Thursday 25 February 2016 16:33, UK
The Brumbies and the Waratahs will lead the way for Australia in the 2016 Super Rugby competition. The Waratahs finished second on the table but were beaten 35-17 in the semi-finals by eventual winners the Highlanders.
The Brumbies also made it to the semi-final stages - but were beaten 29-9 by the Hurricanes - and Michael Lynagh is expecting another big season from the both.
Coach: Richard Graham
Captain: James Slipper
Last season: 13th
Players In: Taniela Tupou (Queensland Country), Kane Douglas (Leinster), Ben Matwijow (Canterbury), Caderyn Neville (Rebels), Lukhan Tui (Queensland Country), James Tuttle (Queensland Country), Lagi Steu (Queensland Country), Junior Laloifi (Brisbane City, Eto Nabuli (St. George Illawarra Dragons), Izaia Perese (Queensland Country), Ayumu Goromaru (Yamaha Jubilo)
Players Out: James Hanson (Rebels), James Horwill (Harlequins), David McDuling (Sharks), Tom Murday (Agen), Will Genia (Stade Français), Quade Cooper (Toulon), Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Tapuai (Force), Brad Wilkin (Waratahs), Marco Kotze (Agen), Ed Quirk (Sunwolves), Adam Thomson (Rebels), Beau Robinson (Harlequins), Lachie Turner (Exeter), James O'Connor (Toulon)
Michael says: It was a disappointing 2015 for the Reds and I think it's going to be another long year for them.
I'm hopeful they will be more competitive than last year and some of the young players will pick up, but their trial games didn't go well (31-3 v Crusaders and 31-18 v Brumbies).
A lot of big names have left, not that they played a lot of rugby last year, and 10 is going to be a problem position.
It's a shame because the Reds are so good off the field. Things boomed there when they won the championship in 2011 but the on-field performances have dropped.
There is going to be a lot of pressure on Richard Graham. He has been backed by the Queensland Rugby Union but I just can't see it being any better than it was last year.
Coach: Michael Foley
Captain: Matt Hodgson
Last season: 15th
Players In: Peter Grant (La Rochelle), Ben Tapuai (Reds), Jono Lance (Waratahs), Semisi Masirewa (Manawatu)
Players Out: Wilhelm Steenkamp (Brive), Sam Wykes (Coca Cola West Red Sparks), Sias Ebersohn (Cheetahs), Zack Holmes (La Rochelle), Pat Dellit (released), Nick Cummins (Coca Cola West Red Sparks), Mitchell Scott (Tasman), Akihito Yamada (Sunwolves)
Michael says: The Force surprised a few people in 2014 when they finished eighth and we were hoping they could build on that, but it didn't really happen.
I can't help feeling that they seem to play negative rugby. They try to stop the opposition from scoring and sneak the match, rather than going out and winning the match themselves.
They have recruited reasonably well. Peter Grant comes in at 10 and is a good goalkicker. He is far from what you'd call an outlandish attacking player but he is seasoned and experienced.
Jono Lance and Ben Tapuai have also joined but their squad looks a bit thin. With the season being quite long and intensive, a few injuries could see them really struggle.
Ben McCalman works hard and is a good ball carrier while Matt Hodgson is a fairly inspirational leader. His leadership is a backs-against-the-wall, underdog style, and he does that very well.
Coach: Stephen Larkham
Captain: Christian Lealiifano and Stephen Moore
Last season: Semi-finalists
Players In: Albert Anae (Treviso), Tomás Cubelli (Pampas XV, Argentina), Nick Jooste (Perth Spirit), Andrew Smith (Montpellier), Aidan Toua (Agen)
Players Out: JP Smith (Stormers), Siliva Siliva (Rebels), Sean Doyle (Munster), Nic White (Montpellier), Jesse Mogg (Montpellier)
Michael says: The Brumbies will be very strong this year. They have depth in every position, some good attacking players and some great forwards as well. They have been pretty successful over the last couple of years.
Stephen Larkham is in his third year as head coach and he will have benefited from working with the Wallabies. That will help, particularly in getting to know some of the players at the other teams!
I think the Brumbies will have another good year. No team likes going to Canberra, it tends to be cold and is not an easy place to play. You would expect the Brumbies to win the vast majority of their home games.
There are plenty of seasoned internationals in their squad; Stephen Moore plays his 150th game this weekend. They're used to travelling and will be familiar with most of the away grounds.
It will be interesting to see how Tomas Cubelli goes. Nic White was there for some time and was directly involved in the direction the team took.
Cubelli had a good World Cup and is quite a lively player. He'll add a bit of spark around the ruck and maul. You've got to keep your eye on him. Not only will he be feeding the likes Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano, he is quite a livewire himself. The Brumbies have some big runners but Cubelli is also capable of making breaks himself. He is an interesting acquisition.
Coach: Daryl Gibson
Captain: Michael Hooper
Last season: Semi-finalists
Players In: Angus Ta'avao (Blues), Matt Lucas (Manly), Bryce Hegarty (Toyota Industries Shuttles), Jim Stewart (Sydney Stars), Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay), Andrew Kellaway (NSW Country Eagles), Reece Robinson (Parramatta Eels),
Players Out: Michael Alaalatoa (Crusaders), Sekope Kepu (Bordeaux-Bègles), Mitchell Chapman (retired), Tala Grey (Toulouse), Pat McCutcheon (Australia Sevens), Jacques Potgieter (Sharks), Stephen Hoiles (retired), Brendan McKibbin (London Irish), Jono Lance (Force), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Bordeaux-Bègles), Peter Betham (Leicester Tigers), Taqele Naiyaravoro (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Volavola (Crusaders)
Michael says: Daryl Gibson has been at the Waratahs for a while as assistant coach, but being a good assistant doesn't necessarily make you a good head coach. Often, the transformation between those two can be fraught with danger. We've see a lot of times where the assistant coach has stepped up but hasn't really made the grade.
The Waratahs have got too many good players not to be a threat. They play a good style of rugby and I think they will continue to play that way under Gibson. They have got a mix of strong forwards, a good back row, strong leaders and also some very exciting backs like Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley.
Foley is struggling with a shoulder injury so Beale could slot in at 10, and I think that could be a good thing for him. He has been floating around in a number of positions over the years so it might be good for him to come in and play a bit at fly-half and give the team direction.
Along with the Brumbies, the Waratahs are Australia's strongest chance of getting through to the business end of the season.
Coach: Tony McGahan
Captain: Nic Stirzaker
Last season: 10th
Players in: Ryan Cocker (Taranaki), Jamie Hagan (London Irish), James Hanson (Reds), Siliva Siliva (Brumbies), Culum Retallick (Blues), Adam Thomson (Reds), Reece Hodge (Manly)
Players out: Paul Alo-Emile (Stade Français), Keita Inagaki (Sunwolves), Tom Sexton (Force), Ben Whittaker (released), Cadeyrn Neville (Reds), Scott Higginbotham (NEC Green Rockets), Radike Samo (Queensland Country), Luke Burgess (Zebre), Tom Kingston (Sydney Stars), Telusa Veainu (Leicester Tigers), Bryce Hegarty (Toyota Industries Shuttles)
Michael says: The Rebels had their best ever season in 2015 and they can build on that. They will continue to surprise a few teams, particularly at home.
Nic Stirzaker, who is a very talented young half-back, has been made captain and that gives you an idea of how they're going to play. He likes to attack the opposition.
They've made a few good buys, their coach Tony McGahan has been there a while so there is quite a degree of optimism about this team.
Their fly-half, Jack Debreczeni, has had a bit of time to settle in, and I think they'll go alright.
An outside bet for the qualifiers? Once again it comes down to squad depth. If they get a few injuries they could struggle, and that is the case for a number of teams. You've got to have a little bit of luck and maybe the Rebels deserve some.
