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Super dupa 14 run down by da don of this site
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<blockquote data-quote="BokMagic" data-source="post: 96641"><p>From a Saffa perspective: our 5 teams were confirmed in November, with the Cats taking the 5th slot after some sanity prevailed in the SA rugby boardroom- cue huge thunderstorms over Jo`burg!</p><p></p><p>Here are the teams, and a quick rundown:</p><p></p><p>-Stormers: the Auckland of SA teams, always overpromising and under-delivering. Will feature one of the most exciting backlines and back rows in the history of the comp, with guys like Gio Aplon, Sireli Naqelivuki, Brent Russell, Bolla Conradie, Jean De Villiers, Tonderai Chavanga, Breyton Paulse and Joe Pietersen in the backline, and the dream back row of Joe Van Niekerk, Schalk Burger and Luke Watson, also look out for promising no8 Robbie Diack and Justin Melck to make an impression. Unfortunately coached by former Hollywood star Fester Adams, who specialises in interesting soundbites, but who has no semblance of a game-plan. Also has the draw from hell, crossing the Tasman twice in a 5-week away leg. Expect the one awesome performance again this year(last year, they were the only side to beat the Crusaders), while they slip into a comfortable lower-table position. The tight 5 is young and exciting, but will probably be out of their depth this season. Prediction- 9th to 12th.</p><p></p><p>Bulls: they`ll be very hard to beat at Loftus, with 40000 blue-clad okes with horns on their heads and the irritating Afrikaans music blaring out from the PA system. They`ll win more than they`ll lose, on the back of an excellent scrum, lineout and rolling maul. Look out for yet another awesome 2nd row in Adriaan Fondse to capture the early-season headlines in the absence of the injured Bakkies Botha. Also will have Guthro Steenkamp back at loosehead, expect lots of tightheads to be cut down to size by him. An abundance of back row options, especially since the transfer of Jacques Shite Hands Cronje to the Lions. Very poor travellers, so they should just about sneak into 4th place again, only to have their collective arses handed to them in the semi`s by the Crusaders-again.</p><p></p><p>Sharks: exciting team of youngsters, coached extremely well by Dick Muir. Was the surprise package of last year`s comp- when most were predicting a Super 13th or 14th place, they actually just missed out on the semi`s. Look for a very solid performance by their tight 5- Deon Carstens, John Smit, Kees Lensing, Albert vd Berg, Johann Muller and Johan Ackermann are all grizzly veterans of the dark arts, while the youngsters in the back row(Kankowski and Daniel) might just shine. Also some very handy backliners in Pienaar, Steyn, Barritt, Pietersen, James and Ndungane. Possible brawback- Durban is fast becoming the retirement home of players like Montgomery and now Skinstad. Prediction:5th to 8th, although they might just surprise and pull into the top 4 at the expense of the Bulls this year. Traditionally SA`s best travellers.</p><p></p><p>Cheetahs: Astute coach in resident DJ Rassie Erasmus( with his lights from the roof show), they feature that which SA rugby teams are legendary for- a very powerful scrum. Also has an excellent 2nd rower in Barend Pieterse, a line-out specialist in the Matfield mould, who could really impress. Will also field possibly the fastest back row in the comp, with Floors and V D Merwe quite awesome to the breakdown. Problem is, once there, they`ll be hard-pressed to assert physical dominance at the breakdown. Handy if unspectacular backline, they`ll do the basics well and should improve slightly on their debut season. Most consistent in terms of player retention of all Saffa teams this season. Prediction: 6th</p><p></p><p>Lions: ah, the perrenial whipping-boys are back! Anyway, this season they have a coach who can, well, coach. Frans Ludeke has been replaced by Eugene Eloff, former SA U19 coach, and he worked some miracles for the Lions in last year`s Currie Cup, taking them to 8 consecutive wins and the brink of the semi-finals. Has unearthed some potential stars in prop Heinke vd Merwe and centre Jaco Pretorius. Unfortunately, lost inspirational skipper Wikus Van Heerden to the Bulls and "gained" Jacques Cronje, so expect plenty of knock-ons from the new "carrying" no8. Prediction: they`ll probably improve substantially in performance, but anything higher than 11th on the final log will be extremely surprising. 12th-14th</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BokMagic, post: 96641"] From a Saffa perspective: our 5 teams were confirmed in November, with the Cats taking the 5th slot after some sanity prevailed in the SA rugby boardroom- cue huge thunderstorms over Jo`burg! Here are the teams, and a quick rundown: -Stormers: the Auckland of SA teams, always overpromising and under-delivering. Will feature one of the most exciting backlines and back rows in the history of the comp, with guys like Gio Aplon, Sireli Naqelivuki, Brent Russell, Bolla Conradie, Jean De Villiers, Tonderai Chavanga, Breyton Paulse and Joe Pietersen in the backline, and the dream back row of Joe Van Niekerk, Schalk Burger and Luke Watson, also look out for promising no8 Robbie Diack and Justin Melck to make an impression. Unfortunately coached by former Hollywood star Fester Adams, who specialises in interesting soundbites, but who has no semblance of a game-plan. Also has the draw from hell, crossing the Tasman twice in a 5-week away leg. Expect the one awesome performance again this year(last year, they were the only side to beat the Crusaders), while they slip into a comfortable lower-table position. The tight 5 is young and exciting, but will probably be out of their depth this season. Prediction- 9th to 12th. Bulls: they`ll be very hard to beat at Loftus, with 40000 blue-clad okes with horns on their heads and the irritating Afrikaans music blaring out from the PA system. They`ll win more than they`ll lose, on the back of an excellent scrum, lineout and rolling maul. Look out for yet another awesome 2nd row in Adriaan Fondse to capture the early-season headlines in the absence of the injured Bakkies Botha. Also will have Guthro Steenkamp back at loosehead, expect lots of tightheads to be cut down to size by him. An abundance of back row options, especially since the transfer of Jacques Shite Hands Cronje to the Lions. Very poor travellers, so they should just about sneak into 4th place again, only to have their collective arses handed to them in the semi`s by the Crusaders-again. Sharks: exciting team of youngsters, coached extremely well by Dick Muir. Was the surprise package of last year`s comp- when most were predicting a Super 13th or 14th place, they actually just missed out on the semi`s. Look for a very solid performance by their tight 5- Deon Carstens, John Smit, Kees Lensing, Albert vd Berg, Johann Muller and Johan Ackermann are all grizzly veterans of the dark arts, while the youngsters in the back row(Kankowski and Daniel) might just shine. Also some very handy backliners in Pienaar, Steyn, Barritt, Pietersen, James and Ndungane. Possible brawback- Durban is fast becoming the retirement home of players like Montgomery and now Skinstad. Prediction:5th to 8th, although they might just surprise and pull into the top 4 at the expense of the Bulls this year. Traditionally SA`s best travellers. Cheetahs: Astute coach in resident DJ Rassie Erasmus( with his lights from the roof show), they feature that which SA rugby teams are legendary for- a very powerful scrum. Also has an excellent 2nd rower in Barend Pieterse, a line-out specialist in the Matfield mould, who could really impress. Will also field possibly the fastest back row in the comp, with Floors and V D Merwe quite awesome to the breakdown. Problem is, once there, they`ll be hard-pressed to assert physical dominance at the breakdown. Handy if unspectacular backline, they`ll do the basics well and should improve slightly on their debut season. Most consistent in terms of player retention of all Saffa teams this season. Prediction: 6th Lions: ah, the perrenial whipping-boys are back! Anyway, this season they have a coach who can, well, coach. Frans Ludeke has been replaced by Eugene Eloff, former SA U19 coach, and he worked some miracles for the Lions in last year`s Currie Cup, taking them to 8 consecutive wins and the brink of the semi-finals. Has unearthed some potential stars in prop Heinke vd Merwe and centre Jaco Pretorius. Unfortunately, lost inspirational skipper Wikus Van Heerden to the Bulls and "gained" Jacques Cronje, so expect plenty of knock-ons from the new "carrying" no8. Prediction: they`ll probably improve substantially in performance, but anything higher than 11th on the final log will be extremely surprising. 12th-14th [/QUOTE]
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