South African sides have always struggled in the Super 14 but the Bulls bucked that trend last year to win the title. Can they do it again ? Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks at the chances of the sides from the republic.
On paper the South African sides for the Super 14 look as strong as ever.
Most of the key players are back, and their appetite for success appears as high as ever.
But it is what has happened off the field which may have the biggest impact of any chance of South African success in the Super 14.
Rugby heads, fed up with kicking duels and defence dominated encounters, have come up with new law interpretations.
If enforced - and that is a big if - these laws may prove the biggest obstacle to winning the title for the sides from the republic, especially last year's champion the Bulls.
The Bulls, with halfback Fourie du Preez and first five-eighth Morne Steyn to the fore, swamped teams with their accurate kicking, backed up by a tigerish defence.
Helped by laws which gave all the advantage to the team without the ball, the Bulls suffocated sides and, when able, let their wingers run the ball in.
But bored with that, and frankly who was not, the heads have now tweaked the laws to give more advantage to teams with the ball.
And kicking teams will also have to be mindful about being onside from the kick.
Whether or not the laws are enforced as they say they will be is the big question but the Bulls have lost a couple of weapons as they set out to defend their title.
Winger Bryan Habana has moved down to the Stormers and centre JP Nel has gone overseas while big lock Bakkies Botha is fighting an Achilles niggle.
The key to the team from the high veldt is lock and captain Victor Matfield.
He missed part of the season last year and when he was not on the paddock, the Bulls did not look quite as composed.
The Bulls though do have a reasonable draw, with only four weeks on the road in the middle of the competition.
Hopefully, they will get back their injured players at the business end of the season.
Down on the coast, there is much optimism in the Stormers camp.
Habana and Lions blockbusting centre Jaques Fourie have arrived and should be good to finish off opportunities.
Up front, Schalk Burger has at long last taken on the captaincy as he looks to win back his mantle as the Springboks' key loose forward.
Andries Bekker will be out for a big season as the big lock has been blighted by injury over the past couple of years.
Along the coast the Sharks will be trying to rid the tag of nearly men.
They were fast out of the blocks last year but it all came tumbling down as the team lost its aggressiveness and ability to score when it counted.
Star signing Juan Martin Hernadez will not appear, due to a back injury, and whoever replaces him in the No 10 jersey has big shoes to fill.
The pack has a familiar look to it, with John Smit handed the captaincy reins.
It is a make-or-break season for the Sharks.
They have the artillery but have started to look like masters at failing when it really counts.
The Lions have been bolstered by the signing of Carlos Spencer, but he will be up against it.
The Lions have been poor for too long and will feel the loss of Fourie.
There have been rumours the Lions and the Cheetahs will merge but there will be none of that talk in Bloemfontein.
The Cheetahs seem not to like the Super 14 for basically the same side made it through to the Currie Cup final last year.
Not helped with an awful draw last season which had them on the road until the eighth round, the team can only go one way after finishing bottom last season.
Juan Smith returns from serious injury while fellow loose forward Heinrich Brussouw should pilfer plenty of ball.
