Anyway I was reading this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2012–13_Super_Rugby_transfers
Which was very interesting to me as I haven't heard much news from Aus/NZ about transfers, so I thought I'd make a topic about how the transfers that have happened thus far will affect the teams.
Now a lot of the movement in Aus/NZ is from unknowns to me as I've seen virtually nothing of the ITM, so in some cases I have no idea whether a transfer is good news or bad news so I would like a bit of feedback in that regard.
At a glance this is what I take out of it (keep in mind my SR knowledge is fairly good, but I'm out of my depth with more localized Australasian talent):
NZ
Blues - From what I can tell they don't seem to have helped their situation out at all, hopefully someone can shed some light onto the players that they have signed but from what I can see they've sustained heavy losses from numbers 8-15 (and Woodcock) seems like everyone's jumping ship, not much hope of them doing better than last on the NZ conference again from my view.
Chiefs - If anything look marginally weaker, lost a handful of useful forwards and obviously SBW, but they were and are a young side so maybe it will be offset.
Crusaders - Haven't lost anyone they will miss TOO much (Ben Franks?) and seemed to have gathered a load of players from the Cantebury side, will need a bit of local knowledge here but I can't see them being worse off.
Highlanders - Seem a bit light on loose forwards but otherwise have tightened up their tight five and obviously acquired Nonu, seems like a net gain, but I might be biased because I'd really like to see them do well throughout the season (and not just the first half).
Hurricanes - Along with the Brumbies they were the wild card team of this year, haven't lost anyone they'll miss but haven't gained all that much either (Ben Franks?) a young side that should do well, all they need is a small improvement to make the play-offs, another side I hope achieves, they're like what the Cheetahs could be if they weren't a bunch of chokers.
Aus
Brumbies - Great side from last year, another side that hasn't really lost of gained, lost a Hooper gained a Pocock - being a Hooper fan I'd say that's even at best. My pick to top the Aussie conference, should they bring their momentum from last season forward.
Force - Poo, half decent half-back pairing, otherwise might be in trouble (14th place?).
Rebels - Lost a few key players in the OB area namely Huxley and Mark Gerrard, players I felt were vital to their effort this season, but gained Higganbotham and with any luck Beale and O'Connor will be healthier in 2013, still think they will struggle away.
Reds - Lost Higgers; gained no-one, shouldn't be enough to get them down if their stars perform, a lot of potential in the team and hasn't really changed since they won in 2011 but for some reason seems to be under performing.
Warratahs - Lost a few gained a few... I'm bored of Australia now.
SA
Where I actually have (barely) license to comment, however I feel like everything SA has been discussed to death already so I will (try) keep things brief.
Bulls - A quality squad that has seen a few changes but none that I consider significant. Has a lot of potential but I feel they may have been stagnating a bit recently (don't murder me Heineken I hope they prove me wrong)
Cheetahs - Lost a bit of the grunt they had in their forwards to overseas and elsewhere, a pity because it will continue to be what holds them back until they can get some continuity in this areas. Backline should be as exciting as ever, the loss of Andries Strauss is certainly not going to change that.
Sharks - A very strong team, that in my opinion, could have won the competition had they started their season better. Not much has changed but not much has to, they have however improved the only area that really needed improving (locks) by acquiring Franco and getting rid off their dead wood leaving them with the very respectable three of (Anton Bresler, PSdT, Franco) should be a dangerous team and a strong competitor.
Stormers - Lost a tiny bit of depth in the loose but struck their greedy paws into the Lions cookie jar and came out with all the chocolate chips - Elton, Taute and Cilliers were arguably the best Lions players and their acquisitions coincidentally fill two big holes in the Stormers set-up (TH and fly-half) and add creativity in general. Something I could not be happier about. I hope to see them perform to their potential and I'd love to see them win but I will attempt to remain realistic.
Kings - Clearly the favourites to win the whole thing, I expect them to go on a rampage; the likes of which rugby union has never witnessed before. (15th place, I just hope we can beat the force at home or something, really hoping to just see the team improve and grow throughout and hopefully beat the Lions in relegation to secure ourselves more time to develop as a team.)
Anyway, thoughts?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2012–13_Super_Rugby_transfers
Which was very interesting to me as I haven't heard much news from Aus/NZ about transfers, so I thought I'd make a topic about how the transfers that have happened thus far will affect the teams.
Now a lot of the movement in Aus/NZ is from unknowns to me as I've seen virtually nothing of the ITM, so in some cases I have no idea whether a transfer is good news or bad news so I would like a bit of feedback in that regard.
At a glance this is what I take out of it (keep in mind my SR knowledge is fairly good, but I'm out of my depth with more localized Australasian talent):
NZ
Blues - From what I can tell they don't seem to have helped their situation out at all, hopefully someone can shed some light onto the players that they have signed but from what I can see they've sustained heavy losses from numbers 8-15 (and Woodcock) seems like everyone's jumping ship, not much hope of them doing better than last on the NZ conference again from my view.
Chiefs - If anything look marginally weaker, lost a handful of useful forwards and obviously SBW, but they were and are a young side so maybe it will be offset.
Crusaders - Haven't lost anyone they will miss TOO much (Ben Franks?) and seemed to have gathered a load of players from the Cantebury side, will need a bit of local knowledge here but I can't see them being worse off.
Highlanders - Seem a bit light on loose forwards but otherwise have tightened up their tight five and obviously acquired Nonu, seems like a net gain, but I might be biased because I'd really like to see them do well throughout the season (and not just the first half).
Hurricanes - Along with the Brumbies they were the wild card team of this year, haven't lost anyone they'll miss but haven't gained all that much either (Ben Franks?) a young side that should do well, all they need is a small improvement to make the play-offs, another side I hope achieves, they're like what the Cheetahs could be if they weren't a bunch of chokers.
Aus
Brumbies - Great side from last year, another side that hasn't really lost of gained, lost a Hooper gained a Pocock - being a Hooper fan I'd say that's even at best. My pick to top the Aussie conference, should they bring their momentum from last season forward.
Force - Poo, half decent half-back pairing, otherwise might be in trouble (14th place?).
Rebels - Lost a few key players in the OB area namely Huxley and Mark Gerrard, players I felt were vital to their effort this season, but gained Higganbotham and with any luck Beale and O'Connor will be healthier in 2013, still think they will struggle away.
Reds - Lost Higgers; gained no-one, shouldn't be enough to get them down if their stars perform, a lot of potential in the team and hasn't really changed since they won in 2011 but for some reason seems to be under performing.
Warratahs - Lost a few gained a few... I'm bored of Australia now.
SA
Where I actually have (barely) license to comment, however I feel like everything SA has been discussed to death already so I will (try) keep things brief.
Bulls - A quality squad that has seen a few changes but none that I consider significant. Has a lot of potential but I feel they may have been stagnating a bit recently (don't murder me Heineken I hope they prove me wrong)
Cheetahs - Lost a bit of the grunt they had in their forwards to overseas and elsewhere, a pity because it will continue to be what holds them back until they can get some continuity in this areas. Backline should be as exciting as ever, the loss of Andries Strauss is certainly not going to change that.
Sharks - A very strong team, that in my opinion, could have won the competition had they started their season better. Not much has changed but not much has to, they have however improved the only area that really needed improving (locks) by acquiring Franco and getting rid off their dead wood leaving them with the very respectable three of (Anton Bresler, PSdT, Franco) should be a dangerous team and a strong competitor.
Stormers - Lost a tiny bit of depth in the loose but struck their greedy paws into the Lions cookie jar and came out with all the chocolate chips - Elton, Taute and Cilliers were arguably the best Lions players and their acquisitions coincidentally fill two big holes in the Stormers set-up (TH and fly-half) and add creativity in general. Something I could not be happier about. I hope to see them perform to their potential and I'd love to see them win but I will attempt to remain realistic.
Kings - Clearly the favourites to win the whole thing, I expect them to go on a rampage; the likes of which rugby union has never witnessed before. (15th place, I just hope we can beat the force at home or something, really hoping to just see the team improve and grow throughout and hopefully beat the Lions in relegation to secure ourselves more time to develop as a team.)
Anyway, thoughts?
Ben Smith is the best player on the planet, Dan Carter should be his boot cleaner and stylist - lets face it he could use some work in that area.
