Ones to watch this season?

[Cthulhu]

Lionel Cronje could be one to watch, with the loss of de Waal that leaves Peter Grant only left. This might force Cronje to come in if Grant struggles or gets injured I'll be excited, he's looked real good in u20 side. It's only as matter of time before he becomes our 10

 

[Gavin]

Cipriani - to see how he is actually coming along.
Sonny Bill Williams - to see if he can improve further.
Nonu - to see how far he goes to prove he is better than Sonny Bill and should be ahead of him in the All Blacks.
Umaga - to see if he is like a good whiskey - gets better with age.
O'Connor - to see if the future of Australian rugby can cement down a position in the midfield or fly-half
Cooper - to see if he learns how to tackle
Pocock - to see if he can become the best flanker in the world
Lambie - to see if the young lad can progress further as a fly-half

 

[Cthulhu]

Lambie - to see if the young lad can progress further as a fly-half

No question he's the Springboks future Fly Half well depends on Elton Jantjes I guess

 

[Hulk Hogan]

I look forward to seeing if Digby Ioane can survive an entire Super season, then the Tri Nations and finally the World Cup. Aus Need him at Wing or at Center.

 

[Gavin]

No question he's the Springboks future Fly Half well depends on Elton Jantjes I guess

Lambie was always going to be the future. Just I hope he is only picked in the fly-half position. If he is moved from fly-half to centre to full-back it could make the South African selectors may see him as a utility players (like Frans. Steyn for example). Just look at James O'Connor. He is clearly a fantastic number 12, but he has played 10, 12 and 15 for the Western Force and now he has played on the wing for Australia.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Umaga should be a good one to watch; to see what he can offer still

Brussow and Fourie du Preez back from injury; see if they can still make that impact

I will be interested to see if Habana can get some form as he seems to be penciled in for the Bokke

I'm hoping Duane Vermeulen has a big season as I am not convinced by our current crop of no.8s

The Rebels: some talented player but no actual gametime together.. can they find each other

Springbok loose forwards discards in Dewald Potgieter and Francois Louw will try to break back in while Alberts will look to cement his new-found spot

It will be between Lambie, Jantjes and Grant to be deputy to Morne Steyn

The Crusaders backline; with Carter back and SBW and Dagg there it will be interesting to see as last year they lacked that little extra in the backs

Has Stirling Mortlock still got anything to offer the Wallabies? I think he might have even if only steadying the ship and adding some bulk

The Lions: Saffas have been saying that the Lions are a much improved team from last year. Will the upward curve continue in Super rugby or will they fall flat

Who will put their hand up to be understudy for Dan Carter?

 

[lance2010]

Watch this kid Julian Savea...Hurricanes winger

 

[Aedaphon]

Agreed, having seen Julian Savea last year, and with the combination of him, Hosea Gear and Corey Jane, I'm eagerly awaiting his first foray into Super rugby.
Has anyone found out whether the Rebels pre-season games will be broadcast? It'd be interesting to see how they fare (especially given their pre-season choices were ambitious to say the least)

 

[nickdnz]

My Watch List for New Zealand:

Victor Vito: He needs to regain his spot in the AB's, and he's up against Liam Messam. I predict he'll be immense.
Colin Bourke: I think he'll be very exciting, play like a centre, and lose the Chiefs a F*** load of ball.
Charlie Faumuina: I think he'll be a beast.
Peter Saili: See comment above.
Julian Savea: It'll be interesting to see how he goes. He's got mad pace and power, but he's prone to the odd mistake.
Luke McAlister: He'll need a huge season, his best shot at the AB's would be as a 1st 5/8th.
Aaron Cruden: The hope of the AB backline. He'll need to be really solid.
Chris Jack: Have to have a stellar season to get back his jersey. I'd love to see it.

I'll also be interested to see how Rodney Davies goes. He looked lightening last year, but he didn't get much game time with injuries.

 

[Engerty]

crusaders: Robbie fruean, sean maitland, dagg, matt todd.
Highlanders: slade, veainu, manu
Hurricanes: savea, alapati leiua, tyson keats
Blues: ranger, sherwin stowers, Gareth anscome
Cheifs: fritz lee, tim nani-williams

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I will give it a try and name some players to watch:

Sharks: Alberts, Ludik, Lambie, Mvovo and Deysel, Bosman
Bulls: van den Heever, Hougaard, Basson (if eligible to play), Greyling
Stormers: Aplon, JJ Engelbrecht, de Jongh, Vermeulen
Lions: Elton Jantjies, Mapoe, Chavhanga, Kockott, Vermaak
Cheetahs: Brussouw, van der Linde, de Bruyn, Oosthuizen

I tried mentioning players who are not really the big guns (yet) like Matfield, Bismarck, Bakkies, du Preez, Fourie and Spies

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Lambie was always going to be the future. Just I hope he is only picked in the fly-half position. If he is moved from fly-half to centre to full-back it could make the South African selectors may see him as a utility players (like Frans. Steyn for example). Just look at James O'Connor. He is clearly a fantastic number 12, but he has played 10, 12 and 15 for the Western Force and now he has played on the wing for Australia.

The thing is that, in my opinion, Lambie is a better centre than a fly-half. Problem is that we have Bosman, Terblanche, Jacobs and Swanepoel for the centre position with only JL Potgieter as a fly-half. He is not a bad fly-half, he should just try to get his kicking under control

 

[Amobokoboko]

Chris Jack: Have to have a stellar season to get back his jersey. I'd love to see it.

it would be awesome to see Chris Jack back in Black, but will be difficult with Thorn, Whitelock, Donnelly and hopefully Williams.

 

[lance2010]

Julian Savea,Cooper Vuna,Fritz Lee.I wanna see Nonu v SBW!!! Oh yes and Ranger

 

[osmond]

Crusaders: SBW. Also would like to see the Whitelocks step up especially George Whitelock.
Hurricanes: Julian Savea, Mark Reddish, Charlie Ngatai
Chiefs: Tana Umaga
Reds: Rod Dabies

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I will give it a try and name some players to watch:

Sharks: Alberts, Ludik, Lambie, Mvovo and Deysel, Bosman
Bulls: van den Heever, Hougaard, Basson (if eligible to play), Greyling
Stormers: Aplon, JJ Engelbrecht, de Jongh, Vermeulen
Lions: Elton Jantjies, Mapoe, Chavhanga, Kockott, Vermaak
Cheetahs: Brussouw, van der Linde, de Bruyn, Oosthuizen

I tried mentioning players who are not really the big guns (yet) like Matfield, Bismarck, Bakkies, du Preez, Fourie and Spies

I don't think Chavanga will get gametime. Also, CJ van der Linde is playing for the Stormers not the Cheetahs; finished there this past CC. I hope JJ Engelbrecht gets gametime but I can't see him get it ahead of Habana, Aplon and Jantjes while one of our surplus Springbok centres will take the 22 jersey (unless in the case of injury or rotation).

 

[FlukeArtist]

Isiah Toeava will have a big year.
You heard it here first

 

[ranger]

Higlanders:

Robbie Robinson to have a breakout year at Fullback. Everyone will be saying "next Jeff Wilson" at the end of the season.
Sean Treeby will catch a lot defences off guard, especially the saffas.
Telusa Veainu will score a bunch of tries.
Sopoaga and Aaron Smith will impress as a running 9/10 combination off the bench.

Hurricanes:
Looking like a bottom half of the table finish, Dan Kirkpatrick to bomb again.
Julian Savea could choke under the pressure.
Beauden Barrett to star in the closing stages of the competition

Cheifs:
Isaac Ross to come into AB contention again
Tim Nanai Williams and Tawera Kerr Barlow will blow away anyteams that don't do their homework on them

Blues:
Will have the most exciting backline in the competition if they can find a first five. Payne and Stowers will be the two to watch.

Crusaders:
Kahn Fotuali'i will continue to improve and make Ellis look average.
Tyler Bleyendaal will be interesting if he gets some gametime.
Sean Maitland to really become a test contender.
SBW of course
Matt Todd would establish himself as the next All Black 7.

Overall one to watch: Matt Todd

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Higlanders:

Robbie Robinson to have a breakout year at Fullback. Everyone will be saying "next Jeff Wilson" at the end of the season.
Sean Treeby will catch a lot defences off guard, especially the saffas.
Telusa Veainu will score a bunch of tries.
Sopoaga and Aaron Smith will impress as a running 9/10 combination off the bench.

god i hope you're right, its been a very long time since we have had the kind of depth (young though they may be) to make tactical subs, us deciding how to change the run of play

 

[d1e1m]

Higlanders:

Robbie Robinson to have a breakout year at Fullback. Everyone will be saying "next Jeff Wilson" at the end of the season.
Sean Treeby will catch a lot defences off guard, especially the saffas.
Telusa Veainu will score a bunch of tries.
Sopoaga and Aaron Smith will impress as a running 9/10 combination off the bench.

Hurricanes:
Looking like a bottom half of the table finish, Dan Kirkpatrick to bomb again.
Julian Savea could choke under the pressure.
Beauden Barrett to star in the closing stages of the competition

Cheifs:
Isaac Ross to come into AB contention again
Tim Nanai Williams and Tawera Kerr Barlow will blow away anyteams that don't do their homework on them

Blues:
Will have the most exciting backline in the competition if they can find a first five. Payne and Stowers will be the two to watch.

Crusaders:
Kahn Fotuali'i will continue to improve and make Ellis look average.
Tyler Bleyendaal will be interesting if he gets some gametime.
Sean Maitland to really become a test contender.
SBW of course
Matt Todd would establish himself as the next All Black 7.

Overall one to watch: Matt Todd

I should think the Highlanders will try to start SLade at 10 as much as possible else he wouldn't have left the Saders. Class player, more solid than Cruden and Stephen the Duck in terms of backing up DC. Don't forget Nasi Manu, monster of a player, MOTM for the Final of ITM Cup for me.

Hurricanes shouldn't have let Mike Patterson go, their loosies look iffy.

Matt Todd will definitely be next AB 7, if only Read didn't exist, he might have a shot at captain. This guy is worthy successor to King Richie if ever there was one.