The Super Rugby campaign kicks off in the 15th of February 2019, Shaun Goosen takes an in-depth look at the South African Super Rugby conference.
To Win Conference
Lions 5/10
Stormers 13/2
Bulls 7/1
Jaguares 9/1
Sharks 12/1
Bulls
Newly appointed head coach Pote Human will look to build on the platform laid by John Mitchell as his Bulls side gear up for what will be another intensely challenging Super Rugby campaign. The 59-year-old, working under director of rugby Alan Zondagh, has been tasked with bringing a degree of respect back to Loftus Versfeld after their perennially poor performances of recent years that includes having finished bottom of the local pile in 2018.
Human will aim to advance the Pretoria-based side’s potency on attack, a hallmark of Mitchell’s brief stint, while continuing to expand on their set phase play. The Bulls were ranked second for line-out wins in the competition last season (184) and fifth for line-outs stolen (11). They were, however, ranked third for scrum penalties conceded (31) as well as penalties conceded overall (137). Much improvement is required in these departments if they are to challenge for the South African Conference title and ultimately book a place in the knockouts.
Having signed the likes of Duane Vermeulen and Schalk Brits, the Bulls of 2019 certainly won’t be lacking for experience. With Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus having also assisted the squad during preseason training, the men in blue would have had the best possible preparation ahead of the new campaign. Now they need to deliver.
Captain: Lood de Jager
Coach: Pote Human
Last season: Fifth in SA Conference; 12th overall
Best finish: Champions 2007; 2009; 2010
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Jaguares
After performing so poorly in their first two seasons of Super Rugby, 2018 finally showed what the Argentinians can do as they picked up nine wins from their 16-round robin games to book their place in the playoffs for the first time. More of the same will be expected of Gus Creevy and his men – in essence the Argentina national side in all but name - this time round as they prep themselves for the upcoming World Cup.
The stats prove just how much this side likes to throw the ball around with the Jaguares having ranked second for total passes (3006), ball carries (2086) and third for line breaks (106) in last year’s edition. As always with Argentine teams, discipline will be a focal point after they conceded the most offside penalties (37), scrum penalties (33) and second-most penalties overall (141) last time out.
Without the experience of Juan Martin Hernandez and the ever-dependable Nicolas Sanchez at pivot, the Jaguares may struggle in tight contests. Having had a taste of playoff football last year, though, they will be aching to get another crack and perhaps cause some upsets along the way.
Captain: Agustin Creevy
Coach: Gonzalo Quesada
Last season: Quarter-finalists: second in SA Conference: seventh overall
Best finish: Quarterfinals 2018
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Lions
The three-time runners-up have again endured a mass exodus of players to northern clubs and may be hard-pressed to match their feats of the past several seasons. Swys de Bruin and his men will doubtless still be the team to beat from the Republic and will keep their sights squarely set on securing their place in yet another final, but the fact remains that their depleted squad may come up short this time round.
The men from Johannesburg were at their scintillating attacking best yet again in 2018, ranking first for ball carries (2120), tackle breaks (134) and turnovers won (81), and finishing second for tries scored (86). The challenge for them will be to emulate those figures once more this season but with pace-men like Aphiwe Dyantyi, Madosh Tambwe and Sylvian Mahuza in their ranks, they remain deadly out wide.
The losses of Franco Mostert, Ruan Dreyer, Jaco Kriel (all Gloucester) and Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Sale Sharks) will be hard felt by the union. It will be up to the likes of seasoned campaigners such as Warren Whiteley and Ruan Combrink to band the side together if they are to remain relevant in 2019.
Captain: Warren Whiteley
Coach: Swys de Bruin
Last season: Runners-up; first in SA Conference; second overall
Best finish: Runners-up 2016; 2017; 2018
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Sharks
The men from Durban will look to add some consistency to their game this season after earning just seven wins from their 17-matches in 2018. The Sharks blew hot and cold throughout that campaign, at times threatening to come good but ultimately failing to pose any real assault on the South African Conference. With a reasonably settled squad, they will be striving for bigger and better things this term.
Robert du Preez’s charges ranked second for total kicks (345) and total kicking meters (10369) in 2018, while their attempts at playing a more expansive game saw them finish first for offloads (209). While their attacking endeavour did pay off on occasion, their having conceded the most turnovers (269) somewhat stifled their progress. They will need to address these areas if they are to have a say this season.
Boasting a number of Springboks in their ranks, the Sharks should pose a real challenge to opposing sides this year. Their Currie Cup triumph in October would have sparked a feel-good factor within the camp and sharpened their desire to turn their Super Rugby fortunes around at the Shark Tank.
Captain: Louis Schreuder
Coach: Robert du Preez
Last season: Quarterfinalists; third in SA Conference; eighth overall
Best finish: Runners-up 2001; 2007; 2012
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Stormers
The 2010 finalists will once again have the luxury of calling on some of the finest talent this country has to offer, but their progress this season may ultimately boil down to how well they fare on the road after a 2018 campaign that saw them lose all eight of their away matches.
The statistics back up the viewpoint that the Stormers simply struggled to assert themselves in most areas of the game last year. The Cape Town-based franchise made an impressive 210 dominant tackles (the fifth most in the competition) but let themselves down in conceding 18 penalties at ruck time (ranked sixth) and 233 turnovers (ranked seventh). Robbie Fleck’s men need to add more balance to their game if they are to challenge this season.
As is the case with all competing sides this year, the top internationals will have to be carefully managed in anticipation of September’s Rugby World Cup in Japan. Don’t be surprised to Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and the like rested for the odd round robin fixture. Rassie Erasmus and his coaching staff will be pleading with Fleck et al. to give his MVP's a break in between big showdowns.
Captain: Siya Kolisi
Coach: Robbie Fleck
Last season: Fourth in SA Conference; 11th overall
Best finish: Runners-up 2010
*Statistic gained from “Rugby stats” app*
