The Bulls
The Bulls lost Kirchner, Morne Steyn, Vermaak, Juandre Kruger and Chlliboi Rallepele to foreign clubs and some would say those were serious losses. I do not think they were - the worst loss is likely to be Vermaak, but they got Piet van Zyl to replace him and Chilliboi. Visser is twice the full back Kirchner would ever be. Morne has only one asset - namely kicking at goal - for the rest he is a useless pivot. Kruger has no grunt and surely they have better locks than him.
Arno Botha will be back and they can play Jacques du Plessis in the 7 position.
My main worry remains their props - but I think they would manage in that Department as well.
They will come through and perform well in the coming year. Will surprise many of the doubters.
The Cheetahs
Always a difficult team to content with - but likely to be as good as they were in 2013. They will have Goosen back and they bought a few backline players as well. And Willie will be there as well. They had the best loosie combination in Super 15 this year and that will not change next year.
Will be strong contenders for the play-offs,
The Sharks
White has dealt with that issue in another thread. Likely winners of the trophy despite all the noise created by the NZ franchise supporters.
The Stormers
Coetzee is trying to destroy the franchise - but they still have some good players in the team - that is if Coetzee would use them. They have Taute, Aplon, Howard, De Allende, De Villiers and Catrakillis inm their backline and I think they have some really good forwards as well,
The team can go places - but is likely to be jeopardised by crazy selections. It happened in 2013 and is likely to happen in 2014 as well.
The Lions
I was favourably impressed by a number of young Lions players this year. Stokkies Hankom and Boshoff in the backline and their forwards can do well too. Problem s they have some wek players like Jantjies and that could count against them.
l think they will surprise a lot of teams and they are likely to be in the top 8 on the log.
