Cats' contingency plan intact

Barry Glasspool|Published 25 years ago

By Barry Glasspool

The Stormers will play in white for Saturday's Vodacom Super 12 clash against the Cats at Ellis Park. Otherwise there are no changes in the 22-man squad which started their campaign with a rousing 22-15 win over the NSW Waratahs.

On the basis of "don't fix it if it's not broken" coach Alan Solomons said: "We are happy with the overall performance at Newlands so we are staying with the same starting XV and bench."

Similarly, Cats' mastermind Laurie Mains has named the same squad which accounted for the Bulls in a tight 23-19 win at Loftus. Once Thinus Delport's bruised hip, which forced him off against the Bulls, was given the all-clear the Cats starting lineup was certain remain intact.

On the colours switch, Solomons said it was important that there was no confusion and if the Stormers wore their customary all-black strip it would be too similar to the Cats' dark blue outfit.

"This is going to be one of the hardest Super 12 matches. We are expecting the Cats to be as charged up for it as we will be," he added.

Solomons is hoping for a good up-country turnout of Stormers' supporters.

"They can still wear black. They don't have to change for this game simply because we are playing in our alternative white strip," he added.

Meanwhile, Golden Lions RU CEO Johan Prinsloo reports high interest in Saturday's match.

"We could have one of our best crowds for some time. We would like as much vocal support as we can get."

Tickets are on sale at Ellis Park (R60) and schoolchildren, seated behind the goalposts, free.

TEAMS

Cats: Kobus Engelbrecht; Chester Williams, Japie Mulder, Grant Esterhuizen, Thinus Delport; Hennie le Roux, Werner Swanepoel; Andre Vos (capt), Andre Venter, Piet Krause, Victor Matfield, Jannes Labuschagne, Willie Meyer, Leon Boshoff, Marius Mostert. Bench: Jannie van der Walt, Louis Koen, Jimmy Powell, Torros Pretorius, Johann Ackermann, Pierre Ribbens, Delarey du Preez.

Stormers: Percy Montgomery; Breyton Paulse, Robbie Fleck, Brendan Venter, Pieter Rossouw; Braam van Straaten, Dave van Hoesslin; Tokkie Kasselman, Hendrik Gerber, Corne Krige (capt), Selborne Boome, Hottie Louw, Cobus Visagie, Charl Marais, Robbie Kempson. Bench: Robert Markram, Wayne Julies, Dan van Zyl, Chean Roux, Wayne Boardman, Toks van der Linde, Johan van Wyk.