New to this forum

Hi I'm Alan,support the Stormers and Springboks and anyone who plays against the Bulls

Made it!!...Welcome aboard, I look forward to reading your posts.

Hi

What do you think of the Rebels this year.If I'm not mistaken Kurtley Beale and James o Connor have joined them.Maybe still to early for them to perform.

Welcome aboard Alan. You and Beeno should get off to a good start together, lol.

Good signings! the Rebels played some great rugby last year. Any consolodation should leave them very well placed this year. As ever though any side can beat anyone on the day, so it's very hard to predict what will happen!

Naaah, I think they'll hit the deck running them pair. Isn't Beale suffering from a long term injury? His knee or something?? Not sure... but hey the Rebels are going to need a few more than those 2 class acts.

On S.A teams.Bulls losing Bakkies,Victor,D Rossouw and Fourie Du Preez should struggle.Sharks losing inspirational Captain Smit(ha ha ha) and Beast with a injury and the evergreen Stefan Terblanche.We'll have to see if the Lions can take their Currie Cup success into the Super 15.

Methinks the Lions are a bit soft in depth and it will hurt them in the long run. Bulls will still be a show although I don't think they'll win the comp. Sharks are a show, they've got great depth.

Anyway, I'm off to training, speak latter and enjoy the forum

Beeno will love u

The Sharks look very weak. They have no leadership and very little worthy experience in amongst their backs. That backline is exceptionally weak in the centres and will be directed by a woeful 10 (fullback out of position). A key facet for the Sharks has been their scrumming, lineout and maul. But without Smit this looks more vulnerable. Bismarck has never been a very good lineout thrower and is not a very solid scrumming hooker either. As the season gets going their lack of depth will be put into question. It's a very sad fall from grace for a union that used to be our best hope for success. If they are to make any meaningful impact their pack is going to have to pitch up consistently in every test and suffocate teams. That is not the nature of the new SH game though and can the back forward power up with defence? They have wings that get caught on the outside through very passive defending and a midfield that is very fragile. At least Joubert will join them once the Top 14 ends, but even then, he is not the player he once was. More than anything Terblanche will be the biggest loss.

Welcome streaker you quite clearly have very good taste re rugby teams!!!!

I read that the lions reckon their forward depth is much improved. Well it had better be this is a very long season.
What do you think of the Stormers chances? I think they could still be the SA flag bearers

Welcome Alan.

Your intro sounded like an Alcohilics Anonymous introduction!

As for the Bulls, they are masters at breeding talent who fit into their structures.

Im not a Bulls fan... but i reckon they'll be ok. Heyneke's best asset is his ability to put structures in place around his team so that if the wheels fall off (ie: lose bakkie vic and fourie) he will have plenty new ones around him.

 The Bulls will be ok as they have depth at lock. They have Flip and Jeandre Kruger, who are both class acts and certainly will be one of the best combo's in the S15. Hougaard will easily fill du Preez's boots at 9. They have gained a class act in Sadie at centre......the Bulls always struggled at 13, where Jaco Pretorius was useless. They missed a beat by not playing Stephen Watermeyer at 13 - who has now sadly pissed off to Wales. JJ Engelbrecht on the wing is a useful signing as well. The Bulls will be strong with a side along the lines of:

15. Kirchner 14.JJ.Engelbrecht 13. Sadie 12. Olivier/F.Venter 11. Basson 10. Steyn 9. Hougaard 1. Greyling/F.Kirsten 2. Chiliboy 3. W.Kruger/R.de Klerk 4. Flip 5. J.Kruger 6. Stegman 7. Potgieter/A.Botha/CJ.Stander 8. Spies.........its a damn good looking side

Stormers chances look good,Duane Vermeulen,Andries Bekker and Dewaldt Duvenhage will be back,the loss of Jacque Fourie will be felt but the return of Joe Pietersen and even Gerhard Van Den Heever has been performing well.The tight five have been said to be a bit soft,but Ryno Elstadt,De Kock Steenkamp and even the young Eben Etzebeth should be able change that perception.Plenty of options at Flyhalf.

Hi Flashdakota,it did sound cheesy,hey.Fortunately the only addiction is to sport,although having a couple of drinks while enjoying the sport is even better.I'm no Bull fan neither,they are usually slow starters.Personally I don't think they'll make the playoffs.

Aristokrat a slight correction re your assessment of the Sharks. Joubert has been there all the time.....he played CC and has stayed on. He is still woeful in my opinion and I believe the Sharks would do better if they blooded some of the youngsters at centre (Whitehead, Mjekevu, Jordaan). I do hear that they will be trialing JP at centre as well.

They seem to have some exciting depth but I think the conservatism of Plumtree and Strauli will result in some very promising youngsters not being given a chance.

(BTW I'm not a Sharks supporter , I'm a Lion, having been born and bred on the West Rand, however I have lived in Durban for a long time now and am involved with one the rugby clubs)

Bulle masters of breeding talent!!!!  Hahahahhahaha you mean poaching talent!! Are there any bulls bred players in the side?

Juzzy one also wonders how a guy like Riaan Viljoen would go at inside center. He can play flyhalf and has an excellent step and ability to break a line.

Sharks are being forced to experiment.