Bulls

Coach: Nollis Marais
Ground: Loftus Versfeld

Key players in:
Edgar Marutlule (Kings), Lood de Jager (Cheetahs), Johnny Kotze (Stormers)

Key players out:
SP Marais (Stormers), Bjorn Basson (Stormers), Dan Kriel (Stormers), Deon Stegman (Honda Heat), Lappies Labuschagné (Kubota Spears), Nico Janse van Rensberg (Montpellier), Grant Hattingh (Kubota Spears), Bandise Maku (retired), Marcel van der Merle (Toulon), Werner Kruger (Scarlets), Dean Greyling (Oyonnax).

Strengths:
Depth in key positions coupled with the return of newly appointed skipper Handre Pollard from injury, and Lood de Jager from the Cheetahs will be the difference in this new look Bulls team. They are dominant at set piece and they have a number of Springboks at their disposal, headed by Adriaan Straaus.

Weaknesses:
Playing the New Zealand teams this year will be tough on the Pretoria based team.

Player to watch:
Jamba Ulenga – His breakthrough season for the Bulls, where he scored 5 tries in 2016, earned him a call up to the Springboks end of year tour and subsequently his first cap. The flying winger will want to continue his impetus on attack and his dominance under the high ball.

Last season: 9th.

Prediction:
There is no lack of talent among the Bulls and with the Stormers as their biggest threat in Africa 1 conference, this might be the year the Bulls end their play-off drought. Quarter Finals.

Cheetahs

Coach: Franco Smith
Ground: Free State Stadium

Key players in:
Ryno Eksteen (Stormers), Clinton Swart (Griquas), Tom Botha (Kings)

Key players out:
Maks van Dyk (Toulousse), Lood de Jager (Bulls), Willie Britz (Sunwolves)

Strengths:
The Cheetahs have managed to retain the majority of their players who won the Currie Cup and will head into this years campaign a more settled and experienced side that plays together as a team rather than relying on big names.

Weaknesses:
Much like the Bulls, the Cheetahs will face all five New Zealand franchises and emulating their Currie Cup performance is a whole lot easier said than done.

Player to watch:
Ox Nche – he is the prototype of the modern day prop. The 2016 Currie Cup Player of the Year is mobile and exceeds expectations at his core duties.

Last season: 14th.

Prediction:
If the Cheetahs want to compete they will need to win at home. The draw has been kind to them with five of their first seven games being played in Bloemfontein. However they are set to just miss out on play offs. 15th

Stormers

Coach: Robbie Fleck
Ground: Newlands

Key players in:
Dewaldt Duvenage (Perpignan), Dan Kriel (Bulls), Bjorn Basson (Bulls), SP Marais (Bulls)

Key players out:
Vincent Koch (Saracens), Schalk Burger (Saracens), Nic Groom (Northampton Saints), Louis Schreuder (Kings), Brandon Thomson (Glasgow Warriors), Jaco Taute (Munster), Johnny Kotze (Bulls), Kobus Van Wyk (Sharks)

Strengths:
Springbok duo Pieter Steph Du Toit, SA Rugby Player of the Year, and Eben Etzebeth will continue to dominate the set piece in 2017. These two were instrumental in winning the line out battle in 2016 and 2017 will be no different, albeit against tougher opposition.

Weaknesses:
A lack of physicality, kicking and decisions in attack played their part in the Stormers scraping together 10 wins in 2016. With several Springboks departing the Cape Town based side, and their captain Juan de Jongh set to miss a large portion due to injury, they might find

Player to watch:
Seabelo Senatla – Last years World Rugby sevens Player of the Year should boost the Stormers attacking options. Apart from his searing pace and attacking prowess, Senatla is a giant in defense and will be counted on at the breakdown for some key turnovers.

Last season: Quarter Finals

Prediction:
As witnessed in the play-offs last year, the Stormers still seem to be inferior to the New Zealanders by quite a margin. That should be no different this year and play-offs might be a stretch too far. 11th

Sunwolves

Coach: Filo Taita
Ground: Singapore National Stadium/Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium

Key players in:
Fumiaki Tanaka (Highlanders), Willie Britz (Cheetahs),

Key players out:
Tusi Pisi (Bristol), Andrew Durutalo (Leicester Tigers)

Strengths:
They finally have their first year heebie-jeebies behind them. With a big win against the Jaguares and a draw against the Stormers in 2016, they will look to build on these results and potentially surprise a few more teams in this year’s campaign.

Weaknesses:
With new Japan coach Jamie Joseph saying he wants as many national team players playing for the Sunwolves in 2017, they have already signed 17 new players, and apparently there are more to come. The Sunwolves struggled with depth last year and this year might be just a changing of the guard, rather than improving from last season.

Player to watch:
Fumiaki Tanaka – Having played second fiddle to arguably the world’s best no. 9 at the Highlanders, Aaron Smith, Tanka will be hungry to get some much needed game time and hopefully spark something in this new look Sunwolves side.

Last season: 18th.

Prediction:
The Sunwolves will basically be starting again from scratch due to their massive influx of prospective Brave Blossoms and I can’t see them doing any better than last year. 18th.

By Tristan Renaud