As a follow-up to the previous three articles pertaining to news about the Australian, New Zealand and Africa 1 conferences, this article provides detail on the fourth conference, Africa 02.
Proudly containing the Kings, Lions, Sharks and Jaguares, it is one of the more interesting conferences to analyse.
Not only because there are two new teams within the one conference, but because squads and extended squads are still being finalised for some and the amount of transfers to the Sharks’ forward pack will make their team slightly unrecognisable from last season.
Let’s skip the preamble and have a look at what we can expect.
Kings (new team)
Projected finish in Africa 02 conference: fourth
Squad (to be finalised January 4)
Props: Jacobie Adriaanse, Tom Botha, Schalk Ferreira
Hooker: Edgar Marutlulle
Locks: Cornell Hess, Tyler Paul, Steven Sykes
Backrow: Thembelani Bholi, Stefan Willemse, CJ Velleman, Aidon Davis, Junior Pokomela
Scrumhalf: James Hall, Kevin Luiters
Flyhalf: Louis Fouche, Shane Gates, Elgar Watts
Centres: JP du Plessis, Stefan Watermeyer
Wing: Siyanda Grey
Fullback: Malcolm Jaer
Coach: Deon Davids (formerly coach of SWD Eagles)
The lack of information given above should be enough to know that the Kings are going to be underdone during this year’s competition. So far only 20 players have been signed, not even enough to fill a match-day squad, and of that list I struggled to put together a XV in which each player has actually played in the position that’s been listed next to them.
On top of that, the team that has been listed shouldn’t strike fear into anyone, with the majority of players coming across from other South African sides where they could barely get a gig on the bench.
Unless the remaining signings are all Test-quality players, the Kings will struggle to outdo anyone in the competition. The centres combination of Stefan Watermeyer and JP du Plessis is actually quite alright, and the locks Steven Sykes and Cornell Hess should be able to cause trouble during lineouts.
But until the rest of the squad has been named I can’t say much else about a team that is only still in the competition because of a financial lifeboat from higher powers in South African rugby. Good luck, Kings, I hope you can develop some talent and claim some wins, but it’ll take something special.
Potential XV for opening game
1. Jacobie Adriaanse
2. Edgar Marutlulle
3. Schalk Ferreira
4. Cornell Hess
5. Steven Sykes
6. Thembelani Bholi
7. Stefan Willemse
8. Aidon Davis
9. Kevin Luiters
10. Elgar Watts
11. Siyanda Grey
12. Stefan Watermeyer
13. JP du Plessis
14. Malcolm Jaer
15. Louis Fouche
Lions
Place at the end of 2015 regular season: eighth
Projected finish in Africa 02 conference: third
Players in: All additional players to the 2015 competition were named in the extended/training squad.
Players out: Schalk van der Merwe (Montpellier), Mark Pretorius (SWD Eagles), Kwagga Smith (SA Sevens), Lohan Jacobs (released), Alwyn Hollenbach (retired), Mark Richards (Eastern Province Kings).
Extended playing/training squad: Justin Ackerman, Ruan Ackermann, JW Bell, Fabian Booysen, Cyle Brink, Ashlon Davids, Bobby de Wee, Lourens Erasmus, Selom Gavor, Lloyd Greeff, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Koch Marx, Jacques Nel, Ramone Samuels, Pieter Scholtz, Ricky Schroeder, Victor Sekekete, Dylan Smith, Gerdus van der Walt and Jano Venter.
The Lions are a confusing beast as I can only source the five players above who are leaving and there don’t appear to be any new faces incoming outside of the Currie Cup as of yet.
In saying that, the Lions produced their best season to date last year and were only one or two wins away from being in the finals. I guess Johan Ackermann’s motto was why mess with a winning combo?
The starting team should be fairly similar to the one that outperformed expectations in 2015, but they’ll need to keep continuing these improved performances to stand a chance in the newly formatted Super Rugby tournament.
The backrow combination of Warwick Tecklenburg, Jaco Kriel and Warren Whitely is seriously underrated, expect some more havoc to be wreaked around ruck time by these gentlemen. Throw in a formidable front row, reliable starting and reserve halves options and a wealth of exciting centres and wings and it’s not crazy to think the Lions are capable of going far in this tournament.
However, they lack the depth of other teams and it will take a near-perfect run of injury-free games to keep this team in the hunt. I hope they do better than I think they will, but they’re an unpredictable bunch these men from Johannesburg, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Potential XV for opening game
1. Corne Fourie
2. Robbie Coetzee
3. Ruan Dreyer
4. Andries Ferreira
5. Franco Mostert
6. Jaco Kriel
7. Warwick Tecklenburg
8. Warren Whitely
9. Faf de Klerk
10. Elton Jantjies
11. Courtnall Skosan
12. Harold Vorster
13. Lionel Mapoe
14. Ruan Combrinck
15. Andries Coetzee
Sharks
Place at the end of 2015 regular season: 11th
Projected finish in Africa 02 conference: first
Players in: Coenie Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), Chiliboy Ralepelle (unattached – available only as of April 2016), Ruan Botha (Stormers), David McDuling (Reds), Jacques Potgieter (Waratahs), Philip van der Walt (Biarritz), Paul Jordaan (Natal Sharks), Wandile Mjekevu (Perpignan), Willie le Roux (Cheetahs), Joe Pietersen (Cheetahs).
Players out: Matt Stevens (Toulon), Jannie du Plessis (Montpellier), Bismarck du Plessis (Montpellier), Mouritz Botha (Newcastle Falcons), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Stormers), Marco Wentzel (released), Willem Alberts (Stade Francais), Ryan Kankowski (SA Sevens), Cameron Wright (Montpellier), Lionel Cronje (released), Fred Zeilinga (Cheetahs), Waylon Murray (released), Francois Steyn (Montpellier), Paul Perez (released), Jack Wilson (Otago), SP Marais (Eastern Province Kings).
Extended playing/training squad: Lukhanyo Am, Hyron Andrews, Garth April, Christiaan de Bruin, Johan Deysel, Jean-Luc du Preez, Gerhard Engelbrecht, Francois Kleinhans, Sias Koen, Marius Louw, Mzamo Majola, Sibusiso Nkosi, Barend Potgieter, Innocent Radebe, Juan Schoeman and Ayron Schramm.
The Sharks, who are nearly single-handedly supplying their affiliate Jake White’s Montpellier side, are looking dangerous after a disappointing 2015 by their own lofty standards.
Some smart imports in the form of Coenie Oosthuizen, Jacques Potgieter, Paul Jordaan, Willie le Roux and Joe Pietersen will boost their squad and all players are capable of delivering high-quality performances in the starting team if given the chance.
As is the fashion apparently, no team can have good signings without giving away some of their most talented. The du Plessis brothers, Jannie and Bismarck, are both heading offshore and are followed out the door by Pieter-Steph du Toit, Willem Alberts, Francois Steyn and SP Marais, all of which are big losses for the Sharks.
SP Marais in particular was a very interesting player to watch, it’s a real shame to see him leave, but the door is open for a new look backline to take control of the second African conference. I’m hoping for a breakout year for Andre Esterhuizen, who sadly didn’t get much of a chance in 2015 to demonstrate his mix of power and speed, but if he can link up with any of lethal speedsters Paul Jordaan, Lwazi Mvovo or Willie le Roux, then opposition defences are in for a rude shock.
Another special mention must go to Chiliboy Ralepelle, who will end his two-year, steroid-related ban from rugby on April 10, 2016. The highly experienced Ralepelle was the first black captain of a Springboks team, achieving this remarkable feat while he was only 19, making him the youngest captain at the same time.
Nearly 10 years will have passed since making history and his call-up to the Sharks could be just the revitalisation needed for both the club and for Ralepelle personally, so I want to wish good luck to him.
I’m expecting the Sharks to top their conference, but it may not be as easy as just rocking up despite having two new teams to the competition alongside them.
Potential XV for opening game
1. Tendai Mtawarira
2. Chiliboy Ralepelle
3. Coenie Oosthuizen
4. Ruan Botha
5. Stephan Lewies
6. Marcell Coetzee
7. Jacques Potgieter
8. Renaldo Bothma
9. Cobus Reinach
10. Patrick Lambie
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Paul Jordaan
14. JP Pietersen
15. Willie le Roux
Jaguares (new team)
Projected finish in Africa 02 conference: second
Squad
Props: Santiago Garcia Botta, Ramiro Herrera, Lucas Noguera Paz, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Hookers: Agustin Creevy, Julian Montoya
Locks: Matias Alemanno, Juan Cruz Guillemain, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti
Backrow: Rodrigo Baez, Facundo Isa, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Tomas Lezana, Pablo Matera, Javier Ortega Desio, Leonardo Senatore
Scrumhalf: Martin Landajo
Flyhalf: Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Juan Martin Hernandez, Nicholas Sanchez
Centres: Gabriel Ascarate, Emiliano Boffelli, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando
Wings: Santiago Cordero, Manuel Montero, Ramiro Moyano
Fullback: Joaquin Tuculet
Coach: Raul Perez (formerly assistant coach of Argentina)
Welcome to Super Rugby Argentina, specifically los Jaguares! This has to be the most dangerous looking roster on paper out of any team’s debut year in the existing Super Rugby competition.
Boasting a squad where every single player has Test match experience is a feat that not even the Crusaders could muster in their prime, but does this alone guarantee success? I’d like to think it could lead to great things, but the competition is a lot longer and more intense than what the majority of these players would be used to.
There’s no point naming the individual merits of each player, the Jaguares have serious talent in every position and depth to cover the bench comfortably too. After finishing fourth in the 2015 Rugby World Cup in though, it must be said that the players will be primed for combat and that Super Rugby can only further enhance the already dangerous national team.
It’s hard to settle between the fantastical view I have for this team and the slightly more reasoned and logical version that regularly escapes me, but I can’t see this team falling below the bottom half of the ladder and if the travel doesn’t get the better of them, they could feature heavily in the finals.
Be wary any team that has to play the Jaguares in Argentina – that’s when you’re in for a world of hurt. Here’s to a good season in Super Rugby and hopefully it only makes the battles in the Rugby Championship even more hotly contested and tight.
I don’t think many teams will be prepared for the unique attacking pattern that’s in the Argentinian style of rugby, so it’s that aspect of play that I’m looking most forward to from these newcomers. That and Nicholas Sanchez popping over a few drop goals.
Potential XV for opening game
1. Lucas Noguera Paz
2. Agustin Creevy
3. Ramiro Herrera
4. Matias Alemanno
5. Tomas Lavanini
6. Juan Manuel Leguizamon
7. Javier Ortega Desio
8. Leonardo Senatore
9. Martin Landajo
10. Nicholas Sanchez
11. Santiago Cordero
12. Juan Martin Hernandez
13. Jeronimo de la Fuente
14. Manuel Montero
15. Joaquin Tuculet
Well that’s a wrap for this particular segment. I hope I’ve been able to identify some of the teams you may not be as knowledgeable on. If you already knew all this, or if you disagree with certain predictions or opinions, then I hope I’ve helped get you as excited for the 2016 Super Rugby season as I am!
As always, let me know your thoughts on the teams and who you’ll be looking out for and bring on the New Year!
JesuitGeneralBlackPope
Guest
MONTERO, LAVANINI, ALEMANO
Rugby Fixation
Roar Guru
That's a fair call NaBUru38, the bench is nowhere near as good as the starting team, but the bench looks better and more experienced than most other teams benches in my view. I'm very excited to see how they go, I think they'll become a lot of people's favourite team to watch if they play with a similar zest for running and attacking rugby like the Pumas so often exhibit
NaBUru38
Guest
As Uruguay, I root for the Jaguares. But I'm afraid to disagree that they have "depth to cover the bench comfortably." For each injury, replacements won't be as top-notch.
Peter Hughes
Roar Rookie
I'll back Loss Jaquares to win this group. They'll be too good for the Sharks imo
Ollie Michie
Roar Rookie
They could always lose to the Sunwolves ; )
Nobrain
Guest
The info was given by Geg Peters in a press conference and trust is true, I did no do the calculations my self.
Craig Simpson
Guest
When you look at the draw the jaguares travel is actually favourable. Their first tour to SA is in round 1 so they can fly out as early as they like, they then have a bye in round 3 meaning that they have 2 weeks to fly home from this tour before they face the Chiefs. The other SA tour is also just before the June break therefore their SR games will not be affected by flying back. Yes the blues, sunwolves, lions and kings games are all after long distance flights but let's be honest they could get away with putting out their u20 side against the Kings at home. If they rotate the squad all of these games are winnable and they could avoid taking some key players to Japan. The sunwolves on the other hand could struggle with rotation...
ABasquefan
Roar Rookie
I don't know from where did you get those 245 hrs. The Jaguares are going to travel: - twice to SA (4 trips or journeys). One to play the Cheetahs and the Sharks and the other to play Lions and Kings. Each journey are 12 hrs. so they will have 48 hrs of flight. The most logical is to rent a charter for going directly and sell the remaining seats to supportes to spend 15 days in SA but if they cannot do it they will have to go through Brazil which means around 2,5 hrs per journey, another 10hrs.In overall 48 or 58 hrs. - Once to NZ. 14 hrs. to play the Blues, canes and saders - From NZ to Japan. 14 hrs - From Japan to Argentina. 32 hrs. This last travel Argentina-NZ-Japan-Argentina will take 4 weeks and 60 flight hrs. So, if I'm not doing the calculation completely wrong, the jaguares will have to travel 108 or 118 hrs. And the other teams also have to travel, in a range of around 40-60 hrs, depending on in which conference the teams are.Except Stormers and Bulls that have to travel: -Once to Singapore. 12 hrs each trip. 24 hrs -Once to Australia. 15 hrs each trip. 30 hrs - Once to Argentina. 12 h. each trip 24. In overall Bulls and Stormers will travel around 78 hrs. There's no huge diference with the Jaguares, 30 hrs more of flight in 6 months. But, yeah, after the SR the players will have to travel for the RC and the EOYT whith which they are going to finish the year exhausted and their performance in the EOYT could be serously limited but this is another story
ABasquefan
Roar Rookie
The Kings are a joke of a team and their inclusion is beyond any comprehension. If a team is not ready to compete at this level, and this goes also for the Sunwolves, let them out untill they are ready. This is going to be a complete failure. The SANZAR is not going to gain any audience in Japan with a team that is going to lose every match except that against the Kings. And the inclusion of both teams is going to adulterate the competition. Without any doubt the Jaguares is going to sweep the South African group (both SA conferences). They are a test side with 22 of the RWC squad plus another 6-8 internationals (young prospects that didn't make the RWC squad but have already palyed tests). But according to what we saw the last autumn the line-up listed need some corrections: - At 4 Guido Petti was the incumbent and Alemanno came from the bench in almost all the matches. - At 6 Pablo Matera started almost all the matches including the QF and the SF - At 7 Fernandez-Lobbe was the incumbent but he's still at Toulon. Facundo Isa was the loosie coming from the bench and he's before Leguizamon and Ortega-Desio in the picking order. - At 13 Matias Moroni started 4 of the RWC matches (though Bosch was probably the incumbent but he's not in the team) IMO this conference will finish: 1. Jaguares 2. Lions 3. Sharks 4. Kings
Nobrain
Guest
FYI there are two other scrum half, Ezcurra and Bertranu . Just to let you know the Jaguars to forfill the regular season will have 245 hrs of fly time. This is not travelling time, just hours on a plane. There are not direct flights from Argentina to SA, the must fly to Brazil and have layover of 4 hrs there. The travel time after playing the Jpanese Franchise it will take at least 35 hrs to get back to Buenos Aires. If you add up that most of the team will be playing in the RCH and in the November window in Europe is going to be a long year for these players. For travelling matters I thing this season has the AUS teams as beneficiaries until they make it to the playoff.
Brisbans Boys
Guest
The Argentina for mine will be the team that will rock this conference to its core they will be almost impossible to beat at home. The pack will be a beast the backs are fast. The travel may take its toll but they are a very deep team so injury cover will be pretty good It is interesting to see that sports bet has them at fairly low odds to make the final and they actually have skin in the game. For mine the winners of the conferences are the Jaguares Chiefs Unfortunately Brumbies Bulls (Surely they cannot be rubbish with that squad.
Craig Simpson
Guest
Interesting article, i do believe this conference is harder than the other African conference. However despite the travel I believe the jaguares have got to be clear favourites, they play the bulls and stormers meaning easier trips to japan and the cheetahs. They will be a force at home and since they have a full squad of internationals so they could effectively put out 1 team of internationals one week then a different internationally capped side the following. This rotation option will help them overcome the travel issue and if they gain a home play off spot they will go far. The lions are a solid team with no stars, they remind me of the highlanders from last year and I think they will finish second. The sharks are the opposite, some big name players but I think they will disappoint. The advantage of this new system means nobody knows who the real favorites are! As an on looking Scot I cannot wait for our season to finish and the best tournament in the world to start.
Digby
Roar Guru
Hi Mitch, Obviously I like to believe they will go well and indeed one step further but my gut feel would be middle of the road to be honest. I am liking the Chiefs for the NZ conference at the moment while it will be interesting to see how the Highlanders back up. Manu is a big loss for them but Squire is a quality acquisition if he can stay off the physio table so no reason to think they cannot repeat their solid efforts from last season. How Umaga influences the Blues is a big unknown, I suspect it will be positive but it is a young, albeit exciting side. Really looking forward to how Gibson develops, along with Ioane. The Crusaders have a good pack and I am unsure that they will be as bad as some have declared, hard to really put a finger on it. As for the Canes, happy with the front row despite the losses while Thrush is a bit harder to replace given his experience but also the amount of work he got through. Needless to say Broadhurst needs another big season while Abbot shapes as the likely replacement for Thrush with Thompson able to add skill and athletiscm if needed. Lloyd and Cridge are promising young prospects coming through so the nucleus is there for a quality tight five. Loosies too look good, Savea out with sevens is a drawback but Gibbons wont let anyone down and Shields, Vito, Thompson (again) all provide good options and I am looking forward to watching Fafita develop at this level. Halves are strong as are the outsides however the midfield is a concern. You cant lose that sort of leadership, experience and skill without it having some effect, not too mention the proven combination they had. Is Ahki the man at 12? Time will tell while Procter is likely to have the inside running at centre with Boyd at the helm. How they gel will be interesting and lest not forget Marshall has spent a bit of time at 12 for Taranaki and how Laumape may fit in will also be interesting to observe. Would not be surprised to see Woodward given a run at centre at some point and I wouldn't mind seeing Barrett tried at fullback with Black at 10 to see how that may pan out. Creates a logjam on the outside I know, but something to chew on. I am aware this squad is pretty hungry and working hard so we will see soon enough.
Rugby Fixation
Roar Guru
That's one of the biggest complaints with the draw. It's hard to execute fairly give the conferences aren't regulated the same way. With some teams missing out on playing entire countries and the African conferences all getting to play each other twice, there's not really a way that accurately reflects the table I guess. I'm sure they had statisticians and analysts working out the fairest way to make the new system work, but the theory and the practice are quite different, so it'll be interesting to see how the ladder looks at the end of the season and if it's deemed as an accurate reflection of how each team compares
Rugby Fixation
Roar Guru
No I think that's actually a pretty good idea, it'd definitely help their depth, the problem as always is money. The SARU have already had to step in just to keep the Kings afloat and in afraid there'd be a similar story for the Namibians if they were to field a team. The good news is that they have a few of their players plying their trade in the bigger, overseas comps now. Even players like Bothma of the Sharks, who also played in the RWC for Namibia, gain great exposure and can translate that to the rest of their team. It's something I'd like to see as well, but I think they'll need to prove themselves a bit more of a worldwide force, like Japan have started doing, before they get recognised and funded enough to join.
Rarojuice
Guest
I dont understand why only 1 team from the SA group gets a wild card place, and 3 teams from the Aus/NZ group get a wildcard place? Shouldn't they just take the remaining top 4 teams regardless of group or conference and put them in?
Rugby Fixation
Roar Guru
Agreed Michael, this is a much tougher pool to pick from, and hard to imagine two teams from this pool making the finals (as only three African conference teams can make it) given this lot have to play the kiwis. It could really go either way for me at the moment. Lions did better than the Sharks last year and have retained much of the same mob, but the Sharks have pulled in some pretty exciting names like Potgieter and Le Roux, it'll be interesting to see if they can bounce back. The Jaguares of course are the surprise packet. With the best team on paper out of this conference, it'll come down to how they adapt to this intense competition with a fair bit of travel and not a lot of breaks. I look forward to watching them play.
Rugby Fixation
Roar Guru
Thanks for the appreciation, Diggercane! It's a fun little exercise to help get excitement flowing for the season ahead. I still think the Canes are finals bound this year, but a lot tougher with some of their exports, how do you think they'll go in 2016?
Michael
Guest
These teams have much tougher draws than the other African conference. I am predicting that the Lions will top the conference, Jaguars second, Sharks close third and Kings fourth.
chubbzyk96
Guest
Tell me if I am mad but would it be a completely crazy idea to have a Namibian team in Super Rugby in 5 years or so? They seem to.be at a majority of RWC so.it would be good to include them.in Super Rugby to help with the development of Rugby in that country.