As Eben Etzebeth prepares to make his 100th Test appearance, SARugbymag.co.za takes a look back at the Springbok centurions who have come before him.

The first name that comes to mind when you think Springbok centurion is Percy Montgomery.

Still the highest point-scorer in Bok history – despite retiring from Test rugby  14 years ago – Montgomery became the first South African Test centurion in 2008 when he ran out against the All Blacks at Newlands.

Besides being the first Springbok centurion, what makes Montgomery’s 102 Test caps even more phenomenal is that he accumulated 50 in just four years, from 1997 to 2001, before moving to Wales, where his international career was halted due to the Springboks’ selection policy at the time.

After three years out of Test rugby, Bok coach Jake White brought ‘Monty’  back to South Africa, and over the next four years he would become the backbone of the Bok side that went on to win the World Cup in 2007.

While his 100th Test ended in a 19-0 defeat, Montgomery’s last Test was a fitting send-off as the Boks pumped Australia 53-8 at Ellis Park in their final game of the 2008 Tri-Nations. He ended his Test career with 102 caps and over 80 Springbok point-scoring records.

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