The four South African Super 12 squads have been announced today at meeting with Springbok coach Harry Viljoen.

Agreements were thrashed out with the four coaches that Viljoen said would benefit South African rugby as a whole and he left the meeting a happy man.

One key agreement for the national coach was that made with Stormers' coach Allan Solomons who agreed to play one-time full back turned fly-half Percy Montgomery in the number 10 jersey for some games.

Overall the mood was said to be one of co-operation, to the extent that Springbok assistant coach Andre Markgraaff has also been made available to all the Rugby Super 12 coaches, and already the Bulls and Sharks have indicated a desire to utilise his expertise.

"I was delighted with the manner in which the meeting was conducted, the approach of every individual concerned and the willingness of every coach to contribute towards South African rugby and not just his region," said Viljoen.

Points of discussion included the role of the players from the recent Springbok tour, players identified as key individuals to the test squad, the drawing up of an official draft squad to provide back-up, and the necessity to hold National squad workshops during the Vodacom Rugby Super 12.

"The players given an opportunity on tour have to be involved in the Rugby Super 12. We all agreed on this," said Viljoen. "It is also important that we identify a squad of players who will act as cover to those players selected in the four regions.

"Solly (Stormers coach Alan Solomons) was very understanding of my position and, having coached in the Rugby Super 12, I appreciate he has an obligation to his region to do everything possible to win the tournament. We both were flexible in our approach towards the Monty issue and Solly and I have an
agreement that Monty will play matches at flyhalf. He will also play matches at fullback," said Viljoen.

"It is a win-win situation for both of us and the player will also benefit. Communication is so important to everything we want to achieve and that was one of the big positives to emerge from the meeting. There will be an open line between the Rugby Super 12 coaches and myself.

"I made it clear I did not want to try and subscribe to how they should coach or run their teams. I could also not force anything on them. Their attitude was excellent in that they all want to contribute towards a stronger national set-up and one of the ways to achieve this is to be successful in the Rugby Super 12."

Viljoen, who last year met with the Rugby Super 12 coaches prior to the national squad's tour to Argentina and the United Kingdom, said he had been encouraged by the attitudes then and even more so know.

"I explained the necessity to have regular workshops with a national squad of players during the Super 12. We need it if we are to maintain continuity. All the coaches agreed that they would make the players available for these workshops. I think this shows their level of commitment," said Viljoen.

The four Vodacom Rugby Super 12 squads for 2001:

Bulls: Backs - Dawie du Toit, Joe Esterhuizen, Marius Goosen, McNeil Hendricks, Hakkies Husselmann, Adrian Jacobs, Wynand Lourens, Gavin Passens, Dries Scholtz, Franco Smith, Casper Steyn, Joost van der Westhuizen (captain), Danie van Schalkwyk, Boeta Wessels. Forwards - Schutte Bekker, Piet Boer, Jaco Booysen, Frikkie Bosman, Janneman Brand, Jannie Brooks Braam Els, Johan Human, Gerhard Laufs, Thando Manana, Victor Matfield, Ralf Schroeder, Danie van der Walt, Nicky van der Walt, Johan Wasserman, Gunder Williamson.

Cats: Backs - Thinus Delport, Grant Esterhuizen, Dean Hall, Wylie Human, Conrad Jantjes, Louis Koen, Japie Mulder, Jimmy Powell, Werner Swanepoel, Jannie van der Walt, Clinton van Rensburg, Lourens Venter, Wikus Venter, Chester Williams. Forwards - Johan Ackerman, Leon Boshoff, Delarey du Preez, Johan Erasmus, Tokkie Kasselmann, Heinrich Kok, Piet Krause, Jannes Labuschagne, Willie Meyer, Baksteen Nell, Clark Roberts, Lawrence Sephaka, Hendro Scholtz, Andre Venter, Andre Vos.

* One player still to be added to the Cats squad.

Sharks: Backs - Stephen Brink, Craig Davidson, Gaffie du Toit, Trevor Halstead, Butch James, Deon Kayser, Ricardo Laubscher, Hentie Martens, Rodger Smith, Justin Swart, Stefan Terblanche. Forwards - Mark Andrews (captain), Warren Britz, Warren Brosnihan, Eduard Coetzee, Etienne Fynn, Bennie Jacobs, Ollie le Roux, Brad McLeod-Henderson, Brent Moyle, John Smit,
Philip Smit, Shaun Sowerby, Lukas van Biljon, Albert van den Berg, Charl van Rensburg, AJ Venter.

* Three players to be added to the Sharks squad

Stormers: Backs - Stuart Abbott, Jan Ackerman, De Wet Barry, John Daniels, Neil de Kock, Robbie Fleck, Robert Markram, Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Chris Rossouw, Pieter Rossouw, Braam van Straaten, Dan van Zyl. Forwards - Adri Badenhorst, Robby Brink, Quinton Davids, Pieter Dixon,
Pietie Ferreira, Hendrik Gerber, Robbie Kempson, Corne Krige (captain), Hottie Louw, Charl Marais, Faan Rautenbach, Bob Skinstad (vice-captain), John Slade, Thys Stoltz, Carel van der Merwe, Morne van der Merwe.

• One player to be added to the Stormers squad