It is very early to make any reasonable assessment of which teams are going to do well in Super 15 this year - especially since he results were such a mixed bag and may change as the season goes on.
However - early signs are that their are teams on the move and those we must watch out for in future.
New Zealand Conference
The only team that won both their matches thus far is the Chiefs - a team seriously affected by injuries. However, I would not at this stage go lyrical about their performances. Both victories were not really that convincing - but indications thus afar are that they would top the Conference log by some distance - even though their forwards are not really all that good..
The disappointment of the season was the Crusaders - they really messed up big time and in the last game and the squad does not look all that convincing.
The Blues lost against the Highlanders - but beat the Crusaders convincingly. They are travelling to Pretoria this coming week and we will see whether they perform well against a poor Bulls outfit. However, they may yet be the second New Zealand ream consider.
The Hurricanes were on tour in their first two matches and lost both - though they managed a bonus point in one game, They were not at all convincing on Friday and they played the Stormers who was really bad insofar as ball handling was concerned. Their tight 5 is not competitive enough to threaten other NZ sides - not even the below-par Crusaders,
The Australian Conference
The outstanding team thus far is the Waratahs - their performance against the Reds were really outstanding. The other Aussie team that impresses me is the Rebels.
The Reds and Brumbies blew hot and cold in their own matches - But I have a feeling they are going to be more cold than hot this year.
The SA Conference
The only outstanding team showing anything of real value this year is the Sharks - the other teams are all tendering to be on the bottom half of the Conference log.
SUMMARY
There thus far this year has only been two outstanding teams - the Waratahs and the Sharks. The Chief were solid enough.
Early in the season - but some of the top teams have been grossly inadequate,
