Player Losses:
NH: de Wet Barry, Gerrie Britz, Brett Russell & Naas Olivier
Other province: Joe van Niekerk (Lions).

Player Gains:
Tony Brown, Sereli , Gcabani Bobo, Enrico Januarie, Adrian Fondse, Brain Mujatsi, Wylie Human and the most important, a brand new coaching staff heading by Rassie Erasmus and Brendan Venter.

Players to Watch:
The Stormers have some exciting players.
Experience:
 Schalk Burger will be important as ever, the new captain Jean de Villiers will have to stay injury free and I expect the Jake White black sheep to produce like never before, Luke Watson & Schalk Brits. I expect a step up from Bekker, Jantjes, Chavanga, Sereli. & Januarie.
Talented Youngsters:
The Stormers have real young talent like Dylan des Fountain , Conrad Hoffmann and the exciting loosies, two Louws and Myburg.

Challenges:
The biggest challenge for the Stormers will be the way their T5 will stand up starting with youngster TH props Brok Harris and Brain Mujatsi. The amount of ball for that exciting backline backup by a impressing loosie pair will be the key and I am pretty confident they will start like a house on fire with the new laws.

Calendar:
Bulls (H), Sharks (A), Crusaders (H), Reds (A), Chiefs (A), Blues (A), Force (A), Cheetahs (H), Hurricanes (H), Highlanders (H), Brumbies (H), Waratahs (H), Lions (A)

Rating:
If they can get a running start in their first four games , they can end in the top lot. If not they will head mid to bottom. I’ll shoot in between and expect a mid table for my team.