SARrugby.com

Ex Super sport  - by Baylion

In the South African conference the Stormers will hope for less injuries and that their off-season gains (Jantjies, Taute, Cilliers and Rhodes) will pay off in the form of a Super Rugby final spot and win.

The Sharks will look to make a faster start than they have done in recent seasons in order to compete for the top conference spot and a top two spot overall to improve their chances of winning a final.

The Bulls will look to their Boks regaining form in 2013 otherwise they might not make the top six while the Cheetahs will feel they have a good season if they can win more than five matches. (Baylion is obvioulsy a tactful sort and doesnt even mention the queens!!!)

The race for top spot seems to be a two horse race between the Stormers and Sharks, both sides having fairly settled squads with their key players in form. Both sides will want a top two spot and an automatic home semi-final which makes for an interesting contest. If the Stormers can build on their Currie Cup attacking form while maintaining their solid defence they will be tough to beat.

My predictions:

SA Conference: Stormers
Kiwi Conference: Chiefs
Oz Conference: Brumbies

Champion: (Mighty) Stormers

I note however the bookies favourite is the crusties.

Beeno

I am optimistic about the Sharks and the Stormers - and somewhat pessimistic about the Bulls.   They are carrying bad baggage and urgently need decent props, loosies and out wider in the backline.

The baggage are Morne Steyn at flyhalf - Hougaard at scrummie and Engelbrecht as center.   Hougaard may be able to get himself back on track - but Morne will be what he always was - a one-dimensional player.  Engelbrecht was terrible in the CC games he played in in September and October last year.   The Bulls can still put together a decent enough team - but I really cannot see them making the top 6.

The Cheetahs have a decent squad and I think they may just about move up one or two plaqces  on the log than they were in 2012.

No comments about the Queens though. 

JJ Engelbrecht will prove to be the best of our 13's this S15, he has class written all over him - there is just something about the way he glides.

The bulls are probably stuffed this year for the SuperXV.

It was a miracle that they finished 5th last year. Given they had such a good team in 2011, the 2012 team did better was astonishing. Although I do not see a repeat of that. 

However they could be a surprise package if some of their younger players make the step up like Serfontein. Also the Bulls pack is allways a factor at Loftus especially for the foreign teams.

I would expect the Bulls are in a rebuilding stage and will take a while to get back to where they were

Saffex

" JJ Engelbrecht will prove to be the best of our 13's this S15, he has class written all over him - there is just something about the way he glides."   Does the gliding relates to him gliding on his backside?   I suppose the asnwer is yes - taking into account the way JP Du  Plessis dealt with him in the Newlands CC game. 

snapster JJ is a better bet on the wing. He is a long drawn out target in the center position. Du Plessis glided right past him.

I am making my first posting on my new laptop. Had to buy one as this site doesnt appear to cater for mobiles.

 ok im a bulls fan so im slightly biased however if we play like we can play and play on the gain line and give good ball for hougie then i wouldnt right the bulls off however making the top 6 will be a big shout for us. 

Beeno you say stomers will win? bahahaha stomers are like the south african team in the ICC world cup. your chokers you can never finish apart from the CC but let face it the CC isnt the title that it used to be! and as a bulls surport JJ at 13... i do not think so sadly! also i believe that Chiefs wont have such a impact they did last year with the lost of Sonny bill but they will still be a mean mountain to claim :)

Beeno

If my memory serve me correctly - the Crusaders last year was pre-tournament favourites at 3/1.   Th latest ofds are as far as they are concerned worse - probably of the absence of McCaw from the tournament.  

I don't think the bookies has a clue at this stage - not even all the franchises has announced their squads yet - so they would not know.    What I do know is that the Sharks will this year probably not have the early season jitters that caused disaster for them last year.   They will not unsuccessfully experiment with players like Pietersen at 13 again - despite Safffex's dreams about it.   As stated elsewhere there could be some jinxes - one of which could be Francois Steyn.   There would be some pre-season matches and if there are some hick-ups it will come to the fore quite early.

Insofar as the Stormers are concerned - I am seriously worried about Silky Hands and De Jongh.    I cannot see Silky Hands being successful - unless they can get him to play a different playing style.   Even if he fails they may emulate Meyer's fascination with Morne Steyn and to their detriment keep on with him too long.   De Jongh in 2012 Super 15 was basically useless and I don't know whether Coetzee will ever bring himself to change that jinx to the team.   

I have higher hopes for the Sharks than the Stormers this year - there is a better chance that Francois Steyn would be successful and not muddled up like he was in the tests this year - than there is of getting decent performances out of Silky Hands and De Jongh.