Take your pick from the Stormers, Bulls, Chiefs or Crusaders to lift the Super Rugby championship in 2012.
But once the honeymoon is over, fans can expect clashes about the selections and sweeping changes to the Springbok rugby team.
The Stormers’ three black players have been doing well in the Super Rugby season and this translates into good news for the Springboks.
The Stormers captain’s quiet authority and top form has boosted the team doing the Super Rugby battle in the antipodes.
The Blue Bulls have lost only once this season and are ready for a Stormers side that is on a season-long unbeaten run.
The close results in this season’s Super Rugby tournament have piled on the pressure as the teams in all three countries rebuild their squads.
Like so many rule changes, the unintended consequences of the newly introduced white card undermines the original purpose.
The new format for 2012 Super Rugby means that in the early stages of the tournament it is hard to judge the real strength of the teams.
Taking out unaffordable loans has proved to be an unsustainable solution to the game of rugby.
As the 2012 Super Rugby season kicks off, <b>Andy Capostagno</b> analyses the three conferences and looks ahead to a weekend of local derbies.