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Monty taking it each game at a time

Tuesday 08th July 2008

Centurion in waiting: 'I don't want to jinx myself'

South Africa's World Cup-winning veteran full-back Percy Montgomery is putting his rugby attention towards beating the All Blacks in Dunedin and not becoming the first Springbok to play 100 Tests.

The 34-year-old earned his 97th Springbok cap in Wellington last weekend as a replacement in South Africa's opening 8-19 Tri-Nations defeat to New Zealand, but don't bring up the historic 100-mark with the man who is, statistically, the greatest-ever Springbok.

"I'd rather not talk about it," Montgomery told Supersport.

"I'm just taking it game by game because I don't want to jinx myself."

The World Cup hero has been used strictly as a replacement by new coach Peter de Villiers, which seems a waste when one considers the experience, calmness under pressure and aura Montgomery would bring to the starting line-up.

Besides, it makes more sense to start with the cool heads and bring the impact players on off the bench.

Playing Montgomery as another fine tactical kicking option would help to ease the pressure on fly-half Butch James, who was shown up in the New Zealand capital as he had to take on a scintillating Dan Carter practically on his own.

Montgomery's inclusion does not have to be at the expense of Conrad Jantjes, who has shown in the four Tests so far this season that he is a wonderful footballer and could comfortably play on the right wing.

"Conrad has done very well in all the games. He's a great attacking player and he can also kick the ball long and tactically," said Montgomery.

Montgomery agreed that having more kicking options would help the Springboks, but he said the forwards still had to ensure those kickers were on the front foot for them to succeed.

"Having more kickers does help in these sort of conditions, but it still all starts up front. If he gets given bad ball, then the kicker will be on the back foot, but if it's good ball then it's a lot easier to get the kicker into good positions," he said.

"In these conditions we need to concentrate more on our tactical play. The All Blacks have a really good line so we need to kick over them or find space behind them."

Montgomery said the Springboks were working on small changes to their approach in Wellington when they come up against the All Blacks again in Dunedin on Saturday.

"Everyone gave 100 per cent in that game, but we need to fine-tune some things," said Montgomery.

"We can't just go out and play, we need some structure.

"We need to be more tactical and identify areas we can work on to change the game."

Montgomery said the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) used for the first time in a Test were the chief area of concern for the Springboks in the Wellington match.

"Obviously the new laws are one of the areas we need to work on," he said.

"We need to find our strengths and adapting to the new laws is the big thing.

"I thought the kicking was fine, but maybe we didn't exert enough pressure on the All Blacks."