The 2010 Super 14 is just a few weeks away and already there are several interesting developments. For one, this will be the last season of the Super 14 as we know it. From next year it will be the Super 15, played in a regional conference style, so not all teams will play one another every year. So all of you who loved to watch the Lions duke it out with the Highlanders -- that treat might only come every second year.
But as far as this year goes, the most interesting current news concerns player movements. Several teams have made some high profile acquisitions that will definitely have a huge impact on the standings come the end of May.
Biggest movers and shakers: The Brumbies. In the off-season they acquired Aussie superstars Matt Giteau and Rocky Elsom; the genius and the hard man. This raises their stock significantly and anything short of a top 4 finish would be disasterous with talent like that at their disposal.
The Waratahs have also been throwing their checkbook around. Berrick Barnes and Drew Mitchell join thier ranks, along with Kiwi speedster Soseni Anesi. Coupled with their already formidable scrum - probably the best of 2009 - this should bring some much needed firepower to the backline. Look for them to be strong title contenders too.
The Force were the definite losers in the Aussie player-go-round, but they made some buys of their own, luring has-beens Matt Dunning and Andre Pretorius over to Perth. Pretorius is no Giteau but they are talking up the big role he's going to play. Perpetually injured, I'd be surprised if he got more than 2 games in, but maybe the move will do him good, like Johnny Wilkinson's Toulon rebirth. I'm not holding my breathe though.
Over in South Africa, things are far more stable. The Stormers are the big winners, adding Jacque Fourie and Bryan Habana to their arsenal, though they have lost De Villiers and Luke Watson. They are talking up their chances once again, but it remains to be seen whether they can stop being pretenders and finally rise to the promise they possess.
The Sharks made a huge purchase in Argentinean Juan Hernandez, but he hurt his back in training and is out for the season. Nice one guys.
The Bulls welcome back Gary Botha, and in other massive news, the Lions have signed Kiwi sensation Carlos Spencer. Only they did it five years too late. Still, he is a genius... but how will his old body re-adjust to the pace of Super 14 after all those years slogging about in the English mud. It's an interesting move. They also picked up Dick Muir as head coach, so there's some hopes of a Lions revival - but not this year... they just don't have the player quality to finish higher than 10th.
Things are also interesting in New Zealand. Stephen Brett moves over to Auckland to get some game time with the Blues - who also welcome back Luke McAlister. That's a tasty combination, but I still question coach Pat Lam's ability to manage a disciplined team. They were monstrously inconsistent last year and I'm not sure that McAlister or Brett help that equation.
The Hurricanes have Aaron Cruden in their ranks now. He is the much-hyped next Dan Carter... we'll see. The rugby Gods will be truly unfair if New Zealand gets a run of Grant Fox, Andrew Mehrtens, Carlos Spencer, Dan Carter and then someone just as good. The Springboks have had one decent flyhalf in that whole time period!
Speaking of Carter, he is back at the Crusaders with his buddy Steven Jack. Carter and McCaw together again means we can expect another Crusaders title... or maybe not. But on pre-season paper, look for a top six finish of Crusaders, Bulls, Brumbies, Waratahs, and then a fight between the Blues, Stormers and Sharks. And Chiefs. And Hurricanes. But you can safely dismiss the Cheetahs, Lions, Reds and Highlanders.
