Rating the SA Super 14 contenders and pretenders

The Bulls: Take probably the best provincial/regional team ever assembled, lose probably the best winger of the last five years, add two returning heroes, plus Heyneke Meyer back pulling the backroom strings and what do you get? A very likely repeat. Fatigue is the only realistic barrier to yet another year of Blue domination. Well that and the Crusaders seeking to make up for the “catastrophe” of missing out on a regulation Super 14 win.

It really is hard to look beyond the Bulls repeating their 2009 success. Depth and quality in crucial positions and very talented youngsters lining up with legends of their era is a very potent combo. Then there is the small mental factor of a packed raucous Fortress Loftus with choirmaster Steve Hofmyer conducting the choir, woe unto those that venture forth onto Pretoria’s hallowed turf.

The Lions: Well it can barely get worse now can it? New coach Dick Muir has made some decent signings which should help the Ellis Park outfit in their quest to edge the Reds and (in my view) Highlanders in the battle of the wooden spoon. They’ll be deadly when King Carlos (big balls gamble for Muir there) and Earl Rose fire up the backline.

But when they have an off-day (heaven forbid it’s not on the same day), expect cricket scores. Allow me just doff my hat to those hardy souls who still trek to Hillbrow Extension despite the teams struggles, you fine people (and the Bulls supporters from the very early 2000s) are the true definition of rugby fans.

The Cheetahs: If the Cheetahs had money, they’d rule the SA roost. Simple. As. That. They are always unearthing talent (well if taking having ready access to the Grey College talent factory counts as “unearthing”) and always running the big dogs (and bovines) close despite their meagre resources. They have the country’s dominant scrum. In fact I would venture their scrum is the strongest in the Super 14. Add loose trio dynamism from Heinrich Brussouw, find of the year Ashley Johnson and the returning (and rested) Juan Smith, a steady pivot in Meyer Bosman, deadly stepping and finishing from Jongi Nokwe, Danwell Demas and Sevens hero Fabian Juries and you have a pretty solid team.

Their problem is a lack of depth and the fact that they don’t have the winning culture of rivals like the Bulls. They should be good for a midtable spot though. The start of great things in die Vrystaat?

The Sharks: Will do well and choke when it matters. That really is the long and short of it. How I wish it were different.

The Stormers: Man City’s, oops The Stormers blank cheque policy will come under the litmus test this year. A backline of Januarie, Grant, de Jongh, Fourie, Habana, Naqelevuki and Joe Pietersen/Conrad Jantjies will be a marvel to watch should they click. Problem is like all backlines all over the world they will need to get lots of front-foot ball and an extended period of time together to click as a unit. This means the de-Luked Stormes pack will need more performances like that against the Bulls in the Currie Cup round-robin return match and be more consistent with it.

The appointment of SuperSchalk as captain is one that has raised eyebrows, and quite correctly. There is no doubt about his lead by example capabilities, but is an all out action edge of the law skirting player like Schalk the person to give the sober guidance a team needs at this level?

How will it impact on his own play, especially in light of the fact that he was some way off his best in 2009? And then there is also the loss of Jean de Villiers as backline marshall. Methinks this will be a rebuilding year for the Stormers, and they will start gelling a bit too late to make a real go for the Super 14 playoffs.

The Sharks-seriously this time: On the plus side; John Smit.The first choice Bok front row with a major point to prove to all the pretenders to their throne. What should be the second choice Bok second-row. A loose trio with bucketloads of talent, guile and strength and no small measure of game breaking ability in Kankowski and Deysel. A steady and willing Rory Kockott at scrummy, and the mentally fragile but, ridiculously talented Ruan Pienaar at fly-half. Adi Jacobs, JP Pietersen, Odwa Ndungane and the evergreen Stefan Terblanche in the backline. So far so good.

Add a settled coaching department, the most professionally run union in SA, the best stadium atmosphere in the country and you have a team that should regard the play-offs as a minimum level of success. But we all know how this particular story ends right? If only rugby had a Heinlich manoeuvre.