Waratahs

Coach: Daryl Gibson
Ground: Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium

Key players in:
Sekope Kepu (Bordeaux), Damien Fitzpatrick (Lyon), Cameron Clark (Australia Sevens),

Key players out:
Benn Robinson (retired), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Force), Sam Louis (Hurricanes), Dave Dennis (Exeter Chiefs), Wycliff Palu (Toyota Verblitz), Kurtley Beale (Wasps), Zac Guildford (released)

Strengths:
Their is no doubt the Waratahs will be a strong attacking force. They may have lost Kurtley Beale to Wasps but with his injury last year, the Waratahs had already prepared for this. The Australian halfback pairing of Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley, along with line-breaking and try scoring mastermind Israel Folau, the Tahs will prove a headache for most teams this season.

Weaknesses:
Gibson’s men don’t have a much easier run this year. They have lost a lot of key players going into 2017. The loss of Palu, Robinson and Polota-Nau upfront will leave some big gaps that need to be filled, fast.

Player to watch:
Taqele Naiyaravoro – He will be back after disappointingly only playing 2 games for the Tah’s last season. The giant Fiji-born winger has a knack for scoring and dotted down twice in only 150 minutes last season and we can expect him to be on fire once again.

Last season: 10th.

Prediction:
The race for Australian top honours is a tight one but the Waratahs should sneak into top spot. However the quarter finals is where the season will end for the Tahs.

Brumbies

Coach: Stephen Larkham
Ground: GIO Stadium

Key players in:
Saia Fainga’a (Reds), Chris Alcock (Force), Anthony Fainga’a (Reds), Kyle Godwin (Force),

Key players out:
Stephen Moore (Reds), David Pocock (sabbatical), Matt Toomua (Leicester Tigers), Robbie Coleman (Force), Joe Tomane (Montpellier)

Strengths:
The Brumbies are traditionally a forward dominant team and this year is no different. Scott Sio, Allan Alaalatoa and Ben Alexander are once again up front and with Rory Arnold and new captain Sam Carter in behind them, the Brumbies will look to assert their dominance in the forwards in 2017.

Weaknesses:
There is no hiding that the Brumbies will be hurting after their key players’ departure, with over 600 Super Rugby caps between them. You can’t replace lost experience like that, and that’s the degree of the Brumbies rebuild.

Player to watch:
Scott Fardy – He showed he has the strength and skill to stand in for David Pocock for a couple of games in 2016 and will make sure he continues to fill the void in the 2017 season.

Last season: Quarter Finals

Prediction:
This will be a season where the Brumbies will struggle. If they finish anywhere in the top half of the table they will have done well, but highly unlikely. 14th.

Reds

Coach: Nick Stiles
Ground: Suncorp Stadium

Key players in:
Stephen Moore (Brumbies), George Smith (Wasps), Scott Higginbotham (NEC Green Rockets), Quade Cooper (Toulon), Leroy Houston (Bath)

Key players out:
Ben Daley (Force), Greg Holmes (Exeter Chiefs), Saia Fainga’a (Brumbies), Ben Matjow (Force), Liam Gill (Toulon), Jake Schatz (Rebels), Anthony Fainga’a (Brumbies), Ayumu Goromaru (Toulon)

Strengths:
The addition of Moore, Smith and Higginbotham will strengthen the pack and lay down a solid foundation down for the backline. With strike runners such as Samu Kerevi and Karmichael Hunt who can penetrate opposition defenses, the Reds will be a team to watch this season.

Weaknesses:
The Reds have suffered a huge fall from grace since lifting the trophy 6 years ago. Their only three wins last year all came at home, with their attack at sixes and sevens for the most part. Although they have made some big signings, these players are long term answers to the sides problems.

Player to watch:
Quade Cooper – Back home from an underwhelming stint with Toulon, the local boy will be keen to show he still has plenty to offer in Super Rugby.

Last season: 15th.

Prediction:
The Reds have recruited well. Despite the tough draw they have the ability to break up the Brumbies and Waratahs recent dominance of the Australian conference, but it will be another year before we see them challenge for a play-off spot. 10th.

Rebels

Coach: Tony McGahan
Ground: AAMI Park

Key players in:
Jake Schatz (Reds), Ben Volavola (Crusaders), Pama Fou (Australia Sevens)

Key players out:
Adam Thomson (Canon Eagles), Luke Jones (Bordeaux), Mike Harris (Lyon), Jamie Hagan (Béziers)

Strengths:
They’ve got an entire team of players with more than two whole seasons of Super Rugby under their belt. They also have a tight five who have been around long enough to know what is required of them. Their breakdown domination may play a big role in getting this team to take the next step in Super Rugby.

Weaknesses:
Although just a friendly warm up match, their loss against the Reds showed that the Rebels still have a fair bit of work to do. Their scrum is still an issue, as it was in 2016, and not having the massively influential Sean McMahon for up to 6 weeks through injury, it might be just business as per usual for the team this year.

Player to watch:
Reece Hodge – The 22 year old ex NRC player, who went from Rebels debutant to Wallaby in the space of 12 months, will be eager to replicate his 2016 form which saw him score 9 tries in 12 games for the Victoria based side.

Last season: 12th.

Prediction:
The loss of McMahon may hurt them but with guys like Jordy Reid and Colby Fainga, who have showed previously that they are up to the task, The Rebels may cause a few upsets and will be looking to finish third in their conference, leapfrogging the Force and Brumbies. 12th.

Force

Coach: David Wessels
Ground: nib Stadium

Key players in:
Ben Daley (Reds), Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Matjow (Reds), Bill Meakes (Gloucester), Robbie Coleman (Brumbies)

Key players out:
Nathan Charles (Clermont), Chris Alcock (Brumbies), Albey Mathewson (Canterbury), Kyle Godwin (Brumbies), Ben Tapuai (Bath)

Strengths:
Experience. The Force have a total of 1408 Super Rugby caps in their 2017 squad (up from 1316 from 2016), of which over 500 are in the tight five alone . They also have many talented youngsters who will bring a lot of energy to the squad and will push the seniors hard for their spot.

Weaknesses:
Scoring only 25 tries last season, a competition low, the Force lacked the quality to get them over the whitewash. It ultimately cost Michael Foley his job and new coach David Wessels will have his work cut out for him if his team are looking to finish above one or two of their Australian rivals.

Player to watch:
Dane Haylett-Petty – The Force’s star of last season finished second in most carries as well as meters. With the arrival of Robbie Coleman, this may lead to much more space for Haylett-Petty to strike.

Last season: 16th.

Prediction: Realistic ambitions will be to finish above one or two of their Aussie rivals. Better performances but still no play-offs. 16th

By Tristan Renaud