Springbok flyhalf Percy Montgomery will play at fullback for the Stormers in the Vodacom Super 12 this year, but could see action at No 10 as well - depending on circumstances.

This is the agreement Springbok coach Harry Viljoen and his Stormers counterpart Alan Solomons came to at Monday's meeting between the national coach and his four Vodacom Super 12 counterparts.

The four South African squads for the 2001 Vodacom Super 12 competition were confirmed at the Johannesburg meeting, also attended by Rudolf Straeuli (Sharks), Phil Pretorius (Bulls) and Gysie Pienaar (Cats, in the absence of Laurie Mains).

Springbok assistant coaches Andre Markgraaff and Jake White also attended the meeting, chaired by Sarfu chief executive Rian Oberholzer.

There was a lot of speculation regarding the position of Montgomery, who has played all his recent Vodacom Super 12 rugby at fullback, but was used mostly at flyhalf by Viljoen on his maiden tour as Springbok coach. On Monday the two coaches came to an amicable agreement.

"Solly (Stormers coach Alan Solomons) was very understanding of my position and, having coached in the Super 12, I appreciate he has an obligation to his franchise 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 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 Super 12."

Points of discussion included the role of the black 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 Super 12.

"We are all committed to transformation and those players given an opportunity on tour have to be involved in the 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."

Viljoen and the four Vodacom Super 12 coaches will select a back-up squad of players who haven't been included in the squads in the next week or two.

Viljoen, who last year met with the Vodacom 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.

Markgraaff has also been made available to all the Vodacom Super 12 coaches, and already the Bulls and Sharks have indicated a desire to utilise his expertise.