PERCY MONTGOMERY, PROUD AMBASSADOR

PERCY MONTGOMERY was a great Springbok player and he’s as great a supporter of the men in green and gold, writes Mark Keohane.

Montgomery is also a proud ambassador to everything Springbok rugby, especially the prospect of South Africa hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

“It would be so big for our country and for rugby in this country,” says Montgomery.

“I experienced what it meant to New Zealand in 2011 to host the World Cup.

“There was so much emotion because it was the first time since 1987 that the World Cup was in New Zealand

“The emotion and passion would be as intense and inspiring in South Africa in 2023. It’s our time to again show the world that this is rugby country.”

Montgomery kicked the Springboks to the 2007 World Cup title and his goal-kicking was also instrumental in South Africa beating the All Blacks to claim bronze in 1999.

But it’s the memory of the 1995 World Cup that Montgomery revisits whenever he needs inspiration.

“It was just incredible to experience 1995 when I did,” he said.

“I was loving my rugby and playing for Western Province Under-21s, and loving every moment of being a youngster privileged to be playing the sport he loved.

“Then the world came to South Africa and everyone was talking rugby and South Africa.

“It was just a wonderful thing to experience in one’s own country, especially as a supporter.

“The Boks beat Australia, who were the defending champions, at Newlands in the opening game and England won dramatically in the quarter-final against Australia with a drop goal from Rob Andrew… and of course there was the four-try Jonah Lomu show against England in the Newlands semi-final.

“It was all-consuming for me as someone who loves rugby.

“And then there was the Joel Stransky drop goal and the brilliant Springbok win in the final against the All Blacks.”

Two years later, Montgomery would be playing alongside many of the World Cup-winning Springboks and 10 years later would also be a World Cup winner, but he said the influence of 1995 was not exclusive to his Springbok playing ambitions.

“I experienced the World Cup in 1995 at an age when I was old enough to understand its significance for the sport and the country,” says Montgomery.

“I lived it as a South African supporter and as someone who had always had the sport in my blood.

“It was a very special time to be in South Africa and it would be another kind of special to experience it again in 2023.”

Montgomery, the first Springbok Test rugby centurion, is also the Boks’ leading points scorer and the man to have scored the most points for South Africa in World Cup history.

He kicked four penalties in the Boks’ 15-6 win against England in the 2007 World Cup final and played the last 45 minutes of the final with torn knee ligaments.