So after nearly two months of no rugby of real significance south of the equator (other than good old Sevens) to indulge in, it’s safe to say that I, as I’m sure is the case with many others like myself, have been feeling withdrawal symptoms quite acutely, which is why February can’t come by quickly enough!

These next few weeks are going to be particularly strenuous …

The coming month sees the beginning of the newly formatted Super Rugby competition – and I’m sure I speak for many when I express my gratitude at the tournament’s powers-that-be in their decision to simply call it “Super Rugby” instead of having to change the comp’s official name every time a team is added.

This year’s particular edition of the tournament serves more purposes than usual. It will effectively be a trial of the new conference format, and those in all facets of the game will no doubt observe the success or failure of this structure with great scrutiny. Although I should warn the likely majority of Antipodeans reading this that many from my part of the world, South Africa, will most likely observe this new structure with a distinct sense of skepticism (for reasons which I will elaborate and expand on in my follow-up article to this one) as opposed to the optimism I’m sensing from the east of the Indian Ocean, particularly from Australia. So if by the end of the season, perhaps even by the half-way stage of the competition, if things happen as I think, don’t be alarmed to hear shouts coming out of the Republic, because, well, you’ve been warned.

Other than the trialing of this new format, the tournament also ushers in the SANZAR nations’ preparations for this year’s Rugby World Cup in earnest. So the way the teams fair throughout the competition will no doubt offer an indication, and I stress the word indication because experienced observers will know that Super Rugby form does not always transfer to the Test arena, of what position the southern hemisphere powerhouses are in leading up to rugby’s showpiece tournament.

So in light of this I’ve decided to follow my fellow Roarers’ lead in giving the scoop on the statuses of the teams of their respective conferences by giving my own summary of where the South African teams are in terms of preparation, player form, player movement, coaches, Springboks, possible strategies, etc. If any other South Africans, or anyone else for that matter, find any errors in terms of information, particularly with regards to the latest developments, feel free to correct me.

THE LIONS

I’ve seen in various threads on this site that many have quite thoroughly written off the Lions as any form of threat in this year’s competition. Well, to be honest, based on last year’s shameful Super 14 form, I would too. Frankly, I thought the team should have been booted out of the tournament in place of a more deserving team.

That view, however, is based on the Lions’ Super 14 form. Their recent Currie Cup form, on the other hand, is a different matter entirely. The Lions showed good form during the Currie Cup of 2010, and really were capable of beating anyone on their day. In fact, their form improved so much that they were unlucky to miss out on the semi-finals of the nation’s premier domestic competition. But, as the saying goes, one should make their own luck, and the Lions did themselves no favours by dropping a few games, admittedly difficult ones, and ultimately left themselves with only a slim and nearly impossible mathematical chance of progressing into the last four.

Now, I’m sure many people reading this have heard this same tired old song coming out of South Africa numerous times before (the Cheetahs being a prime example), but I do think the revised structure of Super Rugby will work in the Lions favour. I’m not suggesting that they are akin to the Cheetahs, who traditionally play like crazy when faced with domestic opposition, but I do think that they could benefit significantly from the rather less arduous travelling schedule offered by the new format, as the Lions usually travel quite disastrously.

The other thing that should count in their favour is that, unlike a few other teams in SA, they, perhaps, aren’t as dogged in playing one particular style of football, which could give them a slightly unpredictable dimension when up against the foreign teams in particular, because the rest of the SA teams will be wary of them because of their Currie Cup exploits.

Am I suggesting this will be the beginning of a Lions resurgence? Well, let’s just say that I’m hedging my bets, because I’ve been down this road before. Remember the Lions’ stellar, by their standards, 2007 Super 14 season? We all had such high hopes after that…

Coaches:

– John Mitchell

Bringing this man to Johannesburg was undoubtedly the best thing the Lions have done in years. It’s been some time since a Lions coach has had a resume such as Mitchell’s (other than, perhaps, Dick Muir). More than anything else the former All Black coach did for the team in 2010, he instilled a in them a steely edge. No more of the all-attack-but-no-defense approach that saw them get flayed time and again in last season’s Super 14. The man, with the help of former Springbok wing Ray Mordt, have transformed that disgracefully flighty defense into a solid one. He’s also reignited some grunt up front; similar to what Ewan McKenzie has done with Queensland.

-Carlos Spencer (assistant coach)

The Quade Cooper of yesteryear has helped the Lions maintain and evolve their attacking dimension, particularly with regards to the team’s flyhalves.

-Nico Serfontein (junior/age group coach)

Though many of you reading this will have little idea who this man is, in my eyes his recruitment is almost as significant as that of Mitchell.

Here’s why: this man had, before coming to Johannesburg, long overseen the development of the accolade- and trophy-laden Under 19, 20, and 21 teams of the Blue Bulls, thus having had a large part to play in the development of senior Bulls such as Morne Steyn, Pierre Spies, Francois Hougaard, and Fourie du Preez (got your attention now, right?).

This helps to rectify what has long been a fundamental problem with Lions rugby: junior development. Trust me, I know. I live in Johannesburg, and am what one would term a ‘youngster’ because I’ve only been out of school for three or four years, so I’ve seen the structural problems first-hand.

Players:

The loss of players such as fullback Louis Ludik and loose forward Willem Alberts to the Sharks will hurt the side, particularly now that Alberts is a Springbok of great promise.

However, the players that the team has in its ranks will likely offset these losses. Bandise Maku, the former third choice hooker from the Bulls, has come to Joburg most likely seeking more game time in a quest for the green and gold. Wikus van Heerden has also returned from Saracens in England and played the full 2010 Currie Cup season, so expect him and the tireless flanker Cobus Grobbelaar to lead the Lions with the enormous gusto that is so characteristic of the duo. Waylon Murray has also been lured from the Sharks in what is also presumably a quest for more game time, and he will benefit from already having played the full 2010 Currie Cup season with the team.

There is also talk of Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira possibly joining the team. Apparently he’s been offered a contract but has yet to decide on whether he’ll come to Joburg or stay in Durban.

The player on the Lions’ roster that will be the most keenly observed will undoubtedly be the 20-year old Elton Jantjies, Carlos Spencer’s prime trainee and the five-eighth who played a major part in the Lions’ run of form in the Currie Cup. So impressive was his form that he toured Britain and Ireland with the Boks last year, and played against the BaaBaas. So yes, he’s being earmarked, along with his age-mate Patrick Lambie at the Sharks, to be a future Bok 10. The kid has undoubtedly got talent, and I for one can’t wait for it to be displayed on the Super Rugby stage.

THE CHEETAHS

This has got to be the team in the South African conference that stands the most to gain from the new format. This is a team that has traditionally, particularly in the past decade or so, been one of the domestic top dogs. In fact, for them to fail to make the semi-final rounds of the Currie Cup is a huge disappointment. This form, however, has never been able to be transferred into Super Rugby.

Will this be the year when they make a significant push for the top spots? Well, based on last year’s Currie Cup form, their potential for stellar success in this year’s Super competition is dubious. They faired decently, by their own high standards in the comp, throughout the league stages of the Currie Cup but were comprehensively beaten by Western Province (who had all their Springboks available) in the semi-final. Because they’ll face similar odds throughout the competition, plus the added obstacle of international teams whom they don’t usually fair well against, I’m inclined to think that although they’ll be far more competitive than we’ve seen in Super Rugby, they’ll not necessarily be real contenders for top honours in the South African conference.

A lot can change in a few months though, and if they truly embrace and take advantage of the conference format they could even find themselves in the finals (I’m being very optimistic here). How much further they’ll get from there, though? I’m not so sure.

Coach:

As far as I know Naka Drotske will remain at the helm. Ever since Rassie Erasmus vacated the job, Naka has seen little success at this level and one wonders if he ever will in his tenure. But again, with this new format, who knows what he can do with his side? How much he, his managerial team, and his senior players strategize in order to make the most the conference system will play a huge part in the Cheetahs’ progression.

If they can stay competitive enough to beat their domestic rivals frequently, home and away, then Drotske’s next task will have to be to instill the confidence in his charges to win one or two games overseas, something which has almost completely eluded them in this competition. Only then can the Cheetahs hope to be serious title contenders.

Players:

Unlike last season, their captain fantastic, Juan Smith, will likely be partnered in his exploits by the pocket battleship that is Heinrich Brussow, arguably the team’s most valuable player. The two are virtually the team’s only real first choice Springboks, with others such as winger Jongi Nokwe, hooker Adriaan Strauss, and eighth man Ashley Johnson only being fringe players for the national side. They are, however, quality players in their own rite who will be invaluable to the side, particularly Adriaan Strauss, who has proven himself to be quite the leader, and should assist Juan Smith in galvanizing the Cheetahs. Johnson is simply an explosive player and I hope the advantages provided by the new format give him, as well as forgotten Springbok Kabamba Floors, a platform in which to excel more prominently on the greater southern hemisphere stage.

Jongi Nokwe is a player with great ability, and is likely to be at the RWC, but he really needs to round out his game, for pure speed and nimbleness of foot does not automatically create a great winger.

The only real player coup the team has made so far is that of acquiring the services of Andries Strauss. The burly centre has decided to move from the Sharks back to his homeland of the Free State, and will be an added boost to the side’s midfield stocks, as well as cause a slight selection headache for coach Drotske, even more so after having played for the Boks against the Barbarians this past season. Speaking of the midfield, how the team fires throughout the season will depend significantly on the form of flyhalf Meyer Bosman, one of the side’s other forgotten Springboks. Though he will probably never be a great five-eighth, he does what is necessary to execute the Cheetah’s open style of play, the employment of which will be a determining factor in the team’s tidings throughout the tournament.

THE STORMERS (Western Province)

This is a side that has improved immensely over the past few seasons, much to the delight of many here in the Republic. Their improvement has been so dramatic that in last season’s Super 14 they became the first South African side in the competition’s history to defeat all Kiwi opposition. I’m sure I don’t have to stress how Herculean a feat such as that is.

No longer are they the also-rans they have been for the vast majority of the past decade; they have now become serious title contenders, something emphasized by their first appearance in last year’s Super 14 final for many a year. To further back up their renewed heavyweight status, they also made it to the Currie Cup final of 2010.

Western Province’s strength runs much deeper than just the senior side, though. In 2010 they were represented in the finals of all national domestic competitions at every level; those include all the age group levels as well as the Vodacom Cup and managed to win the vast majority of those competitions.

Unfortunately though, whilst these junior sides have proven that they have what it takes to win virtually any trophy on offer, the senior side’s particular trophy cabinet remains vacant. In both the Super 14 and Currie Cup finals they were comprehensively beaten (admittedly, both of these finals were played away from home). Whilst I believe that they will soon mature enough to prosper on these ultimate stages, I have a slight worry that this could become something of a hoodoo for them if they don’t.

The important thing, though, is that they now have experience of how to make it to grand finals, and the more they make it there, the more likely they’ll be to eventually jump over that last hurdle and bring a senior provincial trophy back to the rugby-mad Cape. And judging by the form they displayed last season, and the retention of nearly all of their player personnel, we shouldn’t be too surprised to see them build on their successes of last season.

Coaches:

Allister Coetzee, Jake White’s former Bok assistant coach, continues to nurture a winning culture in the Cape. He and Western Province’s Senior Professional Coach, Rassie Erasmus, as well as assistant coaches Matthew Proudfoot (forwards) and Robbie Fleck (backs), have done immensely well in changing the team’s approach from being a purely glitz and glamour, all out expansive one, to one that is far more well-rounded, i.e. total rugby. Thanks to Coetzee and Erasmus in particular, the Stormers and Western Province have become far more tactically astute, but they need to make sure they remain so when they find themselves in finals, because it has largely been a result of the lack of big-game tactical nous that has seen them fall significantly short of the mark in these situations.

Players:

One of the really positive things that has happened in the Cape is that the Western Province management has managed to assemble and develop a truly world class side. Schalk Burger has matured into a fine leader. In place of the ruggedness he became famous for is now a charisma and focus which channels that ruggedness in the right places. His performances will be closely monitored in the lead-up to the Test season, particularly with Heinrich Brussow likely to be back in the picture this year.

The side now boasts a formidable forward pack, rather than the sub-par ones they fielded in years gone by, which has given the side a much-needed level of mongrel. Andries Bekker, the Stormers’ giant Springbok lock, perhaps epitomizes the pack’s evolution. From being a lock that was on the wing more often than he was in rucks, he has become a real hard-nosed grunter who just happens to have the skill of a three-quarter.

The pack’s loose trio is nothing short of world-class. Burger, flanker Francois Louw and number 8 Duane Vermeulen form a lethal combination of breakdown skill, and sheer ball-carrying power. Vermeulen is one that many feel should have earned a Bok cap by now and it will be interesting to see whether the former Cheetah manages to achieve this in such a big year with there being such fierce competition for the green and gold number 8 jersey in this country.

The team’s greatest strength probably lies in its back division, which is quite simply overflowing with class. Last season’s recruitment of Highveld natives Jacques Fourie and Bryan Habana gave the side an extra edge on both attack and defense and will likely continue to serve the team excellently. Add to that the return of Jean de Villiers from Munster in Ireland (he already played most of last season’s Currie Cup), the rising star that is centre Juan de Jong, winger/fullback Gio Aplon, and the side virtually have a Springbok backline, and one that is unshackled by the conservative playing style of the national team.

The midfield is an area that will be very hotly contested, especially with all three of the above-mentioned centres being Springboks. With Jean de Villiers and Jacques Fourie (who are widely regarded as being easily the best centre combination in SA) set to conspire to rip opposition defenses apart for the first time at Super Rugby level, and de Jong having made his presence felt at both provincial and Test level, coach Coetzee will find himself with a massive selection headache, particularly because Bok coach Peter de Villiers intends to utilize all three centres this year.

THE SHARKS

In recent years this team has become something like the Waratahs when it comes to Super Rugby finals; they come so close to success but always somehow manage to lose in some agonizing way or another.

Last season’s Super 14 wasn’t the greatest for the Sharks, though, and it seemed as if their season only began by around the halfway stage. In the earlier stages of the 2010 season they had the most dreadful luck, in that they were often within sight of victory but always somehow managed to fall short of it. With that sort of starting form, few would have predicted that they would have made the push that they did by the business end of the competition. Miraculously, they even managed to find themselves in a position, albeit a very slim mathematical one, to make the semi finals.

In the Currie Cup they built on this form markedly and became the form side in the country. Their excellent performances eventually saw them win back the hallowed trophy that they had previously won in 2008, as well as some renewed confidence in their own championship qualities.

Unlike the Cheetahs, the Sharks have proven themselves to be more than capable of transferring good domestic form to the Super Rugby stage, and there really is no reason for them not to do it again this season. Super Rugby, though, requires a little more than just the re-channeling of domestic form to the international provincial stage. Do the Sharks have that little extra something? Spark, determination, grit or whatever you want to call it? Well, if they do, then they will have to bring that to the table if they hope to go the extra distance and actually win this tournament. If not, then they will be no more than just a very competitive heavyweight that will again fall off the horse when it matters most.

Coach:

John Plumtree, Dick Muir’s former assistant coach of the side, has largely seen success with this side at both Currie Cup and Super 14 level, but one gets the sense that he too is now yearning for top honours in Super Rugby. Since Muir left the job Plumtree has done well to maintain the high standard of football that we have now come to expect from Natal. His side has proven that they are also more than just competitive overseas, which is an invaluable asset in this competition.

After rumours of player and managerial rifts in the earlier stages of last season’s comp, Plum did a good job of refocusing the side on what was important and undoubtedly played a large part in the Sharks’ mid-season fight-back. It will also be interesting to see how he manages the side’s front-line Boks and you can bet your house on the national coaches having a large say in terms of player well-being (as will be the case for all countries and provinces).

Plumtree’s side certainly has the ability, but the big Kiwi needs to make sure the team maintains high standards in order to ensure that their full potential is met.

Players:

For a side that is so stacked with Test experience, it goes without saying that the Sharks, provided this experience is effectivvely utilized instead of just unnecessarily cotton-woolen, are all but obliged to make a big impact on this year’s comp. Their entire front row, for one, is composed of Springboks, and all rugby people in SA will keenly observe the way this aspect of the side is managed.

Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, and Jannie du Plessis all have class written all over them and their selection as first choice players should be a forgone conclusion, right? Wrong. Springbok captain John Smit is still very much in the picture after rejecting an offer from the Lions to stay in KwaZulu Natal. Though many may whine and moan about his physical ability, his leadership qualities are so vital to any team he plays in that shirking him from a match 22 is simply not an option.

The problem at both the Sharks and the Springboks is that all the other three front-rowers are more capable than Smit is, and the chances of him pushing ahead of them on form alone are negligible. But there is one thing we can all be certain of: barring injury or any other debilitating factor, John Smit will lead the Boks to New Zealand in 2011. Peter de Villiers has made no bones about this. Therefore how he will be utilized at the Sharks, as a starter or a benchwarmer, as a hooker or a tighthead, will draw many eyes.

The other thing that will be interesting to see is whether or not Smit will captain the Sharks this season after fullback Stefan Terblanche’s sterling commandment of the role in the Currie Cup. The former Bok winger has emerged as a fine and charismatic leader, one who his team will easily rally behind, and it is likely that Smit will be used as his deputy.

Overall, the side’s forward pack is a very tough and uncompromising one. Their loose trio in particular is very formidable, now comprised almost entirely of Springboks, with only Jacques Botes never having donned the green and gold. The arrival of Willem Alberts from the Lions at the start of the Currie Cup gave the pack’s loose trio a balance between grunt and ball-carrying pace and flair provided primarily by new Springbok Keegan Daniel and Ryan Kankowski. This is another aspect of the side that will have to be managed carefully, and it will be interesting to see whether Alberts’s impact player status sees him bench more games than he starts, particularly because he has to vie for a loose forward spot against Daniel and Botes.

The only positions in the backs that will likely to be lacking Springbok experience will be the centres, with only the injury-plagued Adi Jacobs being a seasoned national three-quater. Halfback Charl McLeod was a late call-up to the Grand Slam tour last year and played against the BaaBaas, and has become the Sharks’ first choice scrumhalf after Ruan Pienaar’s departure for Ulster in Ireland and Rory Kockott seemingly having fallen out of favour. Bok winger JP Pietersen is likely to be back after an injury layoff and how he combines with his fellow outside backs Terblanche and Odwa Ndungane will play a large role in the effectiveness of the team’s attack.

Add to all of this yet another new Bok winger Lwazi Mvovo and Plumtree may have to do some reshuffling of his team’s backline. The winger, who amazingly only started playing rugby at the age of 17, made a strong impression in the failed Grand Slam tour last year, particularly in his match against England. Therefore expect to see Terblanche deployed at centre (as he was for a large proportion of the Currie Cup), with one of Ndungane, Pietersen, or Louis Ludik moving to fullback to accommodate Mvovo.

As with the Lions, the Shark’s five-eighth position will be as keenly observed as any other aspect of the side. Patrick Lambie, though those in Australia and New Zealand have only really seen him used as a fullback or centre, is a player we Saffers expect great things from. After having a good debut Super 14 season, the 20-year old simply flourished in the Currie Cup, even becoming one of the highest ever point scorers in a South African domestic grand final. He displayed a master class performance in that game, capping it off with two well-scored tries. Such form was hard to ignore for the national selectors, and he played off the bench in every one of the Grand Slam matches. After such a good first season, he is expected to build from it and become one of the best 10s in the southern hemisphere.

THE BULLS

Need I say more? This side is on a mission to create a Super Rugby dynasty to match that of the Canterbury Crusaders and are aiming to make this year one more step towards that goal. It remains to be seen whether or not any side can stop this rampaging force from Pretoria.

After having emphatically won the tournament in 2009, they had to dig deep at certain stages in 2010. But often having to dig deep creates more of a championship team than merely swatting opposition like flies. But most importantly, winning is becoming such a formality for the Bulls that after the side lost to the Sharks in the rain-drenched semi-final of the Currie Cup, Victor Matfield didn’t seem all that crestfallen to miss out on a chance to claim yet another title in his post-match interview. Although he was obviously disappointed, one got the sense that for him it was a case of “oh well, this’ll be the one that got away”.

It will be interesting to see whether or not the new format works in the Bull’s favour. There really shouldn’t be any reason why it should hamper the side, though, for they have proven that they can travel well, and while they respect their domestic opponents, they certainly aren’t daunted by any of them.

Coaches:

After a less than spectacular first season in charge in 2008, Frans Ludeke has endeared himself to the Loftus faithful almost as much as his predecessor Heyneke Meyer. He will have to maintain the side’s hunger for success after already having achieved so much of it. Ludeke’s charges will, however, be out to prove that they can continue to dominate this tournament regardless of what format it adopts.

Under his charge, the side’s attacking edge has continued to evolve into something joyous to watch, and the Bulls can no longer be accused of only playing 10-man rugby. Ludeke, with the help of backs coach and former Bok winger Pieter Roussow have created a far more rounded side who have not completely deviated from their traditional strengths.

So Ludeke’s task will mainly be to maintain the Bull’s sky-high standards, in addition to the task of managing his side’s numerous Springboks with an eye to the RWC.

Players:

This side is bristling with so much talent its almost scary. Even with the losses of such players as Bandise Maku, Burton Francis (both to the Lions), Bryan Habana (to Western Province/The Stormers at the start of 2010), and Jacques-Louis Potgieter (The Sharks), they still form a frightening unit.

The side can easily field a front row filled with Bok experience. Gurthro Steenkamp will continue to play the house down in a bid to wrest the Bok loosehead spot from Beast Mtawarira, whilst the hooker position will be very hotly contested. Gary Botha will likely be aiming to attend another World Cup this year, whilst attempting to stay ahead of the other Bulls hookers Chilliboy Ralepelle and Derek Kuun, though it is highly likely that Kuun will be deployed on the flank, from where he captained the side during the stages of the Currie Cup when the team’s Springboks were on national duty.

The management of skipper Victor Matfield and his long-time partner in crime Bakkies Botha will also be key to the team’s success in the competition, and the development of Flip van der Merwe (also a Bok Grand Slam tourist last year) in the inevitable games that his seniors don’t play in will be closely watched.

The loose trio is well balanced, with the combination of the two ball-pilfering flankers Kuun and Deon Stegman nicely complimenting the awesome talent of Pierre Spies.

The halfback position is one that will be intriguing, because although Fourie du Preez pretty much picks himself, Francois Hougaard has made his presence felt, and will push hard for the number 9 jersey; both for the Bulls and for the Springboks. Although last season Hougaard was utilized as a winger, and with resounding success, his natural position is at scrumhalf, and was only employed on the wing because, to use Victor Matfield’s words, the team “had to have him on the field”.

Morne Steyn remains a metronome when it comes to keeping the scoreboard ticking yet many would like to see him round his game out more. This may surprise many readers, but Steyn was a running flyhalf in his junior years, before being turned into a kicking dynamo by the Bulls’ kicking coach Vlok Cilliers. There were at times glimpses in last year’s Super 14 of his willingness to run the ball, and he certainly plays a lot closer to the gain-line than his predecessor Derrick Hougaard, but this is something that needs to evolve significantly if he is to take his place amongst the all-round great five-eighths in world rugby.

Wynand Olivier is a second five-eighth that I’ve long been a fan of, and he continues to excel at this level, but it remains to be seen whether or not he can well and truly make the step up to the Test arena.

The side’s back three will be boosted by the arrival of Bok winger Bjorn Basson (provided he is cleared of doping charges) from the Free State. He was the Currie Cup’s highest try scorer this past season (and of all time), and the thought of that sort of clinical finishing being made available to the Bulls is an ominous one. It will be interesting to see whether he can combine with Zane Kirchner, the incumbent Bok fullback who will probably never be called great, and Gerhard van den Heever to create a truly potent counter-attacking back three.

So does the South African conference now seem a little more competitive than it looked on paper?