:53 pm
#22 grootblousmile: jy bedoel teen hoe hy was? tussen percy se pienk veters en bobby se diamante oppie tong in die american swiss advertensies het ek nie geweet watter een nou eintlik meer tyd by hennie le roux se huis deur gebring het nie…..
12 Aug 2008, 16:19 pm
Pensioner Percy’s silver boot better be in good shape for newlands. The only way I see him keeping his place until the lions tour is with a flawless kicking display. Given the placekicking form of Butch James recently.
12 Aug 2008, 16:26 pm
Percy you old biscuit. Keep silencing your critics old son, we know you can do it! Percy 4 president!
12 Aug 2008, 21:11 pm
I’ll add a cruel comment.
Of all the players in the world who have reached a 100 test caps, Percy is the worst by far.
12 Aug 2008, 21:14 pm
Brilliant, Percy is in the starting line up.
I can feel a shiver of anticipation already.
Enjoy your century Percy, you are awesome!!
12 Aug 2008, 21:15 pm
#26 ratel: Put a sock in it………
12 Aug 2008, 21:41 pm
Percy’s mind goes AWOL and he loses focus whenever he’s beneath a high up-and-under. 100 tests later and he’s still just as unfocused.
12 Aug 2008, 21:53 pm
#29 TheTackler: At the risk of appearing disloyal to Percy do look at You Tube,” Percy’s nightmares in Cleremont”. a classic “Oopps” moment under the high ball followed by a French player pulling Percys hair. Percy not amused gives him a good thump……( He’s beautiful when he is angry)!!!!!
12 Aug 2008, 21:57 pm
#26 ratel: I think your comment is really nasty. Have a word with yourself.
12 Aug 2008, 21:58 pm
And by the way I love Monty.
12 Aug 2008, 22:00 pm
#32 montyfan: Greetings Montyfan, a person with impecable taste, much like myself!
12 Aug 2008, 22:02 pm
#33 carol meredith: yes! please join my facebook group “Percy Montgomery is my Favourite Rugby Player of All Time” there are some gorgeous pictures of him…
12 Aug 2008, 22:04 pm
#34 montyfan: I think I already have!
Do you think we can indulge our “Monty Mania” for a while?
12 Aug 2008, 22:57 pm
29 TheTackler
“Percy’s mind goes AWOL” “whenever he’s beneath a high up-and-under, is a huge overstatement. I think your mind goes AWOL whenever you think. The proof is all over this blog.
12 Aug 2008, 23:02 pm
#36 couchpotato: Percy and the “High Ball” line is nearly as boring as the Luke Watson rants………..
12 Aug 2008, 23:17 pm
37 carol meredith
agreed
12 Aug 2008, 23:20 pm
#38 couchpotato: Would love to see Dan Carter let a high one slip through his fingers on Saturday. (Or is that not sporting)?
13 Aug 2008, 00:03 am
39 carol meredith
It’s sporting. who wouldn’t love to see Dan drop a high one.
13 Aug 2008, 00:51 am
I rememeber when Percy came on the scene and he looked a liitle bit frail compared to Andre Joubert who was well respected by NZ fans. If anyone had said back then that he would be the most capped Bok of all time you would have been laughed off the pitch.
Well look at him now. I think his longevity has to be put down to an incredible professional attitude to training and maintaining himself. Hes a credit to himself and a lesson for young rugby player everywhere.Well done Percy, didnt think you had it in you.
Sadly youre going to lose bro on Sat but its a situation you are not unfamiliar with
13 Aug 2008, 01:25 am
Congratualtions on this achievement and he’s pretty much done/won it all – although no Super 12/14 win. A quality player and always comes across as a good bloke. I’d rate that Joubert fella who played 15 in the mid 90′s a better player though.
13 Aug 2008, 02:30 am
#36 couchpotato: Look at who’s currently leading the prediction prizewinning list on this very site towards a weekend with Percy and Smitty at their luxury KZN game park business! Or a big plasma TV or a Chinese scrambler! (And I’m already in possession of not one but TWO sets of fancy-pantsy Ralph Lauren Polo aftershave worth a huge R750 a pop).
So, what have YOU to show?
13 Aug 2008, 16:02 pm
Percy is such a team player, very unselfish. I remember seeing him at Murrayfield on the end of year tour playing against my country in 97. He was brilliant, showing everyone a clean pair of heals and scoring a try. He would have scored a second, as there was no one to catch him, but just before crossing the line, he passed the ball to James Small on his right so that he could go over for his 20th try, which was at the time a record. Many congratulations to him, he deserves it and he also deserves his place in the starting 15 on Saturday. I hope it’s a winning day for the Boks.
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