Percy:ton-up! Who’dve thunk it!

Think St. Paul’s conversion was something? Try Percy Montgomery’s public makeover. Incredible. That he did it all the right way — on the field — makes it even more credible and all respect to him. Amazing to see just how almost everyone (there are always a few dunces) is united in their goodwill for a man who polarised opinion like few had before him when he first rose to rugby prominence.

When Percy Montgomery first came on the scene I was far from impressed. There were a number of reasons for this, first among them being my near-idol (and not gay in any way, hee hee) worship of Andre Joubert (along with Henry Honiball the first names on my post-isolation Bok XV). I really haven’t understood what Jouba had done wrong to deserve the (mis)treatment Nick Mallet meted out to him. I even wondered if maybe Mrs Mallet had expressed a bit too much adulation of his piercing gaze and strong legs for comfort.

That Percy was to be a core member of Bobby Skinstad’s Province too sexy for their own selves, sideways running, tongue baring, (Sharks colours stealing!) non-scrumming, ponce-squad who at the arse end of the 90’s, were the antithesis of everything SA rugby had come to be known for, did not help matters. The streaked hair, Day-Glo coloured boots, going into tackles sideways and the look of somebody fretting over a chipped nail did not do much to endear him to me. You may have noticed that the references to Jouba aside, I haven’t offered a single, solid, rugby-related reason for not liking him.

That’s mostly because I do not have one. He was certainly always a competent fullback, if initially suspect on defence and under the high ball, but he certainly offered enough going forward to justify his place (though in my mind only God himself can beat Jouba). That many shared my feelings (especially at fortress Loftus) is a matter of public knowledge and it is possibly the man’s biggest credit that he was, during Jake White’s tenure, the unequivocal first choice for many in his position.

Even with young whippersnappers like Conrad Jantjies (who himself has exorcised many rugby demons over the past few years) coming on the scene, the general feeling is he is still needed till at least the Lions series (another personal ghost to lay to rest?) if only for his calming and steadying influence in the backline.

Percy’s career in SA is split into two parts — 1997 to 2001 and 2004 to 2007. Whereas in the first he was all flash and often not enough substance for a defensive minded nation, in the latter he was everything his detractors had claimed he wasn’t. Steady under the high ball, rock solid on defence, deadly at goal (kudos on him for turning that into his biggest strength) and a new found relish for getting stuck in (always a sure-fire way to please those north of the Jukskei). Our Percy has certainly paid his dues and earned his way into the annals of Bok history and our hearts.

A measure of how he’s been rehabilitated in my books, is how, when I chanced upon him at gym (insert own joke here) last year, my first reaction wasn’t to lob a gob of snot his way (the love of Jouba being greater than class) but to mark out like a total fan boy and ask for a picture, which, despite being in a rush with son in tow, the man obliged. Thanks for that boet.

Most (myself included) still believe he lacked that bit extra (that magic that set Jouba, HO and Gysie apart from their peers) that turns a great player into a legend. The stats never lie and one could never argue with 98 caps, 900 points, two Tri-Nations and a World Cup (and that altercation with a camera).

So Percy, as your century beckons, may I join the rest of the rugby public in saying congratulations, well done and more importantly, thank you for proving us all wrong.

That hair is still dodge though boet. Can’t help SACS boys hey?