The early stages of the 2008 Super 14 competition could be especially challenging for the five South African franchises - three of which have new coaches, and with the training of all five affected to various degrees by the resting of their Springboks after the UK tour.
The early stages of the 2008 Super 14 competition could be especially challenging for the five South African franchises - three of which have new coaches, and with the training of all five affected to various degrees by the resting of their Springboks after the UK tour.
The effect of the resting of the Springboks for the franchises is that the preparation period with a full squad has been limited to four or five weeks instead of the preferred 10 or 11 weeks, including the late-year training.
The Bulls have lost five players of their 2007 Super 14 Cup final winning squad in Victor Matfield, Gary Botha, Danie Thiart, Jaco van der Westhuizen and Johan Roets, and also have a new coach in Frans Ludeke.
Rassie Erasmus, who had two seasons at the helm as Cheetahs coach, is now the new man in charge at the Stormers. Naka Drotske, Erasmus' assistant at the Cheetahs, has taken over as coach of the Free State franchise.
Eugene Eloff, who had his first season as a Super 14 head coach this year in charge of the Lions, and the Sharks' Dick Muir - with two campaigns behind him - are the Super 14 coaches who are the most established with their sides.
Muir, however, has a disadvantage, the proportions of which he shares with only the Bulls. Three of the Sharks' current Springboks, captain John Smit, Butch James and Percy Montgomery, have left for the greener pastures of Europe, and Warren Britz and Bob Skinstad have retired.
The Sharks also had Springboks Ryan Kankowski, Bismarck du Plessis, Johann Muller, Johan Ackermann, Albert van den Berg, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen and Francois Steyn on the UK tour.
Added to that, injuries to props Deon Carstens and Pat Cilliers have left the Sharks with only 23 of their preferred squad for their late-year Super 14 preparations.
The Bulls have, among others, lost captain Matfield, lock Francois van Schouwenburg, hooker Botha, centre Frikkie Welsh, props Wessel Roux and Thiart (all overseas), utility back Jacques-Louis Potgieter (to the Cheetahs), lock Adriaan Fondse (to the Stormers), as well as retired fullback Roets.
They had Bryan Habana, Wynand Olivier, Wayne Julies, Akona Ndungane and Hilton Lobberts on the UK tour which also affected their preparations, and Springboks Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Fourie du Preez. Wikus van Heerden were injured during the World Cup.
All in all, it's not a perfect position the Bulls are in.
Eloff has turned the Xerox Lions as well as the Super 14 Lions around in his 18 months at the coaching helm at Ellis Park. He is probably the least affected of all the franchise coaches.
The Lions did have four Springboks on tour, and have lost Lawrence Sephaka and Ashwin Willemse to French rugby as well as Wylie Human to the Stormers, but the continuity of an established team and coach auger well.
The Stormers already have a new coach and also a newly appointed captain in Jean de Villiers, and there will also be a number of new faces identified and contracted by Erasmus in the Super 14 squad - plus a new coaching philosophy that could impact negatively. - Sapa
Challenges for SA Super 14 sides
The early stages of the 2008 Super 14 competition could be especially challenging for the five South African franchises - three of which have new coaches, and with the training of all five affected to various degrees by the resting of their Springboks after the UK tour.
The early stages of the 2008 Super 14 competition could be especially challenging for the five South African franchises - three of which have new coaches, and with the training of all five affected to various degrees by the resting of their Springboks after the UK tour.
The effect of the resting of the Springboks for the franchises is that the preparation period with a full squad has been limited to four or five weeks instead of the preferred 10 or 11 weeks, including the late-year training.
The Bulls have lost five players of their 2007 Super 14 Cup final winning squad in Victor Matfield, Gary Botha, Danie Thiart, Jaco van der Westhuizen and Johan Roets, and also have a new coach in Frans Ludeke.
Rassie Erasmus, who had two seasons at the helm as Cheetahs coach, is now the new man in charge at the Stormers. Naka Drotske, Erasmus' assistant at the Cheetahs, has taken over as coach of the Free State franchise.
Eugene Eloff, who had his first season as a Super 14 head coach this year in charge of the Lions, and the Sharks' Dick Muir - with two campaigns behind him - are the Super 14 coaches who are the most established with their sides.
Muir, however, has a disadvantage, the proportions of which he shares with only the Bulls. Three of the Sharks' current Springboks, captain John Smit, Butch James and Percy Montgomery, have left for the greener pastures of Europe, and Warren Britz and Bob Skinstad have retired.
The Sharks also had Springboks Ryan Kankowski, Bismarck du Plessis, Johann Muller, Johan Ackermann, Albert van den Berg, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen and Francois Steyn on the UK tour.
Added to that, injuries to props Deon Carstens and Pat Cilliers have left the Sharks with only 23 of their preferred squad for their late-year Super 14 preparations.
The Bulls have, among others, lost captain Matfield, lock Francois van Schouwenburg, hooker Botha, centre Frikkie Welsh, props Wessel Roux and Thiart (all overseas), utility back Jacques-Louis Potgieter (to the Cheetahs), lock Adriaan Fondse (to the Stormers), as well as retired fullback Roets.
They had Bryan Habana, Wynand Olivier, Wayne Julies, Akona Ndungane and Hilton Lobberts on the UK tour which also affected their preparations, and Springboks Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Fourie du Preez. Wikus van Heerden were injured during the World Cup.
All in all, it's not a perfect position the Bulls are in.
Eloff has turned the Xerox Lions as well as the Super 14 Lions around in his 18 months at the coaching helm at Ellis Park. He is probably the least affected of all the franchise coaches.
The Lions did have four Springboks on tour, and have lost Lawrence Sephaka and Ashwin Willemse to French rugby as well as Wylie Human to the Stormers, but the continuity of an established team and coach auger well.
The Stormers already have a new coach and also a newly appointed captain in Jean de Villiers, and there will also be a number of new faces identified and contracted by Erasmus in the Super 14 squad - plus a new coaching philosophy that could impact negatively. - Sapa
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