Montgomery eyes more Wales glory

SOUTH AFRICA v WALES
Second Test venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Date: Saturday, 14 June Kick-off: 1400 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru & online

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Montgomery is the Boks' record cap holder and points scorer

Record-breaking South Africa full-back Percy Montgomery is eager to further his outstanding record against Wales.

But the 95-cap 34-year-old says that Saturday's second Test in Pretoria will not see a repeat of when the sides met at Loftus Versfeld in 1998.

Montgomery scored 31 points on the darkest day in Welsh rugby history as they went down to a record 96-13 loss.

"Wales have raised their game so much since, they're a proud rugby nation and will be up for this," said Montgomery.

It's always special for me to play against Wales Percy Montgomery The History: Wales v SA

"Mike Ruddock, my old coach from Newport, took them to a Grand Slam [in 2005].

"[Wales lock] Ian Gough played in that game in 1998, you only have to look at how much he has improved to see the change in Wales' game."

Montgomery was first capped against the 1997 Lions, but after representing his country more than 50 times he was in the international wilderness until a move to Newport in 2002 revitalised his career.

"It's always special for me to play against Wales, I've got a lot of friends there," said Montgomery, who will be on the bench this week.

He won his Springboks recall in 2004 and has gone on to become his country's most-capped player and leading points scorer with 878.

After taking a key role in last year's World Cup-winning campaign, Montgomery's move to Perpignan played a part in him losing his international place to Conrad Jantjes.

Montgomery celebrates one of his 25 tries for South Africa

He came off the bench and into the centre in last week's 43-17 win over Wales, scoring his 25th try on his 95th international appearance and remaining on course to become the first Springbok to win 100 caps.

"That landmark is approaching, but I'm trying not to think about it," Montgomery told BBC Sport Wales.

"It's never about personal goals, it's about the team.

"The win last week meant a lot to us as a new team under a new coach.

"Wales won't change a lot this week, but will try to get more possession and work through the phases.

"We will keep doing what we do best, we'll try to be more aggressive and stop their momentum."

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Montgomery had encouraging words for James Hook, the Ospreys fly-half who has been selected by Wales at full-back, the first time he has played 15 at fully professional level.

"Hook is just a natural ball player," said Montgomery. "He has an eye for the gap and will do well there."

Montgomery will return to Perpignan next week for their French Championship semi-final match, but has recently re-signed for his first side, Western Province, and will be available for their Currie Cup campaign.

"We made a family decision to come back home, and it's just a fairy-tale to be able to end my career where it all started," he said.

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South Africa 96-13 Wales, Loftus Versfeld, 27-06-98

Scorers - South Africa: Tries: Pieter Rossouw (3), Stefan Terblanche (2), Percy Montgomery (2), Andre Venter (2), Franco Smith, Johan Erasmus, Krynauw Otto, McNeil Hendricks, Joost van der Westhuizen, Bobby Skinstad; Cons: Montgomery (9); Pen: Montgomery

Wales: Try: Arwel Thomas; Con: Arwel Thomas; Pens: Arwel Thomas (2)

Teams - South Africa: PC Montgomery, CS Terblanche, AH Snyman, PG Muller, P Rossouw, PF Smith, JH van der Westhuizen, RB Kempson, J Dalton, AC Garvey, K Otto, MG Andrews, J Erasmus, GH Teichmann (capt), AG Venter. Replacements: McNeil Hendricks for Terblanche; HW Honiball for Muller; W Swanepoel for van der Westhuizen; AE Drotske for Dalton; AH 'Ollie' le Roux for Garvey; RB Skinstad for Andrews; AD Aitken for Teichmann

Wales: BI Hayward (Ebbw Vale), GR Evans (Llanelli), M Taylor (Swansea), J Funnell (Ebbw Vale), DR James (Pontypridd), AC Thomas (Swansea), P John (Pontypridd), M Griffiths (Pontypridd), BH Williams (Richmond), JD Davies (Richmond), Andrew P Moore (Swansea), I Gough (Newport), N Thomas (Bath), CL Charvis (Swansea), KP Jones (Ebbw Vale, capt). Replacements: D Williams (Llanelli) for Hayward; SM Jones (Llanelli) for Funnell; DS Llewellyn (Ebbw Vale) for John; GR Jenkins (Swansea) for BH Williams); DR Morris (Neath) for Davies; G Lewis (Pontypridd) for Charvis; CP Wyatt (Llanelli) for KP Jones

Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)