Player (and Coach) Movements and how that might affect the South African Super Rugby teams

Of the South African sides competing in this year's Super Rugby competition, most have had player losses, but the Bulls appear to have been the hardest hit of all, with a number of Springboks leaving the franchise in search of new challenges. The Stormers and Cheetahs are not far behind.

By Michael Marnewick

The loss of senior players like Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Fourie du Preez and others did not affect the Bulls nearly as badly as predicted in 2013 as they rose to a prominent place on the Super Rugby log – although they were beaten in the semis. But this loss of experience was a telling factor as a very young side battled in the Currie Cup, to the extent that they nearly didn't make the semis in the provincial six team tournament.

A team is often able to ride its success beyond expectations for a year, call it a honeymoon period, before the loss of central figures becomes felt. The Bulls, with their 'accuracy before innovation' ethos haven't changed much over the years, and it is therefore not that difficult for a talented youngster to work his way through the ranks and into the senior side, because the game plan and calls are the same throughout. The only difference is his playing partners, but he isn't forced to do anything different. That is a positive. The negative reality is losing established stars and replacing them with greenhorns.

Victor Matfield is back in a playing (according to rumours) and coaching role and Derick Hougaard might also be back, while Waylon Murray, former Shark and King, has signed for the Bulls as has scrumhalf Piet Van Zyl from the Cheetahs. But can they make up for the loss of Springbok flyhalf Morne Steyn, Juandre Kruger, Dewald Potgieter, Jacques Potgieter, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jano Vermaak, Wynand Olivier, Lionel Mapoe and fullback Zane Kirchner who have all opted for greener pastures?

For the Cheetahs, the loss of Heinrich Brussow will be keenly felt as he is expected to sit out three months after surgery on a toe injury sustained while playing in Japan. Like the Bulls, they too have a number of player losses and will not have the services of Frans Viljoen, Davon Raubenheimer, Tewis de Bruyn, Piet van Zyl, Burton Francis, Hansie Graaff, Robert Ebersohn and Barry Geel in 2014. The Free State side are also taking a gamble in not replacing defence coach Michael Horak who has left them (for the Kings).

The Cheetahs play the Lions in their opening match of the tournament and the Lions themselves are sweating on the availability of flyhalf Elton Jantjies who tops the lists of players who may miss the early part of the season due to injury and rehabilitation.

Not much in the way of player acquisitions has taken place at the Stormers aside from the addition (and any youngsters coming in from the junior ranks) of Argentinian lock Manuel Carizza and the loan of Kings' back Scott van Breda. But without the services of influential players like Andries Bekker, Bryan Habana, Gerhard van den Heever and Joe Pietersen (to overseas clubs), they have lost a lot of firepower.

The Sharks will have little disruption to their playing numbers, with Springboks Ryan Kankowski and JP Pietersen back from their Japanese clubs to participate in another Super Rugby season for The Sharks. No official squad announcement has been made but aside from Lourens Adriaanse (Griquas) and Etienne Oosthuizen (Brumbies) who were announced as new signings last year, expect the same team to run out in 2014. There is no Craig Burden, Jandre Marais, Butch James, Louis Ludik, Riaan Viljoen and Meyer Bosman however.

They are the only South African side with a new coach: former Springbok and Brumbies coach (and an assistant to The Sharks more than a decade ago) Jake White has been appointed by new CEO, John Smit. This is no old boys club, these Rugby World Cup champions mean business and there is every possibility that these two are the architects of Sharks' success in 2014.

What does this all mean within the context of team expectations? Perhaps very little. But in August perhaps this summary will make a lot more sense.