White, who led South Africa to World Cup glory last year but is now working as a marketing director, believes it was a mistake not to include the hugely-experienced Montgomery in the starting XV for the first of three clashes with the Wallabies.

"I would never have dropped Percy," said White.

"Why invest 98 caps in a player and not play him on tour? He might not be playing his best rugby. But it is unbelievable what his presence alone could do for the players around him.

"It was amazing to see what having a guy like Os du Randt in the change room did in my tenure."

White went on to make it clear that he feels Peter de Villiers must use all the experience available to him if the Springboks are to run out winners of the 2008 Tri Nations.

"You have to select the experienced guy. Aside from being the most experienced group in the World Cup final, they won it.

"We have a pack in which almost all the players have or are nearing 50 caps. You must use them."