Every season we muse over the potential changing of the guard, and of all the giants in Super Rugby many would have predicted that the Overlords of the game in the Republic – the Bulls – would have been a team that could have been excused for a season of rebuilding.

Of course, such a suggestion would be akin to heresy at Loftus or for that matter any corridor that has heard the footsteps of a Super Rugby champion.

The Bulls did not win three crowns by scheduling rebuilds, and despite one of the biggest mass departures of Springboks from Pretoria, the old ghosts that turned the franchise into South Africa’s most decorated Super Rugby team would have smiled as the Sharks left as many have before them.

The Sharks would have arrived (pardon the pun) bullish about their chances knowing they were taking on a Bulls outfit without many of their legends, but the same prudish pressure up front and the sniper like accuracy of kicks in general play again led to another victim for the men in Pretoria.

Morne Steyn booted all of his team’s points in an old school Bulls performance, and it helped that he has a conductor with the audaciousness of Francois Hougaard, who looks as if he may this season arrest the breach left by maestro Fourie du Preez.

Those expecting the first glimpses of a rugby playing revolution would not have been ecstatic with the at times kick heavy tactics of the Bulls, but there is a beautiful simplicity about such craft that causes chaos when executed as efficiently as it was by the three-time champions.

The Sharks and coach John Plumtree didn’t take anything away from the winners, but did highlight the need for discipline as all team’s will need to work hard to ensure they follow the SANZAR edicts of the ‘Big 5’ priorities.

The men from Durban will however want to enter the winner’s circle again quickly, as an even looking South African Conference could cannibalize any team that loses too many close derby encounters.

The Stormers would have been comfortable with their win, even if they were in the best position of any team to register a four try bonus point (not notched over the first round), and one suspects they didn’t expect the Hurricanes to prove quite so eager in the grim surroundings of Newlands.

The next bluechip South African clash will be between last year’s Conference winners and the Sharks, with the Stormers having the softest of openings with two matches at home before taking a third week bye.

The prowess of the Stormers set piece and forwards was a sight to behold, even if Hurricanes props left the field at an alarming rate, while there was a regimented type accuracy with the Cape-Tonians defensive patterns.

In Johannesburg the Lions were able to rely on the boot of Elton Jantjies, setting a new Super Rugby record with nine penalties struck (beating the record previously shared by four men – Jannie Kruger of the Bulls, Willie Walker of the Highlanders, Meyer Bosman of the Cheetahs and Derick Hougaard of the Bulls).

While coach Lions coach John Mitchell said his team were lucky to win, it was statistically the closest of all the round one encounters, and while the Cheetahs may not have been able to unleash their attacking game that saw them finish 2011 as the second best offensive team, they were able to match the side that contains the nucleus of last season’s Currie Cup winners.

The Lions were accused of playing like individuals by their coach, while opposite them Cheetahs boss Naka Drotske said that trying to attack from all areas of the rugby field was risky without a fine tuned approach to the breakdown.

South African Conference Round One:

Bulls 18 – 13 Sharks
Stormers 39 – 26 Hurricanes
Lions 27 – 25 Lions

South African Conference Round Two:

2 March – Lions v Hurricanes @ Coca-Cola Park
3 March – Cheetahs v Bulls @ Free State Stadium
3 March – Stormers v Sharks @ DHL Newlands

SANZAR News Service