There have been mixed reactions following the confirmation of the Kings’ admission to Super Rugby for 2013. The Eastern Cape franchise has been given a free ride into the tournament, despite Saru not being sure of how they will be accommodated along with the country’s five other teams: the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs and Lions. While Saru’s proposal of entering six franchises next year will be formally discussed with Sanzar in the near future (despite CEO Greg Peters stating it will be unlikely), a final decision on how all six franchises will be managed will only be made at the union’s annual general meeting in March.

So the only certainty at this stage is that the Kings are the only South African franchise that is guaranteed to play Super Rugby next season. With that, the question arises: Will they be competitive?

The recent track record of promoted franchises isn’t a positive one. Australia’s Western Force (2006) and the Melbourne Rebels (2011) both finished bottom of the table in their debut campaigns. The Cheetahs and Lions have also struggled to finish in the top half of the log since the separation of the Cats six years ago. The EP Kings’ 43-12 loss to Boland in last year’s Currie Cup First Division final also increased debate about their ability to perform at higher levels, as the union will form the greater part of the final Southern Kings squad.

However, head coach Solomons believes the Southern Kings are on track to do well next year.

‘We were delighted with the news that we will play Super Rugby in 2013. It’s a promise that started back in June 2010, when I first joined the union,’ Solomons told keo.co.za.

‘The key thing is that we have our structures in place and we have a specific recruitment policy that we’ll follow. There are players in our region [EP, SWD and Border] who we are observing this year – all those players are getting opportunities during our warm-up games against the other five South African franchises. Thereafter, we’ll analyse who will be able to make the step up. There also plenty of South Africans abroad, especially in Europe. Most of those guys left because they couldn’t get Super Rugby contracts, but now we can offer them that opportunity. There are also players in South Africa who will be free agents at the end of the season, so we’ll have a look at them too.

‘Yes, the Force and Rebels struggled,’ Solomons continued, ‘but that’s because Australia doesn’t have the player base for five franchises as their league and Aussie rules codes are also popular. In South Africa, we don’t have that problem. We have the player base for six franchises.’

Solomons added that the current criticism of the Southern Kings is premature.

‘Yes, last year’s First Division final was a disappointing result. At the time, we never complained and congratulated Boland. But the truth is, we had nine first-choice players out injured – including four of our leaders. Luke Watson, Rory Duncan, Darron Nell, Marcello Sampson, Boetie Britz, De Wet Barry, Paul Perez, Siyanda Grey and Wayne Stevens all missed the game. Four players who started in our tight five struggled with niggles while SP Marais wasn’t 100% fit.

‘People who are criticising us because of that result need to look at our progress in a different perspective. You have to look at the whole picture. When [president] Cheeky Watson took over in 2008, EP rugby was in a disastrous state and he did a fantastic job in restoring some structure. Since I took over in 2010, we’ve played 37 games and won 30. That’s a winning average of 81%. Those matches were played in four tournaments – and we won two of them [the 2010 Currie Cup First Division and Nations Cup, where they beat Portugal and World Cup participants Georgia and Romania]. You can’t even count the Vodacom Cup, as we were deducted points when we would’ve qualified for the play-offs. We’ve come along way and we will be ready in 2013.’

Another topic of concern is whether transformation will be a priority. The EP region is known for it’s raw black talent, but what focus will be put on the development of black players during this important stage of Super Rugby preparation?

‘When it comes to Super Rugby participation, we have to work from the top down because the Eastern Cape hasn’t played Super Rugby in the professional era. Transformation is a priority, and we will focus on it from the bottom up,’ said Solomons. ‘The union has developed many black players over the years, but we’ve lost them to the other Super Rugby franchises. We are doing the best we can to bring those players back home, like Tiger Mangweni, Mzwandile Stick, Jongi Nokwe and Mpho Mbiyozo.

‘But in the process, we launched our academy last year and plan to produce our own players. We are already contracting juniors for 2012, and five of them are players of colour. This will be a process and we have to be patient.’

By Gareth Duncan

While regular flyhalf Peter Grant will feature for the Stormers, he is unlikely to be available until early March. As was the case last year, Grant’s commitments to the Japanese club Kobe Steelers precludes him from the Stormers’ pre-season and impacts on his involvement in the Cape side’s initial Super Rugby games. It’s for this reason that the Stormers have had to search for a more dependable, and potentially a greater, longer-term option.

Van Aswegen held his own during the first few games of the 2011 competition, but it is in the 2012 installment that he will be expected to exercise more control and authority. While Coetzee has expressed his disappointment with the Stormers’ flyhalf group as a collective in the pre-season, he has maintained his faith in Van Aswegen as a player the Cape team can build their game around. And as a senior Springbok and leader within the Stormers set-up, De Villiers has also handed Van Aswegen a ringing endorsement.

‘We’re basically preparing as if Bash [Grant] isn’t going to be here,’ said De Villiers. ‘Gary has done well with the few opportunities that he’s had, and I think we’re in a better position now than we were at the same time last year with regards to the flyhalf situation.

‘Gary is maturing as a player, he has unbelievable potential. I have a role to play in mentoring young players like Gary, but at the same time I’m excited to be playing next to him.’

Van Aswegen has started one game thus far during the pre-season, and will start his second match against the Kings in Port Elizabeth this Saturday. While he will have De Villiers on his outside at No 12, he won’t have the Stormers’ best scrumhalf, Dewaldt Duvenage, on his inside.

If the Stormers feel confident about starting the Super Rugby season with a talented yet inexperienced flyhalf, they should be nervous about fielding two inexperienced players in the key decision-making positions of 9 and 10.

Because of injury, Duvenage hasn’t been considered for the hit-out in PE which would suggest that Louis Schreuder is the favourite to partner Van Aswegen in the halfbacks when the Stormers host the Hurricanes in their opening Super Rugby game.

Schreuder battled to handle the pressure at the base of the ruck when he last started against the Lions. That match also highlighted some concerns around his tactical game, and whether he has the aptitude to fill the void left by Duvenage. He struggled against the Lions and that in turn had an adverse effect on Van Aswegen’s game. The Stormers will hope that this match against the Kings gives the young pair a chance to get things right before they confront the real thing on 25 February.

Meanwhile, Coetzee has confirmed that while Van Aswegen will start the season as the first-choice flyhalf, fullback Joe Pietersen would be taking the goal-kicks.

By Jon Cardinelli

It’s been interesting to note the response from rugby supporters following Heyneke Meyer’s appointment on 27 January. Most agree that the move is the right one, while others base their reservations on what is perceived to be a conservative mindset, or as some have articulated: ’10-man rugby’.

While every man and his dog is entitled to an opinion, there is no substance to the argument that Meyer is bound to a conservative strategy. Indeed, it’s just plain ignorant to assume that a powerful pack of forwards, a strong tactical kicking game and an advanced defensive system are the pillars of a conservative approach. It’s not that these aspects are synonymous with a conservative game plan, but rather that they are vital to a winning strategy under the current law set.

One has only to look at the Super Rugby competition over the past few years for evidence. The team that has won the title has been the team that has best adapted to the laws.

The Bulls won in 2009 by adapting to a law set that favoured the defending team, and in 2010 when the best attacking side enjoyed the upper hand. The 2011 competition was won by one of the better defending teams, the Reds, although it shouldn’t have surprised to see the Crusaders, Stormers and Waratahs in the top six. All four of these teams possessed a strong defensive record, a desire to dominate territory and some of the best heavies in the southern hemisphere.

It’s a trend that has also been apparent at the highest levels. The All Blacks won the 2010 Tri-Nations, and there were those that hailed New Zealand’s ‘attacking brand’ as something the Bok dinosaurs would do well to replicate. A more statistical review of that tournament would reveal that of the three Sanzar nations, the All Blacks kicked more than any other team. Their territorial approach wasn’t highlighted as much as their try-scoring feats, and this has perhaps fueled the perception that the All Blacks aren’t a side that plays according to the prescribed law set.

The Wallabies won the 2011 Tri Nations by building on what worked for the Reds in Super Rugby. Yes there were some memorable tries that highlighted the attacking talent, but the Wallabies stuck to a plan based on the tenet that territory is everything in the modern game. The All Blacks subsequently won the World Cup even though their chief tactician, Dan Carter, was absent, but their defence and forward pack played massive roles in achieving territorial dominance.

Will Graham Henry be remembered as a conservative coach for these tactics, or will he be remembered as a title-winning coach? Surely it’s the latter. Surely men like Ewen Mckenzie will go down in the history books as a Super Rugby-winning coach, just as Jake White will go down in the annals as a World Cup winner.

In professional sport, top teams are expected to win big games and titles. How can tradition dictate a team’s style of play when a sport like rugby is ever-changing? When there are jobs and large amounts of money on the line, as well as the glory that comes with a big trophy, surely a coach should formulate a game plan that’s going to give his team the best chance of success.

This is what Meyer should do in his term with the Boks. If supporters believe the Boks are too forward-oriented, that they place too much emphasis on kicking for territory and maintaining a strong defence, then they should acquaint themselves with a lawbook and study the recent trends. There is room for improvement at the Boks, particularly with regards to attacking play inside the opponents’ half, but there are also existing strengths that need to be honed and maintained.

Meyer is not the only coach to be unfairly boxed. Rassie Erasmus built the Stormers up over a four year period, paying special attention to forward development as well as defence. As a result, the Stormers qualified for the play-offs in 2010 and 2011. They were dubbed too conservative, when in reality they were just moving with the times.

There is a sector of the community, even a sector within the Stormers administration itself, that has suggested that no Super Rugby trophies equates to zero progress, and that a push for the more free-running approach similar to that of the 1980s would be more prudent. Again, it’s a view that doesn’t take the current laws into account. The Stormers have not got their balance completely right over the past two years, and that is why they have struggled to take the next step. That doesn’t mean that they are headed in the wrong direction.

If supporters are frustrated with the number of kicks in a match or with the way the modern game is played, they should channel their anger into a strongly worded letter to the IRB lawmakers. Coaches are only formulating game plans according to what they perceive to work in the current rugby environment. If rugby fans are unhappy, they shouldn’t hate the coach but rather the game in its modern guise.

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The Stormers’ best No 13 option, Juan de Jongh, has still not fully recovered from a jaw injury sustained in the pre-season match against the Lions. Coach Allister Coetzee has decided to trial Habana in the position this week against the Kings, believing that the Bok winger is good enough to handle the responsibility.

It was at outside centre where Habana first attracted attention. He played there for the Lions before he moved to the Bulls and shifted to the wing.

In 2006, then-Bok coach Jake White tried to move Habana back to No 13 for a Test against Ireland in Dublin. The move proved disastrous as Jean de Villiers and Habana failed to gel as a combination, and as an individual Habana was guilty of several errors.

However, Coetzee, who was the Bok backline coach during White’s tenure, said Habana had grown as a defensive player. He also denied that the 2007 IRB Player of the Year has lost pace, and that this is the primary reason for considering Habana as a centre option.

‘No 13 is a very important position for us, and Bryan has a great appreciation for what’s required from a defensive point of view,’ said Coetzee. ‘He will cover that position for us [in Super Rugby]. It’s not that he’s slow [and therefore has to move away from the wing]. He’s the fastest player in our squad.

‘Jaque Fourie set some very high standards in that position [when he was with the Stormers in 2010 and 2011]. He’s very good in terms of organisational ability and his communication, and I believe Bryan also has these strengths.

‘We are not expecting miracles from Bryan in the first game, but it is something we are looking at in the long-term. Jean and Juan are still my first-choice centre combination for the year, but it will help having a player of Bryan’s quality in reserve.’

Coetzee confirmed that the squad selected to play against the Kings is his best available, and that a similar starting XV will front the Hurricanes on 25 February.

Andries Bekker and Duane Vermeulen will make their respective returns to rugby this week after not featuring since the 2011 Super Rugby competition. Coetzee said that he hopes both players will get through 30 minutes.

Dewaldt Duvenage has not been included in the squad because his injury rehabilitation is incomplete. This would suggest that Louis Schreuder will partner Gary van Aswegen in the halfbacks for that first game against the Hurricanes.

In the absence of regular skipper Schalk Burger, who has been rested for this match, De Villiers will lead the side against the Kings.

Meanwhile, Coetzee is yet to confirm his squad of 30 for the Super Rugby competition. However, keo.co.za has it on good authority that the 26 named below will be included, as will Burger, De Jongh, Duvenage and Wicus Blaauw. Peter Grant will only join the side after the competition has kicked off due to club commitments in Japan.

Stormers – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Bryan Habana, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Rynhardt Elstadt, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
16 Deon Fourie, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 19 Frans Malherbe, 20 Eben Etzebeth, 21 De Kock Steenkamp, 22 Nizaam Carr, 23 Nic Groom, 24 Burton Francis, 25 Marcel Brache, 26 Danie Poolman.

By Jon Cardinelli

The promising midfielder was lured from the Stormers in late 2011 and is expected to be the Bulls’ first choice No 13 for their Super Rugby campaign. Sadie partners SA U20 inside centre Francois Venter.

There are also starts for Springboks Morné Steyn, Francois Hougaard and Chiliboy Ralepelle, who will captain the side in the absence of Pierre Spies (calf). The starting XV includes 11 Springboks in total.

‘We are keen to see where we are at this stage of the season. The Cheetahs have had some game under the belt and will be a difficult opponent, just what we need now,’ coach Frans Ludeke said of his team’s last pre-season match before their opener against the Sharks on 24 February.

Bulls – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (c), 1 Dean Greyling.
Subs: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 JJ Engelbrecht.

The Southern Kings have already played two of their five warm-up games against the other Super Rugby franchises. A SWD-Border dominated team lost 33-20 to the Cheetahs in East London while the Bulls picked up a 16-12 win in Port Elizabeth. The Kings will now meet the Stormers in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, which head coach Solomons believes will be one of two tough warm-up fixtures his team will face over the next fornight.

‘The Stormers will field a strong team this weekend, with most of their first-choice players starting. It will be the ideal test for our players,’ Solomons told keo.co.za. ‘Then we have the Sharks next weekend, who are also expected to play their strongest side. We then face the Lions after the Sharks game, but it looks like they’ll play a weakened team.

‘These five games are very important as we prepare a final squad for Super Rugby next season. We’re giving all the players in the region [EP, SWD and Border] some game time so they have an opportunity to make an impression. So far, I’m satisfied with the results. Our SWD-Border side had a good start against the Cheetahs, but in the end they had too much firepower. We had a poor start against the Bulls, and gave away too many penalties in the first 15 minutes and found ourselves 13-0 behind. But we played well after that.’

The Kings currently have former Bulls scrumhalf Dustin Jinka and former Lions and Griquas flyhalf Earl Rose on a month-long trial. They’ll feature on the bench against the Stormers this weekend.

‘It’s a tough situation for Earl. He’s not 100% fit because he hasn’t played rugby in a long time [since the end of the 2011 Currie Cup]. We see potential in both players and they’ll get their chances on the field. Their trials end on 17 February, so we’ll decide what happens when that day comes.

‘We’re also giving some of our young players an opportunity against the Stormers. Flyhalf Shane Gates and lock Reynier Bernado come out of our junior structures.’

Southern Kings to play Stormers – 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Norman Nelson, 13 Jaco Bekker, 12 Wayne Stevens, 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Shane Gates, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Luke Watson, 7 Mpho Mbiyozo, 6 Jacques Engelbrecht, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Darron Nell, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Jaco Engels.
Subs: 16 Bobby Dyer, 17 Zane Killian, 18 Andre Schlechter, 19 Wayne van Heerden, 20 Reynier Bernardo, 21 Boetie Britz, 22 Thembani Bholi, 23 Dustin Jinka, 23 Earl Rose, 25 Dwayne Jenner, 26 Kieran Goss.

By Gareth Duncan

Coach Naka Drotske has made five changes to the side that beat the Stormers in Cape Town last week. Johnson comes in for Phillip van der Walt, while Trevor Nyakane is picked at loosehead.

In the backline, wing Philip Snyman is shifted to No 12 while Ryno Benjamin starts on the wing. Willie le Roux replaces Hennie Daniller at fullback.

Cheetahs – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Ryno Benjamin, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Pieter van Zyl, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Subs: TBC

The pair picked up serious injuries in last week’s warm-up match against the Crusaders in Greymouth. Lynn sustained a neck fracture while Poki strained a medial ligament in his knee. Both are likely to miss the first game against the Chiefs but Lynn could be sidelined for as much as two months.

The Highlanders are already without flyhalf Colin Slade, who is recovering from a hernia operation, while lock Jarrad Hoeata will miss the first six rounds because of a torn pectoral muscle.

Prop Jamie Mackintosh and lock Josh Bekhuis are also on the comeback trail following operations in the off-season. But coach Jamie Joseph’s biggest problems could be in the backline, as aside from Lynn, Poki and Slade, Shaun Treeby and Siale Piutau are injured. Tamati Ellison is playing rugby in Japan and will only join the team once his club commitments are completed.

Waratahs captain Rocky Elsom is still battling with a hamstring injury and won’t be back for several weeks yet. Barnes will lead the team in Friday’s game in Tamworth and in all likelihood during the early rounds of Super Rugby.

The Waratahs will field their strongest line-up in the first half, including former Cheetahs scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius. In the second stanza, reserve flyhalf Daniel Halangahu will captain the side. The game will be played in four chukkas of 30 minutes each.

Apart from Elsom, Drew Mitchell (ankle), No 8 Wycliff Palu (hamstring), prop Benn Robinson (knee), winger Atieli Pakalani (knee) and Dan Vickerman (knee) won’t feature because of injuries. Utility back Adam Ashley-Cooper will only begin his stint with the Waratahs when they play Tonga next week, while lock Sitaleki Timani will join the team once his club commitments in Japan are fulfilled.

Waratahs first-half team – Brackin Karauria-Henry, Lachie Turner, Rob Horne, Tom Carter, Tom Kingston, Berrick Barnes (c), Sarel Pretorius, Pat McCutcheon, Chris Alcock, Dave Dennis Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Paddy Ryan, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Sekope Kepu.

Waratahs second-half team – Toby Browne, Nathan Trist, Michael Hodge, Bernard Foley, Peter Betham, Daniel Halangahu (c), Brendan McKibbin, Lopeti Timani, Seilala Lam, Tevita Metuisela, Greg Peterson, Richard Stanford, John Ulugia, Damien Fitzpatrick, Jeremy Tilse.

Subs: Lotu Taukeiaho, Liam Winton, Jono Jenkins, Grayson Hart, Jesse Leota, Tom Hill.

While coach Loffie Eloff has favoured the experienced Ricardo Croy at flyhalf, the midfield combination of Siviwe Magaba and Jacquin Jansen will be tested. The Sharks are also using these pre-season hit-outs to experiment, and may deploy Bok winger JP Pietersen at outside centre.

The Sharks will name their team later this week.

Boland – 15 Jonathan Francke, 14 Senan van der Merwe, 13 Jacquin Jansen, 12 Siviwe Magaba, 11 Brendon April, 10 Ricardo Croy, 9 Neil Papier, 8 Junior Bester, 7 Thor Halvorsen, 6 Franzel September (c), 5 Nolan Clark, 4 Jerry Sefoko, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Chris Buckle, 1 Charl du Plessis.
Subs: 16 Martin Nel, 17 BJ Julies, 18 Jaco du Toit, 19 PJ van Zyl, 20 Juwell Samuels, 21 Jeremy Plaatjies, 22 Cola Williams, 23 Milroy Isaacs, 24 Adam Barlow, 25 Peet Vorster, 26 Adriaan Claasen.

The manner of last week’s defeat to the Cheetahs was all too familiar. While the Stormers have boasted a proud defensive record in recent times, they have usually struggled against opponents that match them upfront.

In 2011 the Stormers battled against teams like the Crusaders (twice) and Reds because they lost the collisions as well as the battle for territory. They failed to produce the tactical kicking display so necessary to winning field position, and were duly punished.

It may have been a pre-season hit-out at Newlands last week, but the Cheetahs produced a fine tactical performance to not only win the match but highlight a weakness in the Cape team’s game. It’s true that a number of first-choice players were missing from that Stormers team, but as the head coach himself admitted later, the collective drive for territory and the individual game management of the various Stormers flyhalves hasn’t been nearly good enough over the past three weeks.

‘It was disconcerting to see us playing so much rugby in our own half against the Cheetahs,’ Allister Coetzee said. ‘Ideally you want to be playing your rugby in the opposition’s half, you want to be putting them under pressure.

‘I think that overall our flyhalves aren’t where they should be at this stage of the season. The decision-making hasn’t been great. We want players to assess the situation. If you are under pressure in your own 22, you shouldn’t be shovelling the ball on. In those situations we should be looking to kick for space. It’s about trying to get that balance right.’

Four flyhalves have been used by the Stormers in the pre-season, but their first-choice No 10 is currently playing his rugby in Japan for the Kobe Steelers. Peter Grant is a strong defender and is known for his gainline-threatening advances with ball in hand, but has never been celebrated for his tactical kicking.

It’s limitations like these that have let the Stormers down in recent years, and if the pre-season is anything to go by, the other flyhalf options are also struggling to hone what is an essential skill in the modern game.

Burton Francis, Kurt Coleman and Demetri Catrakilis have produced underwhelming pre-season efforts. Gary van Aswegen remains the favourite in the absence of Grant, but while he didn’t fare badly against the Lions, he is also yet to show real authority in the position.

What could help Van Aswegen when he plays against the Kings this week, and possibly in the early rounds of the Super Rugby tournament itself, is a strong tactical presence at No 9. Dewaldt Duvenage has long been the Stormers’ go-to man in the past couple of seasons given Grant’s limitations with the boot. It will also help Van Aswegen to know that there’s another strong tactical kicker, namely fullback Joe Pietersen, capable of sharing the burden.

While Coetzee agrees that Duvenage’s return will help the Stormers in their drive for territorial ascendancy, he still maintains that the Cape side has some quality alternatives in the scrumhalf position.

Louis Schreuder has struggled with the basics and has shown little sign of developing into a player that can fill the Duvenage void. Coetzee, however, still has faith that the young No 9 will deliver when it matters.

‘Louis definitely fits that tactical mould. You have to remember that a lot of the guys have been playing for positions in the Super Rugby squad. When that happens, players tend to force things in order to impress rather than settle into the system.’

By Jon Cardinelli

The Lions confirmed the news on Tuesday via Twitter. Following surgery this week, Maku will miss a large portion of the Super Rugby season.

The powerful ball-carrier enjoyed a great Currie Cup competition last year, and news of his injury will come as a blow. Lions coach John Mitchell may look to hooker Martin Bezuidenhout, who also had a solid Currie Cup, to fill the void. Former Maties No 2 Callie Visagie will also receive more game time because of Maku’s injury.

The Reds earned a reputation as being one of Super Rugby’s whipping boys before dramatically transforming their fortunes and winning the tournament in 2011. Their success, gained off the back of entertaining play, ensured the Suncorp Stadium was regularly packed.

O’Neill appealed to Australia’s other four franchises, all of whom are in a perilous financial position, to follow the Brisbane side’s lead. ‘We know it annoys some people that we reflect on the Reds as an example … but you do like to reflect on success,’ O’Neill told the Sydney Morning Herald.

‘The Reds have turned it around by playing entertaining, winning rugby, and their home crowds over a two-year period have gone from an average of 13,000 to 35,000. That was obviously helped by a home semi-final and final, but their TV ratings also went off the radar.

‘We’d love to see that replicated throughout all of the franchises and the five Australian cities. It is critical for all of them – some more than others – that they shoot the lights out this year, have extremely successful performances on the park and drive crowds.

‘All bar the Reds can do better on their crowd figures. It’s not a criticism, it’s a statement of fact. Besides the Super Rugby distribution we give them, the provinces’ sources of revenue involves corporate sponsorship. But their principal source is match-day revenue – ticket sales, memberships, corporate hospitality.’

‘Success is infectious, and if the Waratahs, Brumbies, Rebels and Force can emulate some of that, their boards and their management will be dancing in the streets, because it takes some of the financial pressure off. And it is entirely under their control. You have got to get people to feel absolutely in love with their team.’

O’Neill also spoke of the importance of winning as a means of driving private investors. ‘People are soon banging on your door to become members, and that helps make the province a financial success. Enticing private investors is also a lot easier if the vehicle is successful,’ he said.

Burger has played in the last two warm-up matches against the Lions and Cheetahs, and coach Allister Coetzee is satisfied that the Bok flanker has obtained sufficient game time ahead of the Super Rugby competition.

‘I said from the start that I wanted to make sure that everybody in the extended squad got 120 minutes. Schalk has played two matches so will have a rest this week.

‘He’s also been away on personal business. He should be back on Tuesday night and then back in training on Wednesday, but he won’t be considered for this match.’

Aside from Burger and flyhalf Peter Grant, who will only be back from club commitments in Japan next month, the Stormers will field their strongest possible 22 against the Kings. Coetzee said this should give the starting combination an opportunity to gel just two weeks out from the opening match against the Hurricanes.

The Stormers welcomed back lock Rynhardt Elstadt last week, and will be boosted by the return of three more regulars for the Kings clash. Duane Vermeulen and Andries Bekker are set to play their first matches since the 2011 Super Rugby tournament, while Dewaldt Duvenage will also be back after injuring himself in last year’s Currie Cup.

Coetzee will name his starting side for the Kings match as well as his 30-man Super Rugby squad on Wednesday.

By Jon Cardinelli

It’s at this time of the year that coaches talk about ‘putting structures in place’, ‘shaking off the rust’, as well as ‘assessing the quality of performance’. While Coetzee has used these phrases liberally in the build up to the 2012 tournament, he’s also employed a selection policy aimed at handing a squad in excess of 40 players game time to ensure the Stormers won’t be lacking for depth in a competition that starts in February and ends in August.

Nevertheless, there have been several areas of concern. The decision not to seek a replacement for specialist openside flank Francois Louw in the off-season seems flawed, although Coetzee maintains the current defensive systems are geared towards a collective ‘fetching’ effort rather than that of an individual.

And yet, the Stormers have struggled in this department thus far. They may have won comfortably against the Lions but both the Stormers coach and captain admitted afterwards that their defensive breakdown work was sub-standard.

Last Saturday, they came second to the Cheetahs who do possess a specialist fetcher in Heinrich Brüssow, but this still wasn’t enough to force Coetzee to reassess his stance on the matter.

‘I saw a big improvement at the breakdown,’ said Coetzee. ‘We conceded fewer penalties and our discipline was far better if you consider that we conceded three yellow cards in that Lions match.

‘As for the Cheetahs’ performance [and their perceived victory at the breakdown], I’m not too worried. It has nothing to do with having a [specialist] opensider. They were lucky to get away with murder in some instances, and I’m not criticising the referee [Craig Joubert] but referees will be much harsher in the Super Rugby competition.

‘There was a lot of spoiling, a lot of things like players joining from the side and plenty of cynical play. I know refs will be more lenient on that in the pre-season because there is a bit of coaching that goes on, but it won’t be like that once the competition kicks off. Craig did penalise the Cheetahs for some infringements, but perhaps where it was cynical there needed to be a harsher punishment.

‘The Cheetahs also came to Cape Town with the aim to win, and that was evident in the way they played with their kicking game. For me, I’m never happy to lose at home, but I’m satisfied with the answers I received from this match.’

The Stormers have now played three warm-up matches and will play their final pre-season game against the Kings this Saturday. Coetzee is set to make the final squad cut in the next two days, and he reiterated that the clash with the Cheetahs had shown him why some players are ready for Super Rugby while others require more time to develop.

‘It’s clear to me that some players require one-on-one technical work, and they won’t be in the final squad.

‘That’s not to say they won’t be used later in the season. It’s a long competition and you need to lean on your greater squad. What that means is that we need to work with the guys that don’t make it now to ensure they are ready to make the step up later.’

By Jon Cardinelli

The 16-12 scoreline was unimpressive but needs to be viewed in the context of an inexperienced squad and a lack of synergy given the infancy of the season. According to Ludeke, the primary objective of the match was to give some young players an opportunity to stake a claim for Super Rugby inclusion.

‘The result was important, we always want to win, but it didn’t override the main goal, which was to see the sort of depth available to us,’ Ludeke said. ‘I was impressed with how some of the players came through. They know there are places up for grabs in the Super Rugby team and they pushed their names forward.’

Depth will be a focal area for the Bulls in 2012. They’ve lost a string of experienced players, with the departed sextet of Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez, Bakkies Botha, Guthro Steenkamp, Gary Botha and Danie Rossouw accounting for 581 Super Rugby caps and hundreds of Test caps among them.

Young players like CJ Stander, Francois Venter and Arno Botha are highly regarded at the franchise and can expect to see some game time in Super Rugby. Others like Jurgen Visser, Sampie Mastriet and Frik Kirsten are further away from that goal.

The Bulls are thin in the locks in particular. Wilhelm Steenkamp was recently lured back to the Bulls from the Cheetahs, while Juandre Kruger and Flip van der Merwe are the only other experienced second rowers. Flyhalf is also a concern. Morne Steyn will be the premier pivot, with Lionel Cronje, recruited from the Stormers, set to rotate with him.

‘Those are areas we’re holding thumbs we don’t suffer injuries in. If we do we will be in a difficult situation, with some youngsters having to step up,’ Ludeke said. ‘But we can’t concern ourselves with that. If it happens the next guy has an opportunity to show his talent and character.’

The Bulls are expected to name something resembling their first-choice match 22 in Polokwane against the Cheetahs. They open their Super Rugby campaign a fortnight later against the Sharks in Pretoria and the match represents the last opportunity for their elite to ready themselves for the southern hemisphere showpiece.

‘I think we’ll be fine playing just a couple of warm-up games. We aren’t too worried about being under-prepared,’ Ludeke said.’We hope to give some new combinations game time together. We’ve got some injuries to key players but overall we’re in a good space in that regard. The Cheetahs are playing good rugby by all accounts. They’ll be tough to beat. We’re looking for the guys to get match fitness and get some flow in our game. Training runs help with that but obviously they don’t simulate the real thing.’

Akona Ndungane (hamstring) and Werner Kruger (back) missed the Kings match but are likely to feature in Polokwane. Jacques Potgieter and Wynand Olivier, however, won’t be considered due to injuries.

Since the Cheetahs split from the Lions to form their own franchise in 2006, they have not finished higher than 10th on the Super Rugby log. Former coach Rassie Erasmus and current mentor Drotske have often lamented the Cheetahs’ poor composure in the final minutes of close games, and how the loss of five or six tight matches over the course of a season has contributed to their low finish on the table.

Not much stock can be placed in pre-season results, but Drotske admitted to being more than just a little excited following last Saturday’s win against the Stormers at Newlands. The Cheetahs dominated for large parts of the contest and, almost uncharacteristically, stuck to their game plan and showed the necessary composure to win.

‘Tactically, we played very well,’ Drotske said. ‘Last year, we lost a number of matches by tight margins, the fact that we couldn’t finish cost us dearly. But that performance [on Saturday against the Stormers] shows we are starting to get things right.’

The Cheetahs impressed on attack in 2011 but the good work was largely undone by poor defence. Drotske said they aimed to employ a more balanced approach in 2012, and that the structures have been put in place in the pre-season.

The Cheetahs competed well at the breakdown and dominated at the lineout, but the highlight of the performance was the decision making at No 9 and 10 as well as the tactical kicking. The defence was also much improved, as the intensity of the forwards and rush of the line defence combined well to stifle and frustrate the Stormers’ attack.

Wing Rocco Jansen showed good pace to finish his try which was created by a brilliant Piet van Zyl inside pass. Johan Goosen also starred with 14 points although it was more than a flawless goal-kicking display that marked his fine performance. He threatened the gain-line consistently, but only once he and the other Cheetahs’ kickers had booted their team into good field positions.

‘We knew that we shouldn’t play too much rugby in our own half, but the execution of the tactical kicking was very good,’ said Drotske. ‘Johan is a talented kid, and we are fortunate to have two great 10s in Johan and Sias Ebersohn as well as a [utility] player like Willie le Roux.

‘It was a blow to lose Sarel Pretorius [to the Waratahs] and Riaan Viljoen [to the Sharks]. They played a big role in our attack. But it’s been great to see the youngsters coming through. Rocco has added something extra from the wing and Johan has brought a new dimension to the backline in the flyhalf position.’

The Cheetahs will need to maintain this kind of form throughout the season if they hope to challenge for a play-off place. More importantly, they will have to win consistently to guarantee their continued involvement in Super Rugby.

The only South African franchise that is guaranteed a place in next year’s tournament is the Southern Kings, as Saru and Sanzar are yet to decide on the format or if six SA franchises can indeed be accommodated.

It could be that the worst-placed team in 2012 is relegated, and Drotske said this possibility places every team in the country under pressure.

‘Nobody except the Kings are guaranteed a place, so everybody will be feeling the pressure,’ he said. ‘We don’t know the criteria at this point, but it will be an important season for everybody.’

The Cheetahs open their campaign with a South African derby against the Lions on 25 February. It will be a massive match in the context of the 2013 format, as while both the Cheetahs and Lions have struggled as separate entities, a win for either side in the Round 1 ‘catfight’ could strengthen their case for continued involvement in the competition.

By Jon Cardinelli

The Chiefs loose forward injured himself in the match against the Melbourne Rebels in Geelong, and is doubtful for the next two pre-season matches. Reports from New Zealand also suggest that he could miss the Round 1 match against the Highlanders because of the ailment.

The Chiefs will play their second pre-season match against the Highlanders in Queenstown on Saturday.

Coleman, who fractured his sternum at the end of last season, has injured his chest again. Word from Canberra is that he could miss the Round 1 Super Rugby match against the Force if the specialist decides that the injury requires surgery.

While Coleman made his mark as a No 12 in 2011, new coach Jake White is hoping to move the promising talent to fullback in the coming season.

The visitors dominated much of the contest, with a superior performance at the lineout complementing their smart territorial approach. When they received an opportunity, they took it via Goosen’s boot. The young flyhalf finished the game with a flawless goal-kicking record.

While the Stormers turned in an improved scrumming showing, they were erratic at the lineout and battled at the collisions. Their lack of go-forward was exacerbated by poor decisions with ball-in-hand, and the high error-rate allowed the Cheetahs off the hook on more than one occasion.

Results don’t matter in the pre-season, with coaches preferring to focus on the quality of performance. Nevertheless, Stormers coach Allister Coetzee will consider this a failure on both counts, as the Cape side lost the match by playing poor rugby.

Flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis struggled behind a losing pack. His goal-kicking was equally mediocre, as the Stormers missed out on nine possible points because of his wayward attempts.

When presented with a penalty five metres from the Cheetahs’ tryline in the 60th minute, the Stormers opted to kick for the touchline. The move backfired as the Cheetahs secured the lineout and duly cleared their lines.

As the clock wound down, the Cheetahs continued to control proceedings while the Stormers grew more desperate. Replacement flyhalf Sias Ebersohn nailed a late penalty to put the match beyond doubt.