Now before all the men get too excited, please take time the next few weeks too either get in the quality time with the Misses OR isn’t it time for you to teach her a thing or two about the difference between a ruck & a maul!

And Ladies (those who’s not excited with us) , this is an official request I’m handing in today, to formally request your patience, love & understanding for the next few months!!

Now, back to Super Rugby! What a year 2013 will be!! From a South African perspective what do we have to offer this year? I think plenty and nothing!!

We can all agree the inclusion of the EP Kings was more political and in so many South African issues, political decisions are rather stupid!! The EP Kings, who have NO currie cup experience at all, I think will have a Blue Bull 2006 year! No Wins!! If they pick up points on their bye’s, that’ll be a surprise!

2nd last on the SA Log and I think will end up 11th overall this year.. The Cheetahs! They will be hard to beat in Free State, but they will be beaten in Free State.
Like last year, I see them playing well when travelling & winning at least one away game, and having two games against the EP Kings, they can have 10 extra points there, which is why I predict them to end up at least 11th this year (Kings, Rebels, Blues, Force below them) . I hope they upset the Australasian teams’ party in Bloemfontein!

Now enough about the nothing! Let’s talk top 3 on the SA conference Log..

Bulls, Sharks & Stormers!

My call, Sharks & Stormers to top the SA Conference again, but I have a sneaky suspicion the Bulls might get into play off via the wild card with the Sharks!

Yes! I call Stormers to top the SA Conference again this year! After winning the Currie Cup last year with a mostly young side will have the side’s confidence & belief up, but also acquiring Elton Jantjies & Jaco Taute from the Lions has boosted the depth of an already incredible looking backline!
The return of Skipper Schalk Burger and Siya Kolisi will boost the pack extremely!!

The Cape franchise is known for their defense in the SuperRugby tournament, but showed skill on attack in the Currie Cup, if coach Coetzee can get the Balance right this year, I see no reason why the Stormers can’t win the title!!

Sharks to end 2nd behind the Stormers, they had an incredible 2012, unfortunately travelling got the best of the team! They came from almost nowhere to almost winning the cup! This year I see them starting slow, but picking up speed when key players like Bismarck Du Plessis (who at time of writing this, was unsure to be ready at the start of the season). Key players for the Durbanites will be Keegan Daniel, Pat Lambie & JP Pietersen. Scrumhalf Cobus Reinach will play a big role! Don’t see coach Plumtree changing a lot in the Sharks’ ‘ball through the hands’ approach, but might have to work on the Sharks’ discipline if they wanna make sure they finish out games!

By now I think most Blue Bull supporters had stopped reading and probably went ‘aaag hou jou bek!!’, but even they will later admit that their current squad are still being rebuilt & lack all needed experience to execute their very precise game plan! Guys like Victor,Bakkies & Fourie are irreplaceable. I think the Bulls will be a force at Loftus like always, but will lose points when they travel, because their squad haven’t showed in the last year that they have gelled yet! And when travelling, you need a squad that knows each other well and know the game plan to a tee! Morné Steyn will have his last season at Loftus & will wanna make them forget last season! Francois Hougaard will need his pack to provide him with solid ball, to secure he executes the box kick properly & its not one of his strength! Bjorn Basson to score some tries again this year! And let’s hope Kirchner gets that step right!

Now I said that the Bulls might sneak into the play offs, yes, because I would love to see 3 SA teams in the Top 6, but my other reason for this, I think we have to thank SARU.
With the inclusion of the EP Kings, the Top 3 sides in SA will get a shot at them twice, where opposition only play them once or not at all.. This can mean 10 points! And we know 5 points can make a massive difference!

I’m sorry to the EP Kings players & Supporters, I just think this happened too soon & SARU should have given the franchise a proper go in Currie Cup first.

To wrap up. Prediction for 2013:

In New Zealand – Crusaders to begin slow again, but will top points scoring table, even though Stormers will top overall log. Highlanders will surprise in the NZ conference & I predict will end 2nd behind Crusaders and Hurricanes to end 3rd.. (Sorry Chiefs, without SBW, I don’t see them being such a big threat)

Australia will see how good a coach Jake White really is with getting the Brumbies in the Play offs, Reds’ will compete well, let’s hope Quade Cooper worries about performing on field and not throwing tantrums off it.

Hey, just my own prediction! I’m no expert and of course I’m biased towards the Stormers!!!!