Cats v Brumbies
JOHANNESBURG - Losing 0-64 is a serious setback in any rugby language, perhaps even a disaster.
Not for Cats Super 12 coach Laurie Mains though.
The former All Blacks coach feels something positive came out of the hiding his team absorbed from the Brumbies in Canberra last year.
"Some might say it was a disaster, but I say it was a learning experience," Mains said in the lead-up to tomorrow's clash against the Australians at Ellis Park. "Things are different this year. For one thing, the Brumbies have to play to the same set of rules as we do."
Last week, the Brumbies came unstuck against the Sharks in Durban, where the home team were merciless in their efforts to shut them down.
Mains said yesterday that he would not adopt a similar strategy, even though it earned the Sharks an unlikely 17-16 win.
"We've actually learnt nothing from the Sharks other than you can get some success if you tackle all the time. We don't play anything like the Sharks."
It is doubtful the Brumbies will play in Johannesburg as they did in Durban.
]They will be without three key players, injured playmaker Stephan Larkham and centre James Holbeck, and fullback Andrew Walker, who returned home to be beside his sick mother.
Randwick utility back Craig McMullen will start at first five-eighths and Rod Kafer at second five-eighths.
By blowing the Highlanders away so spectacularly last week, the Cats earned praise, but a few suggested they might have peaked too early.
"I am not concerned at all," Mains said.
The Brumbies remain an outstanding and innovative combination, despite a reshuffled backline. The Cats are without Japie Mulder, Werner Swanepoel and Jannes Labuschagne. Fortunately for Mains, replacements Eugene Meyer and Chad Alcock have fitted into the set-up easily.
"This time last season, when a new player came in, I had to work really hard to get them up to scratch. This year has been much easier, probably because players such as Vossie [Andre Vos] and Rassie [Erasmus] go out of their way to help the new guys understand what their responsibilities are," Mains said.
The Cats are second in the Super 12 standings - behind the New South Wales Waratahs - after beating the Stormers and the Highlanders, fuelling expectations they can again reach the semifinals.
Mains was quick to play down those expectations. "Our focus is very much on taking it one game at a time, and for now it is on getting a win against one of the top sides in the competition."
- NZPA
New Zealand's Super 12 squads
2001 Super 12 schedule/results
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