News

Monty has James` back covered

Tuesday 05th August 2008

Possible pivot: Percy Montgomery set to provide cover at fly-half for the Boks

South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has revealed that veteran Springbok full-back Percy Montgomery would provide cover for Butch James at fly-half, should the latter get injured in Saturday's Mandela Tribute Test against Argentina at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.

With versatile backs Francois Steyn and Ruan Pienaar released from Test duty this week, James is the only specialist fly-half in the 24-man squad. Montgomery last played in the number ten jersey for the Springboks in 2001 against Italy in Port Elizabeth.

At a media update briefing on Monday, De Villiers explained the rationale behind the selection of only one pivot with recent experience in this position for the one-off Test.

"One shouldn't look at the fly-half position in isolation. We were not selecting only a fly-half," De Villiers said about the cutting of Pienaar and Steyn from the present squad of 28.

"Percy will never start at fly-half while I coach, but if we need to (use him) he will be there."

De Villiers felt that Pienaar and Steyn had not played enough rugby at fly-half recently to have retained them for covering that position.

"If I had the choice I wouldn't have let them go. Being able to do that shows how privileged we are (to have this depth)," said De Villiers.

"It is the most difficult thing for a coach to tell players they haven't been selected, especially in this case where no players has not been up to standard.

"All 28 fit players in the present squad deserve to be retained, but unfortunately it cannot be done."

De Villiers says he has spoken to Pienaar and advised him to make a decision about the position he prefers.

"We will make suggestions and advise and if a player has preferences, we will consider that," said the Bok coach.

"We don't want to force a player into anything so that the fingers are later pointed at us."

De Villiers explained that the Tri-Nations squad remains at 30 players (Ryan Kankowski and Peter Grant are injured) and that all of them will be considered as long as they are fit.

"It was in the interest of the players themselves that we decided to release them to their unions so that they can get game time," he said.

"Surely that is better than just holding tackle bags all week."

De Villiers said the Springbok management had a good relationship with the various unions and that the released players will, where possible, be used in the positions requested by the Springbok management.

"With this more open relationship with the unions we and the players will benefit," he said.

The Springboks had a training run on Monday afternoon and a further two
players will be cut from the remaining 24-man squad when the team for Saturday's Test is announced.