Legendary Springboks back Percy Montgomery has revisited his six-month ban in 2003, which resulted in him missing the Rugby World Cup.
The incident occurred during a Welsh Premiership match between Newport and Swansea, now the Dragons and Ospreys respectively.
Referee Nigel Owens red-carded the Springbok after he was adjudged to have pushed a touch judge. At the subsequent disciplinary hearing, Montgomery was slapped with a two-year ban, 18 months of which was suspended and was also fined for his actions.
Montgomery’s six-month ban
He would miss the World Cup in Australia, where South Africa bowed out at the quarter-final stages, losing 29-9 to New Zealand, with the tournament becoming infamous in Springboks rugby history for Kamp Staaldraad.
Montgomery, who was the first player to reach 100 Test matches for the Springboks, revisited the events that led to him missing the tournament when he appeared on the Behind the Ruck podcast.
22 years after the incident, the former Bok still claims that he did not push the assistant referee who slipped because he wasn’t wearing suitable footwear.
“It was at Newport. We were playing against Swansea, and Stefan Terblanche was at full-back in that game, and we were about 18-nil up, but it was raining in those miserable conditions in Wales,” he said.
“We already had one lock sent off red-carded, and all of a sudden it was 21-18, and I was just upset, and maybe I shouldn’t have played the game.
“Anyway, I went towards the ref, but I was talking to the other player, I was pointing at him, and the ref slipped, and I don’t know. And then I just walked off, and I said, ‘Guys, how can we lose from 18-nil up’.
“You had to be there to understand it. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the cameras [that they do now]. But the ref did slip. It was a wet game. I spoke to him, and he slipped; he didn’t wear studs, he was in takkies (shoes).”
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Eben was lucky
On top of his ban, Montgomery was fined £15,000 – over R333,500 on current exchange rates. He says that Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth was lucky that his suspension for eye-gouging Wales’ Alex Mann in November did not include a financial sanction too.
While he joked that he would love to get that money back, he added that it is important that match officials are respected, particularly because of how difficult the job is.
“I think Eben was lucky. I got six months and a £15,000 fine,” he said.
“Whether the ref slipped or was pushed, I think you have to have respect for the referees. It’s a tough job what they’re trying to do, and there are huge grey areas. The grey area is who can adapt the quickest, and the best is going to get the upper hand.
“I’ve got huge respect for the referees. It’s a tough job that they have.”
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