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Cats Among the Falcons

Springbok Skinstad
By Mally (12/02/03) February 13 2003
The arrival of the 6 Nations Tournament brings with it a long mid season lay off for many players & a serious lack of live games for the majority of rugby fans unable to get to Twickenham, Murrayfield, Lansdowne Road etc... So what is a Newcastle fan to do now they have a Falcons free weekend?
Luckily for us, there's no need to start contemplating those DIY jobs, tackling the gardening, taking the cats to vets, or that long awaited trip to see the mother-in-law, well not this weekend anyway.
    This Friday (kick off 7.30pm) Newcastle Falcons take on South African Super 12 team The Cats. The South African side are over here on a 2 match warm up tour before they kick off their Super 12 campaign against The Bulls on February 21st. The Cats first game of the warm up tour was on Tuesday against Northampton Saints and did not really go to plan as they lost 33 - 8. Needless to say they will be hoping for a better performance on Friday night!

      The Cats have a few well known names in their squad such as Joe van Niekerk (pictured), James Dalton, André Pretorius and newly appointed captain Bobby Skinstad. However The Cats most infamous player Jannes Labuschagne, will not be playing as he is back home in South Africa, having been banned for 3 matches for that late tackle on Newcastle Falcons' Jonny Wilkinson back in the autumn.
        Friday should see the return of Joe van Niekerk from injury. Van Niekerk has been rested by the Cats coach Tim Lane due to a knee injury, and is expected to get his first run out against the Falcons. Last Sunday Tim Lane was quoted as saying:
          "We don't want to rush Joe and we think it's best if we give him another two, three days to get completely over the injury. He will definitely get a run on Friday,"
            While Newcastle will be without the players involved in this weekend's various international fixtures, we are likely to see new signing Warren Britz in the team for the first time.
              In the past there's been talk of Super 12 rugby at Kingston Park, well now's the chance to see it & let's face what better way could you spend February 14th???
                  Photographs courtesy of Newcastle Falcons.

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