Five Super Rugby questions for SA teams- Catching up with Sharkbok

• 11 Dec 2013
 
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Elton Jantjies will be back in Lions colours in 2014

Things to ponder heading into the 2014 season, according to JEREMY PROOME.

DO THE SHARKS HAVE ENOUGH DEPTH?

The Sharks have Springbok experience and talent in certain positions, but have lost several players, including Craig Burden (Toulon), Meyer Bosman (Stade Français), Louis Ludik (Agen) and Riaan Viljoen (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes), as well as those who were on loan from the Lions, so there are some gaps to fill. Jake White has said there will be a lot of new faces, so expect some of the Currie Cup-winning youngers to make their way through.

Sharkbok: Craig Burden was a joke and should have stuck to inside center. Meyer poesman who? His last season at the Sharks was ok, otherwise he was a disaster. Louis Ludik was good at 15 but is probably losing his pace at this stage. Rian Viljoen= crap, the Lions contingent was shit and just created issues within the Sharks camp. 

We have the most depth in the tournament and the most savy coach. 

Prediction. Sharks to win both the SA conference and the overall conference, and then win the home final. (sorry Chiefs and the other pretenders)

HOW WILL THE LIONS PERFORM?

The question mark over whether the Lions will survive in Super Rugby still exists, but they had their opportunity to fight their way back in and they did so, even though it came down to the wire against the Kings. The Lions recouped a majority of their players who went out on loan for the 2013 Super Rugby season, and retained many of the in-form players from the Currie Cup, so things are looking bright for the Johannesburg side. They start their Super Rugby campaign with some tough home derbies against the Cheetahs and Stormers, and it’ll be a good way to see exactly where the Lions are.

Sharkbok= Crap as usual

CAN THE BULLS SURVIVE WITHOUT STEYN?

The Bulls will have to deal with the 2014 Super Rugby season without the always-reliable points machine Morné Steyn. Steyn’s role within the Bulls game plan has been pivotal in recent years, and his move to Stade Français will put his successors to the test. The Bulls have the talents of U20 star Handré Pollard, Tony Jantjies and Louis Fouché, who are all capable of taking the playmaking reins, but finding the right combination alongside Francois Hougaard and new Bulls recruit Piet van Zyl will be vital.

Sharkbok= Unless Pollard steps up it will be a disaster in the Bull Ring

CAN THE CHEETAHS DO IT AGAIN?

The Cheetahs achieved their most successful Super Rugby campaign in 2013, finishing sixth on the combined log and making the play-offs for the first time. They became crowd favourites throughout the Sanzar nations for their exciting rugby and new stars such as Raymond Rhule and Willie le Roux. If the Cheetahs can build upon their unpredictable yet consistent brand of rugby, they should pose a big threat in 2014. With many of the other SA franchises losing some big talent to French clubs, it could be the perfect opportunity for the Free State side to dominate the local derbies.

Sharkbok: Yes, especially if Goosen stays injury free. A backline with Willie LeRoux and Goosen will be very dangerous. The Cheetas also have Rhule who is good, but if they could get another winger and move Willie to 15 they will score more tries than concede

WHO WILL WING IT FOR THE STORMERS?

The Stormers' exodus of players has left a gaping hole in the wing positions. Bryan Habana leaving to Toulon in France and Gerhard van den Heever’s departure to Munster in Ireland scratches off two sure starters for the franchise; so who will get the jerseys? Gio Aplon is likely to be preferred at fullback, so the performances of SA U20 and Blitzboks star Cheslin Kolbe for Western Province side in the Currie Cup should give Allister Coetzee enough confidence to put him on the left wing. There are a few young players in the training squad, but none with Super Rugby experience. It’s no secret that the Stormers are hunting for some wingers, so could we see a last-minute star signing? Time will tell.

Sharkbok: It is hard to see how the wee Midget of Coetzee's new look backline will do. Wee dejong, Aplon, Kolbe. The Stormers defence is not what is was in 2010-11, with Jaque Fourie gone,and not the wee back3 of today. Peter Grant returning and staying inury free will be critical in attack, defense and pole kicking. Asswagen is solid but injury prone and Kurt Coleman still has to prove he is SuperXV standard.

 T he forwards are sure to make an impression but the backline attack could be another year of issues. Kolbe could have a good year in getting tries as long as he can get some space and possesion.

 Cheetahs are my favourite Saffa team - tough big forwards with dynamic quick backs... maybe the future formula for the Boks...?

I think too Sharks will be bolstered hugely by Jake's involvement and they also have a strong roster.

Bulls perennial achievers seem to have the wood on the local challengers - why is this??

Stormers... seem to have some gaps forming - will see how they replace certain players...

To add a little further I am going out on a limb here and say that the Tahs ARE finally the real deal this year - there is always so much hype surrounding this team as the bulk of rugby population in Australia live in Sydney so they always hype them up -

I just think this year their roster is right and their culture too is there...

They will be easily the most physical of the Aussie sides with Folau and Beale out wide.........  

 Sharkbok

I have some difference on your assessments in respect of Super 15 teams:-

Sharks

Except for Louis Ludik the Sharks contract losses could be regarded as miniscule.  The proviso is that they remain injury free (not a repeat of last years nightmare situation)  and that they decided on where Francois Steyn fits in.   He was bloody useless this year - not fit ever (even Bosman was better than him) and if he keeps that up he should not be played at all.

Lions

The Lions have some very promising youngsters and I would not write them of prematurely - will win more matches than they did in the past.  Their main headache is bound to be Earl Silky Hands J antjies - but they have Boshoff to fall back on.

Bulls

The Bulls had prop problems this year and the losses were insignificant.   Morne Steyn in particular was easy meat for the opposing teams - easily countered and at times a severe headache for the Bulls.   Towards the end of Super 15 he became more and more of a headache.  Go and look again at the final few games of the Bulls - especially the semi against the Brumbies - where he was poor.   I rate Fouche highly as a promising flyhalf - Pollard is too much of a Morne Steyn replica.   However, the departure of Steyn could be a blessing in disguise for the Bulls and Stade Francais is probably already regretting that one - they do not regard More Steyn as good enough to be their starting flyhalf and play him off the bench giving him not more than 25 minutes playing time per game. 

Stormers

Have potentially a very good backline - provided the correct selections are made.   However, with Coezee around that is unlikely to happen.  He is likely to stick with the defensive sieve they had this year and with players like De Jongh that brought nothing to attacking play at all.   No future in this one.

The Cheetahs 

Expect much the same a this year.             

Shezza, agreed its pathetic that we have not seen Fisher turn out for the Sharks to date and its more than pathetic that a talented player like Mjekevu was not utilized and has now pissed off to France. Same can be said of Sithole.

What did Mjekevu have to say.