DAVID SHAPSHAK, Johannesburg | Wednesday 12.30pm.
CATS’ coach Andre Markgraaff named his Super 12 squad of 22 on Tuesday, instead of his starting 15 despite warnings from rugby administrators to name the squad 48 hours before the clash with ACT Brumbies on Friday.
Rian Oberholzer, chief executive of the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu), reportedly warned Markgraaff not to contravene International Rugby Board rules that require a side to be named two days before a game – which the Super 12 and Tri-Nations competitions must adhere to.
Markgraaff was planning to name his side 30 minutes before Friday night’s match at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
Brumbies wing Joe Roff is out of Friday’s match after turning an ankle in practise in Durban — where the Australian outfit been training for the opening game of the southern hemisphere tournament.
Flanker Owen Finnegan is also out, perhaps for up to six months, after injuring his shoulder.
Meanwhile, the Coastal Sharks have named a side for their opening Super 12 rumble against New South Wales at Kings Park stadium in Durban on Saturday without key players who are injured.
Eighthman and captain Gary Teichmann, flyhalf Henry Honiball, prop Adrian Garvey and crash-tackling centre Pieter Muller are all sidelined due to injury.
Still, South Africa’s most successful side in the regional competition against New Zealand and Australia still features an impressive line-up, with at least six Springboks on the bench.
Wayne Fyvie will captain the side in the absence of Teichmann, who still has a lingering neck injury.
New South Wales rugby selectors picked Christian Warner on Tuesday ahead of Wallaby fly-half Manuel Edmonds for the Waratahs’ Saturday match. Warner started the Waratahs’ two pre-season matches ahead of Edmonds, who was the first choice fly-half for most of last season. – Reuters
The squads:
The Cats: Dirkie Groenewald, Naka Drotske, Basil de Coning, Willie Meyer, Dougie Heymans, Philip Smit, Victor Matfield, Johan Erasmus (capt), Andre Venter, Andre Vos, AJ Venter, Piet Krause, Werner Swanepoel, Hakkies Husselman, Boeta Wessels, MJ Smith, Japie Mulder, Lourens Venter, Chester Williams, James Small, Jearus Nicholas, Kobus Engelbrecht
ACT Brumbies: Mark Bartholomeuz, Marco Caputo, Ben Darwin, Anthony Ekert, Gordon Falcon, Ipolito Fenukitau, Owen Finegan, David Giffin, George Gregan, Mitch Hardy, Justin Harrison, James Holbeck, Troy Jacques, Rod Kafer, John Langford, Stephen Larkham, Adam Magro, Damian McInally, Andrew Moloney, Rod Moore, Stirling Mortlock, Patricio Noriega, Jeremy Paul, Ben Plenty, Brett Robinson (captain), Joe Roff, Jon Shelley, Iliesa Tanivula, Craig Wells, Jim Williams
The Sharks: Andre Joubert; Stefan Terblanche, Shaun Payne, Joe Gillingham, Justin Swart; Jacques Benade, Chad Alcock; Brad Macleod- Henderson, Wayne Fyvie (capt), Charl van Rensburg, Mark Andrews, Steve Atherton, Ollie le Roux, Chris Rossouw, John Smit. Reserves: Russell Bennett, Deon Kayser, Hentie Martens, Warren Brosnihan, John Slade, Morne Visser, Brent Moyle
NSW: Duncan McRae, Jason Jones-Hughes, Jason Little, Nathan Grey, Scott Staniforth, Christian Warner, Chris Whitaker, Tiaan Strauss, Stu Pinkerton, Michael Brial (captain), John Welborn, Tom Bowman, Andrew Blades, Phil Kearns, Richard Harry. Res: Sam Payne, Manuel Edmonds, Matt Dowling, Willie Ofahengaue, Daniel Manu, Cameron Blades, Tim Tavalea