By Altus Momberg
As South African rugby prepares for the start of another Super 12 competition, the memories of a dismal 2002 season will dampen any hopes South African fans have this time around.
Not only did the Bulls, Cats and Sharks prop up the Super 12 table last season, Springbok rugby reached rock-bottom as they suffered record defeats against France, Scotland and England.
In fact, 53 of South Africa's 129 players who turned out in the Super 12 last year, did not make it into the squads this year as all coaches have put an emphasis on youth.
The Cats are again the best side on paper and it will be Australian Tim Lane's chance to try and bridge the gulf between the side on paper and the side on grass.
The Johannesburg-based outfit are always South Africa's most talented side due to the fact that they have two of the "bigger" unions in Free State and the Lions in their region. Only New Zealander Laurie Mains had some success with the Cats, taking them to the semifinals in 2000 and 2001.
Lane arrived with a huge pedigree. He was Rod Macqueen's assistant with the all-conquering Wallabies of 1999-2000 and had success with Montferrand in 2001. He was first hired to be Harry Viljoen's assistant with the Springboks and continued in that role under Rudolf Straeuli. There has been some criticisms about his effectiveness in that role, but Lane will now have an opportunity with the talented Cats.
If he is to succeed, he will have to overcome the one problem all Cats coaches have struggled with - how to bridge the Lions-Free State divide. Mains ignored it by picking very few Free State players, but Lane will have to tackle the issue.
The prospects of the other SA teams are not that rosy. The Stormers and Sharks - traditionally South Africa's most successful teams in this competitions - both come off uninspiring Currie Cup campaigns with largely the same squads. It is difficult to see how teams who struggled to impose themselves in the Currie Cup, will do that in the Super 12.
The most difficult job has to be that of new Bulls coach Rudy Joubert. Not only has he got to coach serial losers the Bulls, he has to do it after the Blue Bulls won the Currie Cup. Every Bulls fan will now expect the same level of success in the Super 12.