Super 15 Rugby 2012 Preview – South Africa Conference

The final piece of the jigsaw puzzle that is the 2012 Super 15 Rugby tournament comes together here in our preview of the South African conference.

Last season the Stormers were the best performing South African side finishing 2nd place overall, just three points behind the Reds. They had the second best defence in the league, only 5 points worse than the NSW Waratahs.

This season will be tough for the South African teams, already there has been infighting amongst the five existing teams in relation to the 2013 season. The teams are threatening to boycott the competition if any of them are excluded due to the new ‘Southern Kings’ franchise which has just been approved for entry. The Kings would come in at the expense of one of the other South African sides unless the competition is expanded to 16 teams from next season.

This opens up a can of worms for South African Rugby as politics enters the Rugby scene, and I have no doubt that this will affect the mindset of some of the teams in 2012.

We go through each of the teams of the South African conference below and provide our tip for the season ahead. Let us know your thoughts and be sure to check out the previews for the Australian and New Zealand conferences.

Bulls – Super 15 Rugby 2012 Preview

In 2011 the Bulls dropped outside the playoff zone after winning the previous two competitions. In fact, three of the previous four Super 15 Rugby competitions were won by the Bulls. A fantastic achievement for a side that up until 2003 had not finished higher than 11th in the Super 12 competition.

As much as the Bulls have been successful over the last 5 years, it appeared that they may have hit an impasse. Last years 7th place was unlike the Bulls side we have seen in recent years and I have a feeling that this was just a blip for them. They should improve this year and get themselves back into the playoff positions.

Prediction: 5th

Odds:
Winners – $13.00
Make Top 6 – $2.00

Bulls Squad: 

Bjorn Basson. JJ Engelbrecht. Louis Fouche. Dean Greyling. Francois Hougaard. Zane Kirchner. Juandre Kruger. Werner Kruger. Akona Ndungane. Wynand Olivier. Dewald Potgieter. Jacques Potgieter. Chiliboy Ralepelle. Johann Sadie. Pierre Spies (captain). CJ Stander. Wilhelm Steenkamp. Deon Stegmann. Dawie Steyn. Flip van der Merwe. Jano Vermaak. Willie Wepener. Morne Steyn. Francois Venter. Frik Kirsten. Arno Botha. Daniel Adongo. Warwick Tecklenburg. Jurgen Visser.

Cheetahs – Super 15 Rugby 2012 Preview

Last season was another one to forget for the Cheetahs, as they finished 4th in the South African conference, 11th overall. Since their introduction to the competition in 2006, the Cheetahs have not finished any higher than 10th, and I can’t see that trend changing at all this year.

They don’t really have any notable gains for 2012, and they have lost their best playmaker to the Waratahs in Sarel Pretorius. He will be missed and I have a feeling the Cheetahs will be fighting to avoid that dreaded wooden spoon this season. With the sides around them last season making marked improvements I can’t see them getting much out of this season.

Prediction: 15th

Odds:
Winners – $51.00
Make Top 6 – $5.50

Cheetahs Squad:

Lourens Adriaanse. Ryno Benjamin. Heinrich Brüssow. Hennie Daniller. Tewis de Bruyn. Justin Downey. George Earle. Robert Ebersohn. Sias Ebersohn. Andries Ferreira. Barry Geel. Johan Goosen. Cameron Jacobs. Rocco Jansen. Ashley Johnson. Pieter Labuschagne. Willie le Roux. Hercu Liebenberg. WP Nel, Dusty Noble. Trevor Nyakane. Davon Raubenheimer.  Philip Snyman. Adriaan Strauss (captain). Andries Strauss. François Uys. Izak van der Westhuizen. Marcel van der Merwe. Philip van der Walt. Piet van Zyl. 

Lions – Super 15 Rugby 2012 Preview

The lions head into this season on the back of a 14th place finish last year. They have not finished any higher than 11th since 2002 and generally make up the numbers in the Super Rugby competition. They would be most at risk if SANZAR do not sanction a 16 team competition in 2013, with the Southern Kings waiting in the wings for a chance.

To be honest, I can’t see the Lions improving much this year, they might not finish in last place but they will be scrapping around the bottom of the table regardless. They have strengthened from other Super 15 Rugby sides but it may take time for those players to gel, I can only see them finishing above their compatriots the Cheetahs.

Prediction: 14th

Odds:
Winners – $34.00
Make Top 6 – $4.50

Lions Squad:

Patric Cilliers. CJ van der Linde. Jacobie Adriaanse. JC Janse van Rensburg. Bandise Maku. Martin Bezuidenhout. Edgar Marutlulle. Callie Visagie. Wikus van Heerden. Hendrik Roodt. Franco van der Merwe. Cobus Grobbelaar. Jaco Kriel. Derick Minnie. Michael Rhodes. Josh Strauss (captain). Warren Whiteley. Michael Bondesio. Ross Cronjé. Whestley Moolman. Butch James. Elton Jantjies. Alwyn Hollenbach. Doppies la Grange. Lionel Mapoe. Waylon Murray. Jannie Boshoff. Dylan Des Fountain. Michael Killian. Deon van Rensburg. James Kamana. Jaco Taute.

Sharks – Super 15 Rugby 2012 Preview

The 2011 Super Rugby season was a productive one for the Sharks, with a 6th place finish their reward. They didn’t go any further than that though as they were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Crusaders.

The Sharks have lost a few players for the 2012 season including ex-captain Stefan Terblanche and haven’t really replaced them with anyone of note. This doesn’t bode well for them improving this year and in fact could see them slip down the Super Rugby ladder. I think they will finish 3rd out of the South African sides this year and probably won’t feature in the fight for the playoff positions.

Prediction: 10th

Odds:
Winners – $11.00
Make Top 6 – $1.80

Sharks Squad:

Dale Chadwick. Jannie du Plessis. Wiehahn Herbst. Tendai Mtawarira. Julian Redelinghuys. Craig Burden. Kyle Cooper. Monde Hadebe. Bismarck du Plessis. Anton Bresler. Alistair Hargreaves. Jan André Marais. Peet Marais. Ross Skeate. Steven Sykes. Pieter-Steph du Toit. Willem Alberts. Jacques Botes. Marcell Coetzee. Keegan Daniel (captain). Jean Deysel. Ryan Kankowski. François Kleinhans. Lubabalo Mtembu. Conrad Hoffmann. Charl McLeod. Cobus Reinach. Patrick Lambie. Frédéric Michalak. Meyer Bosman. Paul Jordaan. Marius Joubert. Wandile Mjekevu. Tim Whitehead. Heimar Williams. Lwazi Mvovo. Odwa Ndungane. JP Pietersen. Sibusiso Sithole. Louis Ludik. Gouws Prinsloo. Riaan Viljoen. 

Stormers – Super 15 Rugby 2012 Preview

Last season the Stormers were the best of the South African conference, finishing on 63 points, just 3 points behind the first place Queensland Reds. They’ve finished second in the last two seasons and have featured in one final, they are yet to win a Super Rugby competition.

For 2012, the Stormers have had somewhat of a clean-out, shifting no less than 14 players, and making just 4 replacements. The bulk of the players to replace the outgoings will come from their internal system. The only player of note they have brought in for 2012 is JP Du Plessis from the Rebels. I think the Stormers are going to go through a bit of a rebuilding phase this season and that will affect their position on the ladder, I can’t see them finishing close to the top this season. They will however, be there or there abouts fighting for a top 6 spot.

Prediction: 7th

Odds:
Winners – $8.00
Make Top 6 – $1.50

Stormers Squad:

Gio Aplon. Reuben Johannes. Donovan Armandt. Rohan Kitshoff. Andries Bekker. Steven Kitshoff. Wicus Blaauw. Berton Klaasen. Tom Botha. Siya Kolisi. Marcel Brache. Nick Koster. Schalk Burger. Adrian Kritzinger. Nizaam Carr. Deon Carstens. Clement Lewis. Demetri Catrakilis. Tiaan Liebenberg. Kurt Coleman. Hilton Lobberts. Bolla Conradie. Fran. Malherbe. Juan de Jongh. Scarra Ntubeni. Jean de Villiers. Joe Pietersen. JP du Plessis. Danie Poolman. Dewaldt Duvenage. Quinn Roux. Rynhardt Elstadt. Louis Schreuder. Eben Etzebeth. De Kock Steenkamp. Nick Fenton-Wells. Tim Swiel. Schalk Ferreira. Ricky Schroeder. Deon Fourie. Gary van Aswegen. Burton Francis. Gerhard van den Heever. Peter Grant. Hein van der Merwe. Nic Groom. Michael van der Spuy. Bryan Habana. Willem van Wyk. Brok Harris. Allister Vermaak. Yaya Hartzenberg. Duane Vermeulen.