South Africa received a boost ahead of this weekend’s one-off Test with France as veteran fullback Percy Montgomery was freed to play after a hearing with the sport’s governing body, the International Rugby Board (IRB), in London on Tuesday.
Montgomery was sent off in the Springboks’ 33-16 victory over Six Nations grand-slam winners Wales last Saturday after picking up two yellow cards.
However, at an IRB disciplinary hearing Montgomery was judged by Jeff Blackett to have made a legitimate tackle for the first yellow card and therefore rescinded it.
That means Montgomery can take his place in the starting line-up — if selected by coach Jake White — for the French clash on Saturday. — Sapa-AFP