This week we will take a look at the Africa 2 Conference, arguably the more competitive of the African conferences.
Here is Rob’s take on the Africa 1 Conference.
Lions
Last year – Runners up
Key player – Warren Whiteley
Who saw the Lions coming last year? One of the best rugby stories of the past decade, the perennial cellar dwellers surprised everyone making it to the big dance only to come up just short against the Hurricanes.
Johan Ackerman’s team were the top try-scoring team last season, scoring from anywhere on the field, playing a scintillating brand of rugby that caught everyone by surprise. This year no one will be surprised anymore.
They will know what is coming and here will be the challenge for the Lions, can they maintain that form? Players such as Rohan Janse Van Rensburg and Ruan Combrinck will be watched and marshalled a lot closer you would have thought and teams will put a lot pf pressure on Elton Jantjies.
Inspirational captain Warren Whiteley will look to continue his good form and along with Jaco Kriel offer one of the more mobile and powerful back row combinations.
With the team kept together they will once again excite but I think it will be tough to reproduce the heroics of last season.
Prediction: Semi-finals
Jaguares
Last year – 13th
Key player – Augustin Creevy
One of the biggest disappointments of last season, Los Jaguares really struggled in their first year in the competition, suffering the indignity of becoming the first and only team to lose to the Sunwolves.
They did show glimpses of what they can do, their comeback victory on the opening day against the Cheetahs will live long in the memory, but performances like that were few and far between.
This season they will not face any New Zealand teams and have the Brumbies at home so the draw has been kind. They need to start well on their tour of South Africa to build some momentum or it could be once again a long season for them.
If they do start well and turn their Velez Sarsfield home into a cauldron then they could go deep into the competition. They are a season wiser and have players that have played a lot of big international games together, I see an improvement this season but with a lot two separate tours of South Africa it will depend on what team turns up.
Prediction: Quarter finals
Sharks
Last year – eighth, lost in quarter finals
Key player – Patrick Lambie
The Sharks snuck into the quarter finals last season. Losing Patrick Lambie for most of the season was a big blow for the Durban-based outfit and they need him to be back to his best for them to progress out of the conference this season.
JP Pietersen and Willie Le Roux have both gone to the UK and their experience will be missed in a backline that lacks a bit of firepower.
Clement Poitrenuad’s signing is a very interesting one. On his day, still an absolutely quality rugby player that makes things look easy but his best days are behind him now.
As always, they will have a big pack and a lot of tries will be scored from a maul from a lineout I predict.
Michael Claassens is a cool experienced head behind the scrum that will help Lambie guide them around the park. Their games against Los Jaguares could prove pivotal as to who joins the Lions in the Quarter Finals.
Prediction: Third in Conference
Kings
Last year – 17th
Key player – Ross Geldenhuys
It was a tough year for the Kings on their return to Super Rugby. Their season was overshadowed by their struggles to sign players. Wins over fellow new comers the Sunwolves and Los Jaguares (who were down to 13 men) meant they were not bottom of the pile at the end of the season.
This pre-season, once again there has been huge changes in player personnel. All of the front row players bar one have been changed, all the second row options are different, two new numbers 8s have come in and it is all change at scrum half, fly half, centre and full back.
All these wholesale changes have ensured that there is no continuity from the previous season and they are back to starting at from scratch again.
Another tough season lies in wait for the Eastern Cape franchise and a couple of games in Australia. They may avoid the wooden spoon, but only just.
Prediction: 17th
Baylion
Roar Rookie
No sure why the Lions should have second season blues. Second season of what? Since their return to Super Rugby they have steadily improved with 7 then 9 and then 11 wins. Ackerman and the Lions haven't achieved what they set out to do yet and there is still room for improvement. A major issue that could affect them will be the fact that they will only play the Kiwi sides once they reach the knock out phases. And obviously, as with any team, a spate of injuries could take them out of the game
Rob Seltzer
Roar Guru
Admittedly it is bold but they have proven quality players. A lot of the Sharks boys are not well known outside of SA which may well be an advantage but will they be able to play at the level required on a weekly basis? I think it may be a season of building before making a much more sustained challenge next season but stranger things have happened.
DavSA
Guest
The Sharks do look promising on paper . The one possible problem though is that Pat Lambie is such a key player for them and ever since he took that sickening blow from C.J Stander against Ireland has looked seriously short on confidence. Then again a lot of good players looked pretty awful in the Bok outfit , so I'm hoping this is just temporary.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Thanks Rob. The Super 18 season is about to descend on us. It will be interesting with the change of opponents from its inaugural year. It seems to me that the Lions have been dealt a good hand in terms of qualifying for the finals once more, and on the back of last years efforts, good luck to them. One question though, as outstanding as they were in 2016, will they suffer the second 2nd season syndrome, as Ben above suggests?... time will tell. Paying $7.50 to win the comp looks a bit juicy though .. *S* As for key player... Whiteley is already a star but the player I am looking forward to watch is Ruan Combrinck. Impressive last year, I looking at him to back it up.
Ben
Roar Rookie
As bold as touting a team of players that only preform on the national set up to suddenly come second in their conference?
Akari
Guest
I do hope that the coaching staff will learned a thing or two and have a plan B and C to pull out when required NB. I am trusting that they too will have learned a lot from their 1st year in super rugby.
Rob Seltzer
Roar Guru
Bold prediction there.
Rob Seltzer
Roar Guru
I think they would have learnt from last season and seen the importance of the plan B. I think that the coaches saw a team that had a lot of International players and thought that they would be able to adapt on the field to what was happening and that clearly didn't happen. This year they would have to, you would think, come up with other options/playing styles to combat certain teams.
Ben
Roar Rookie
So once again the Jaguares have been over-rated? Sharks have lost an erratic Le Roux and a JP Pieterson who is long past his best. It will be a battle between the Lions and Sharks for top spot but ultimately the Lions will suffer with second season blues and come isecond in their conference
Nobrain
Roar Guru
I am more concern about the Jaguares coaching staff adapting to the diferent rugby systems they will have to face this year. Last year Jaguares played NZ teams that have similarities in the game and when the had to play the Lions at home they faced a B team since they were already in the play off. The current coaching staff does not give enough importance at the rivals and mainly have only one way of playing with no plan B.
DavSA
Guest
Although the Lions are not the team I support , they have won a lot of fans both here and abroad with their exciting playing style. So far removed from the traditional SA mould that it took even their own ardent supporters by surprise. Last year they probably saved the Superugby campaign from itself by adding that element of intrigue , especially in the knockout phases. They clearly play for each other , ooze self believe and have supreme confidence in their coaching staff and game plans. What a refreshing change from the drivel dished out by other SA teams including and especially the Boks. Long may they continue.
Rob Seltzer
Roar Guru
Akari, I feel exactly the same way about Los Jaguares, my only concern which team will turn up on those two extended trips to S.A They are a bit like the French national team, they can be unbeatable or they can lose to anyone - see Sunwolves last season
Akari
Guest
The Lions Roar may well be heard right around the globe this year. Los Jaguares will have learned a lot from last year and this team more than likely to find their way in the quarters and then more if they manage to win a final at home.
SaKiwiRoo
Guest
Roar the mighty Lions