Percy

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Interesting thumbnail, Denise

Percy in full flight is still one of the most spectacular sights in rugby. Guy had some serious speed.

Percy was a far better player when he returned back from Newport.

His overall gameplay and confidence, especially his pole kicking and kicking out of hand was on another level with the experience that he got playing overseas.

Percy was ok - lacked the hard edge 

FFS Dave he played the second half of the WC final with a buggered leg and never flinched. A brilliant player, if he was in a NZ backline he could have been every bit as explosive as Christian Cullen…..and there was no more reliable a kicker in 2007

Percy was recently swimming in the ocean and started drowning, and was actually saved by a dolphin.

Dave unfortunately once more you are not on board with a great Springbok player from years past.

If possible could you give this forum your top six Springboks at #10.

Appreciated.

Ah the great Percy Montgomery :) 

A Carel Bok?

And his Springbok shirt is much nicer than the tat we all get these days….

Percy was good, he was just not great and I put that down to lacking the hard edge - he was quick and elusive and to his credit bulked up as much as possible but still tended to flinch in contact 

And yet you rate the sieve Libbok who misses a tackle for a try every game….don’t you think that’s a total contradiction? Percy was much more physical than the Libster, and wasn’t tasked with guarding 10 channel.

Different positions you can get away with a lack of physicality at 10 but not 15 and 13.

Libbok, Jantjies, Marcus Smith, Russell, Mc Kenzie, Ford, Richie M - no physicality 

Chat disagrees:

The toughest channel to defend in rugby largely depends on the context—whether you're a forward or a back—but generally, the "10 channel" (the space around the flyhalf) is considered one of the hardest areas to defend. Here’s why:

1. The 10 Channel (Flyhalf’s Defensive Area) - One of the Toughest

• Target for Ball Carriers: Opposition teams often send big ball carriers (No. 8s, inside centers, or crash-running wingers) straight at the flyhalf, who is typically one of the smaller, less physical defenders.
• Playmaking Pressure: The flyhalf must balance defensive duties with playmaking responsibilities, meaning fatigue and decision-making under pressure become factors.
• Traffic & Decision-Making: Defenders in this area must make split-second decisions—whether to tackle, drift, or trust their inside support—while facing quick passes and late offloads.
• Example: Teams used to send Manu Tuilagi or Ma’a Nonu charging at weaker flyhalves like Quade Cooper to exploit this channel.

Different positions you can get away with a lack of physicality at 10 but not 15 and 13.

So many tries scored straight through the 10 the past few weeks - I've even turned it into a running joke with my "when in doubt, run at the flyhalf" type of comment. So not sure how you can say that  you can get away with a lack of physicality at 10. That's the channel every big runner, be it 12 or a forward, is going to keep hitting.

That's the channel every big runner, be it 12 or a forward, is going to keep hitting.

Have to agree.

Who's better Percy or Frank?

As opposed to Willie...who is the most physical of specimens, Dave?

Willie is a very sound technical tackler, and that's all that is needed at 15, from a defensive perspective.

For sure Willie is not physical but it’s all that mastery that he brings from the back that far outweighs his lack of physicality 

As for the 10 channel, agree it’s a target but my point is that the majority of the 10’s out there are all built like Manie 

A flyhaos lack of physicality can to a degree be covered by loses as was the case with the Great Naas Botha. Not so at 15. 

Percy was a bit on the frail side as anybody with two eyes could see. Compare him defensively to Johan Heunis who was a proverbial rock on defence. Still Percy had a fine career. 

"Percy in full flight is still one of the most spectacular sights in rugby. Guy had some serious speed."

...It was the flowing hair that did it for me!

It literally gave me a hard on to watch his hair bounce.