Super Rugby Preview: Part 1
Melbourne Rebels
The Melbourne Rebels from Australia are the new kids on the block and will be on a mission to impress fans, sponsors and shareholders on their first Super Rugby outing, especially since the Melbourne area is dominated by Rugby League. The Rebels got the nod ahead of numerous other Australian applicants and ahead of South Africa’s Southern Kings. They are also Australia’s first privately owned professional rugby team.
With a fair share of quality coaches and players the Rebels will be more than happy with a Top 10 finish on their first attempt.
Best Log Finish: n/a
2010 Log Finish: n/a
Home Ground: AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia (Capacity: 30’050)
Coaches: Rod Macqueen(Head), Damian Hill, Nathan Grey, Mark Bakewell(Assistants)
Captain: TBA – Possibly Stirling Mortlock
Key players: Stirling Mortlock, Danni Cipriani, Julian Huxley, Adam Freier, Greg Somerville
Lions
In 2010 the Lions gave the term “disastrous season” a whole new meaning. They became the new “record” holders for the most losses(13) in a season by failing week after week to record even one victory and managing only five log points in 13 matched. The Lions will look to make a dramatic U-turn and with a bottomless pit of cash – supplied by two billionaire investors – and new found confidence found in the Currie Cup, they can do just that. The Lions went on a bit of a shopping spree and secured the services of temporary coach John Mitchell for a further three years. They also lured numerous players to Johannesburg with lucrative contracts.
Best Log Finish: 3rd, Semi-finalist (2001 – As Cats)
2010 Log Finish: 14th
Home Ground: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg, South Africa (Capacity: 60’000)
Coaches: John Mitchell(Head), Carlos Spencer, Johan Ackermann(Assistants)
Captain: Franco van der Merwe
Key players: Jano Vermaak, Elton Jantjies, Jaco Taute, Warren Whiteley, Lionel Mapoe
Western Force 
Now entering their sixth season of Super Rugby, the Western Force are yet to reach the play-off stage of the tournament or make any significant inbound. In their 2006 debut season they ended dead last and improved significantly enough over the next three seasons to finish 7th once and 8th twice before taking a nose-dive in 2010. Although they are loaded with young and talented stars as well as experienced leaders, their hopes for 2011 took a few early blows with injuries forcing key players out even before the tournament started.
Best Log Finish: 7th (2007)
2010 Log Finish: 13th
Home Ground: Nib Stadium(Perth Oval), Perth, Australia (Capacity: 20’500)
Coaches: Richard Graham(Head), Nick Stiles, Phil Blake(Assistants)
Captain: Nathan Sharpe
Key players: James O’Connor, David Pocock, Nathan Sharpe, Matt Dunning, Cameron Shepherd
Highlanders 
The Highlanders were regular play-off contenders between 1998 and 2002 but ever since they made the Super 12 play-offs for the final time in 2002, they have been gradually declining year on year and each year finishing lower on the log than the year before. The Highlanders have no shortage in talented players and their performance in Super Rugby the past few years can only by described as underachieving. In 2010 they only managed three wins out of 13 and the season must have felt like an eternity.
Best Log Finish: 3rd, Finalist (1999)
2010 Log Finish: 12th
Home Ground: Carisbrook, Dunedin, New Zealand (Capacity: 35’000)
Coaches: Jamie Joseph(Head)
Captian: Jamie Mackintosh
Key players: Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Aaron Smith, Adam Thompson, Josh Bekhuis
Chiefs 
The Chiefs have been regular Top 10 finishers in the last decade of Super Rugby and it was a rather big shock to see them drop from finalists in 2009 to scraping the bottom of the log in 2010. They were simply too inconsistent in their 2010 campaign and with the ball not always bouncing their way, they never got any momentum going to challenge the top teams. 2011 will be the Chiefs’ year for redemption and to prove 2009 was not a fluke. They have more than enough star players and it will be no surprise if they reach the play-offs.
Best Log Finish: 2nd, Finalist (2009)
2010 Log Finish: 11th
Home Ground: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand (Capacity: 30’000)
Coaches: Ian Foster(Head), Craig Stevenson, Scott McLeod(Assistants)
Captain: Mils Muliaina
Key players: Tana Umaga, Aled de Malmanche, Liam Messam, Stephan Donald, Sitiveni Sivivatu
Coming soon: Super Rugby Preview: Part 2: Cheetahs, Sharks, Hurricanes, Blues, Brumbies
[james@rugby15.co.za]
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