South Africa: I Would Never Have Left Percy Out, Says Jake White

Posted to the web 24 July 2008 Zeena Isaacs Johannesburg SPRINGBOK Rugby World Cup-winning coach Jake White yesterday insisted that if he had been the national coach he would never have excluded fullback Percy Montgomery from the squad thumped 16-9 by Australia last week. The decision by incumbent coach Peter de Villiers to drop Montgomery - just two internationals away from becoming the first Springbok to play 100 Tests - left rugby fans flabbergasted last week, especially since wins on tour have traditionally been rare. White said experienced combinations were vital for the Springboks to capture the Tri-Nations crown this year, especially given the wealth of talented young players in the mix. White made his comments at the launch in Johannesburg of his YouTube channel. "I would never have dropped Percy," he said. "Why... [read full story]