And in the Tri Nations, Australia's Stirling Mortlock was injured by a challenge from South Africa's Bakkies Botha.
Montgomery's star is riding so high that he was reluctant to take a month off after the Tri Nations triumph.
But Australia was a big step forward, we did what a lot of other Welsh teams haven't done and beat a Tri Nations side.
Allied to this was an on-field slump that saw South African sides struggle in the new Super 12 and Tri Nations competitions, and against the 1997 Lions.
BBC: SPORT | Rugby Union | Internationals | Mighty Boks: South African rugby
After the two Tests with Wales on 26 May and 2 June, Australia play Fiji a week late before their first Tri Nations match in South Africa.
He has won nine of his 13 games in charge, including tour victories over England, Scotland and Wales this autumn, but finished bottom of last year's Tri Nations table.
But Hook has the international experience that could prove vital against the Tri Nations super-powers of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand that Wales will welcome to Cardiff in November.
King, a former test centre, who won the Tri Nations with Australia in 2006, admitted that he feels contract matters are often harder in rugby league due to decisions being made half-way through the season.
Gatland has won 14 and lost 14 of his 28 games in charge and has led his side to just one win over Tri Nations opposition, the 21-18 victory over Australia in Cardiff in November 2008.
The Pumas had a superb World Cup, becoming the first team from outside the Six Nations and Tri-Nations to reach the semi-finals.
Their performance let to demands from fans around the world that the South Americans, who do not have regular high-level competition, be included in either the Six Nations or the Tri-Nations as soon as possible.
Reigning Six Nations champions Wales were the only northern hemisphere side to beat Tri-Nations opposition this autumn, defeating Australia 21-18 in Cardiff on Saturday, and they could face the Wallabies in the quarter-finals.
He had his nose broken by Australia forward Willie Mason during the current Tri-Nations competition.
Fourie will miss two Currie Cup matches and the third Tri-Nations test against New Zealand on 21 August.
The Tri-Nations champions paid the price for ill-discipline as Julien Dupuy kicked four penalties and Morgan Parra one.
Perhaps they didn't have the success they would have liked and the country would have liked in the Tri-Nations.
The fly-half set a new individual Tri-Nations record with all 31 points via a try, conversion and eight penalties.
Great Britain have won Tests against the Kangaroos in recent years but never clinched an Ashes or Tri-Nations series victory.
He joined up with his new team-mates last week after resting following his memorable return in the Tri-Nations last year.
Van Heerden started both of South Africa's overseas matches in the Tri-Nations competition when White rested key players, including Burger.
Matt Giteau added a third try, with Stirling Mortlock kicking 10 points to put them top of the Tri-Nations table.
The latest suspension further diminishes the slim hopes the world champions have of retaining the Tri-Nations title they won last year.
South Africa go into the Tri-Nations off the back of a thrilling 2-1 series victory over the British and Irish Lions.
England must finish in the top four if they are to avoid one of the three Tri-Nations teams in the group stages.
He played for Great Britain in the 2006 Tri-Nations and was part of the England team who beat France earlier this month.
He missed last year's Tri-Nations Series because of a knee problem when he should have been captaining Great Britain for the first time.
The one thing that seems unlikely to happen is for Wales to have gained the confidence that comes with taking a Tri-Nations scalp.
Zimbabwe travel to England to play in two Tests before taking part in a tri-nations one-day series against Hussain's men and the West Indies.
Williams believes Wales can sustain their challenge on this occasion, but says despite their Tri-Nations tribulations the All Blacks remain a potent, world-class force.
White took charge of the Boks in 2004 and oversaw a stunning transformation in their fortunes, leading them to the Tri-Nations title that year.
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