In the final instalment of our Super Rugby preview, we go to the country which is the setting of one my favourite recent films (District 9) – South Africa. I don’t think it’s likely we’ll be seeing a team packed full of ‘prawns’ anytime soon, but I suspect we’ll be seeing some out of this word rugby from some of the guys below at some point over the next 6 months.
Head Coach: Frans
Ludeke
Captain: Pierre
Spies
What happened last
year? The Bulls had a pretty decent season considering the majority of
their side jumped ship before the start of 2012. With a backbone of key Springboks leaving,
not many gave them a chance before they’d even run out onto the pitch, but they
dug up some pretty decent talent and impressed as they won 10 out of 16 games
to make the playoffs, despite losing 4 of their last 6. Even though this was all a pretty decent
result, you couldn’t help but feel some of their big names were under
performing, with Morne Steyn looking particularly out of sorts at times.
How do they look this
year? Pretty much the same. Ludeke
has resisted the temptation to implement wholesale changes and instead trusts
that the experiences of the last year will harden the team and motivate them
for a decent crack at the playoffs. He’ll
be looking to experienced Springboks like Pierre Spies, Steyn, and Zane
Kirchner to lead from the front and disprove the suspicions that their side isn’t
dynamic or mobile enough.
Key Player: Pierre
Spies. The big number 8 has never quite
hit the heights he hinted at when he first burst onto the scene, and is prone
to go missing in games. The captain is,
however, an incredible athlete and an inspiration when on form.
Prediction: The Bulls
have a tough start and it will be a big test of character on how they deal the pressure
situations that they will undoubtedly encounter. I personally have doubts that key players
like Morne Steyn or even Spies have the character to pull themselves out of a
run of average form, so this year may be another dry one for the Bulls. 3rd in conference (9th
overall)
Head Coach: Naka
Drotske
Captain: Adriaan
Strauss
What happened last
year? Well, despite only winning 5 games all season, the Cheetahs were
pretty decent at times. So decent in
fact, that they picked up a staggering 7 losing bonus points, all the while
playing a brand of rugby that was both entertaining and high risk, often to
their detriment. Obviously the narrow
losses also made it clear that although this was a team with bags of talent,
they lacked the necessary grit to throw a knockout punch when required and
seemed a little wet behind the ears. Not
unlike Quade Cooper in the boxing ring.
How do they look this
year? Er...not too great. They’ve
been hit with the not-particularly-helpful news just days before the start of
the season that influential flanker and World Cup winner Juan Smith won’t be
taking any part this year and has retired due to injury. Despite having Adriaan Strauss in the pack, a
world-class hooker, the Cheetahs still lack some real nous up front on how to
win tight matches and perform under pressure – and none of the signings have
really addressed that.
Key Player: Johan
Goosen. The fly half looked electric
when he burst onto the Super Rugby circuit last year, only to have his season
cut short by injury. With a howitzer
boot as well, he’s certainly a pretty useful guy to have on your side. But can the pack get him go forward ball
after the likes of Ashley Johnson have left?
Prediction: It
may sound negative, but the Cheetah’s haven’t brought in anyone to address the
issues of their leaky defence and weak mindset when it comes to closing out
games. I’m afraid it might be more of
the same for Cheetahs fans this year. 4th
(11th)
Southern Kings
Head Coach: Matt
Sexton
Captain: Luke
Watson
What happened last
year? Well not much, obviously. 2013
is the Kings’ first season in Super Rugby, but they were part of the scandal
which saw the Lions ‘relegated’ on a whim of the SARU. Despite one side’s loss being another’s gain,
judging by the Kings’ performances in the Currie Cup, they may be in for a
painful induction.
How do they look this
year? The most positive thing I can say is that they have nice kits. They have been shafted by the
promotion/relegation initiative which means they will undoubtedly be relegated
within a year, resulting in a lack of top players wanting to sign contracts
with them. That’s not to say they don’t
have talent in the ranks with the likes of ex-Toulouse teammates Virgile
Lacombe and Nicolas Vergalo, but they will come across sides of a different
class during this year and will be on the end of a fair few hidings.
Key Player: Luke
Watson. Yes, THE Luke Watson will be
leading the Kings this year (well he would be captain wouldn’t he – daddy’s the
President), but there are already fears he may be suffering from
big-fish-small-pond syndrome, believing himself to be too much of a big deal
for his team. If he rolls his sleeves up
however and puts in the hard yards, he could yet inspire the Kings to throw a
few surprises this year.
Prediction: There
is a very real risk that the Kings could go through the season with a big fat 0
next to their name come to July time.
Their first game up is against the Force at home, and could possibly be
their best chance of picking up a win – if they don’t, they’ll be in for a long
season. (5th, 15th)
Sharks
Head Coach: John Plumtree
Captain: Keegan
Daniel
What happened last
year? So near, and yet so far for the Sharks. Making 6th in the table, the
Sharks made history when they travelled to Queensland to beat the Reds, and
then to Cape Town to despatch with the Stormers, becoming the first side to win
two away matches in the playoffs in the process. Ultimately, a flight to New Zealand to play
the Chiefs proved a trip too far for the Natal side as they were hammered in
the final, but they came away with reputations enhanced and expectations
raised.
How do they look this
year? I think that this Sharks sides is equipped to go one step further
this year. After dominating the Currie
cup on a regular basis they should set a target of topping their conference as
an absolute minimum, and with new whipping-boys the Kings in their division,
they have a chance to rack up some serious points to make an impression on the
league as a whole as well. Just looking
down the roster demonstrates some serious power and pace in the form of Willem
Alberts, Keegan Daniel and KP Pietersen – you can see why they may be
optimistic this year.
Key Player: Marcell
Coetzee. The flanker has now established
himself now as a key member of the Springbok’s squad and his performances on
securing turnover ball against the best sides will be absolutely critical. It’s hard to pick just one man in a Sharks
side that’s packed to the props with talent, but Coetzee is fast becoming the
heartbeat of the side.
Prediction: I
think this Sharks side has the potential to go all the way this year. They have a decent home draw and if they can
learn from their experiences of last year, then they will be real contenders. 1st (1st, Champions)
Stormers
Head Coach: Allistair Coetzee
Captain: Schalk Burger
What happened last
year? The Stormers ground their way to yet another semi-final but also went
the whole season without earning a try bonus point and were about as
entertaining to watch as a documentary on fabric softener. Their defence was obviously massive on the
most part, but Stormers fans will be frustrated that yet again the team lacked
the killer instinct to go the distance – they weren’t helped, of course, by
formidable flanker Schalk Burger injuring his knee and sitting out the second
half of the season.
How do they look this
year? A couple of useful signings from the Lions, such as Elton Jantjies,
have boosted the Stormers ranks which already contain some seriously big names
in South African rugby – think Jean De Villiers, Bryan Habana, Juan De Jong,
Gio Aplon, Eben Etzebeth and Schalk Burger – and so they will certainly be
there or there abouts again this year.
The big question is whether the coaches have the structure in place to
make the most out of their undoubtedly talented backline and actually score
some tries this season – their defence wasn’t a problem.
Key Player: Schalk
Burger. He was notable by his absence
last season but is fit and raring to go now – and the Stormers will be hoping
he stays that way. When he’s on his
game, he’s a force of nature and plays a key part in disrupting the opposition’s
breakdown.
Prediction: They’ll
no doubt be challenging the Sharks for top spot in the conference, but I don’t
think they’ve addressed the deep lying problems behind their lack of tries last
year. The Stormers will make the
playoffs, but it will take some fireworks to make the final – and I’m not
convinced they’ve got the spark. 2nd
(4th, losing QFs)
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