Super Rugby: Thinus Delport previews the South African teams

Sky Sports pundit Thinus Delport looks at the South African teams to preview their chances in the 2015 edition of Super Rugby.

Bulls

The Bulls had a disappointing season last year and lost crucial games that kept them out of contention at the end of the season. No.8 Pierre Spies is back for the Bulls after almost two years of injury woes and had a good hit-out against Saracens. He will have to work hard to get back into the team but his experience and leadership is a big part of the Bulls ethos and he should prove influential on his return. Last year they had lost seven of their first ten games and though they fought back at the end of the season, they can’t expect to win the competition if they do the same again.

Cheetahs

The Cheetahs are a frustrating side. They often have to make do with very few superstars but still manage to beat sides with more talent than them - then they manage to lose to sides they should be beating. Last year they had a very poor season and the loss of talisman Adriaan Strauss to the Bulls this year will be a huge blow to their hopes of regrouping. In this season’s campaign they don’t leave South Africa until Round 6 so they have an opportunity to create vital momentum in the competition before starting a tough period on the road.

Stormers

The Stormers started last year worse than any other team in the competition. By the end of Round 9 they had won just one game – a one-point win over the Hurricanes – so they will need to find a way to avoid that this year. Head coach Allister Coetzee will be leaving at the end of the season, but has assured everyone that he is fully committed to the cause. Their match against the Highlanders in Round 7 is their first outside of South Africa, and I see that as a sign that they will start well. If they can do that, and end the season the way they did in 2014, then they are contenders for the play-offs.

Sharks

The Sharks will be disappointed with the way they ended last season. They lost two of their last three games to go from first place in the competition to third, blowing ther chances of a home semi-final. Instead they had to travel to New Zealand to take on the Crusaders at AMI Stadium which is probably the hardest place to get a win. Gary Gold and Brendan Venter are both coaches who demand excellence from players, and in the Sharks defence they get that. It’s the attack that needs to fire if they’re to make it into the top four and that will come down to the half-back pairing of Cobus Reinach and Pat Lambie. Both have ambitions to start for the Springboks at the World Cup, and there’s no surer way to achieve that than to steer their team to a Super 15 title.

Lions

The Lions have in their squad a whole host of players who are on the fringe of Springbok selection. Their loose forwards such as Warren Whitely and Jaco Kriel are some of the best in South Africa and the half-back pairing of Faf de Klerk with Marnitz Boshoff is very dangerous when firing. Their scrum held firm throughout the year and was a major contributing factor to their success in the Currie Cup at the end of the year. They have all the ingredients needed to succeed in the competition; they just need to be brought together. In Johan Ackerman they may have the man to do that. Last year they were fourth after six rounds, but then lost the following seven games – a run like that will see them at the bottom of the pile again.