GUIDE TO AUSTRALIA'S SUPER RUGBY TEAMS
MELBOURNE REBELS
Coach: Tony McGahan
Captain: Nic Stirzaker
Key gains: Marika Koroibete (Melbourne Storm), Dominic Day (Toyota Verblitz), Alex Toolis (Edinburgh), Jake Schatz (Reds), Amanaki Mafi (NTT Shining Arcs), Jackson Garden-Bachop (Wellington), Jack McGregor (Gordon), Ben Volavola (Crusaders), Kentaro Kodama (Sunwolves)
Key losses: Jamie Hagan (Beziers), Luke Jones (Bordeaux), Scott Fuglistaller (Toyota Industries Shuttles), Adam Thomson (Canon Eagles), Tamati Ellison (Ricoh Black Rams), Mike Harris (Lyon), Cam Crawford (released), Kotaro Matsushima (Japan Sunwolves)
Player to watch - Marika Koroibete.
Key to their season. The Rebels need their suspect set piece to fire to get the ball out to the likes of Reece Hodge and their flying Fijian wing combo of ex-NRL powerhouse Marika Koroibete and Sefanaia Naivalu but may struggle early without gun flanker Sean McMahon (ankle) and top prop Toby Smith (hamstring).
BRUMBIES
Coach: Stephen Larkham
Captain: Sam Carter
Key gains: Kyle Godwin (Force), Saia Fainga'a (Reds), Chris Alcock (Force), Tom Cusack (Australia Sevens), Lolo Fakaosilea (Reds), Wharenui Hawera (Southland), Anthony Fainga'a (Reds), Tom Banks (Reds), Nic Mayhew (Blues)
Key losses: Stephen Moore (Reds), David Pocock (sabbatical), Matt Toomua (Leicester), Christian Lealiifano(illness), Robbie Coleman (Western Force), Joe Tomane (Montpellier), Ita Vaea (retired)
Player to watch - Joe Powell
Key to their season. With no Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano and with Pumas halfback Tomas Cubelli to miss most of the season through injury, much will depend on whether the Brumbies can conjure a decent halves pairing with unheralded Kiwi Wharenui Hawera set to partner Joe Powell. David Pocock's influence will also be hard to replace.
QUEENSLAND REDS
Coach: Nick Stiles
Captain: James Slipper
Key gains: Stephen Moore (Brumbies), George Smith (Wasps), Scott Higginbotham (Japan NEC Green Rockets), Quade Cooper (Toulon), Lachlan Maranta (Brisbane Broncos).
Key losses: Ben Daley (Western Force), Greg Holmes (Exeter Chiefs), Saia Fainga'a (Brumbies), Curtis Browning (Lyon), Liam Gill (Toulon), Lolo Fakaosilea (Brumbies), Jake Schatz (Rebels), Anthony Fainga'a (Brumbies), Tom Banks (Brumbies), Ayumu Goromaru (Toulon), JJ Taulagi (Munakata Sanix Blues).
Player to watch - Quade Cooper.
Key to their season. The recruitment of Wallaby captain Stephen Moore, George Smith and Scott Higginbotham should ensure the Reds pack holds up. They will hope some Quade Cooper magic gets a previously inconsistent but talented backline firing.
NSW WARATAHS
Coach: Daryl Gibson
Captain: Michael Hooper
Key gains: Sekope Kepu (Bordeaux), Damien Fitzpatrick (Lyon), David McDuling (Sharks), Michael Wells (Brumbies), Cameron Clark (Australia Sevens).
Key losses: Benn Robinson (retired), Dave Dennis (Exeter Chiefs), Wycliff Palu (Toyota Verblitz), Kurtley Beale (Wasps), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), Matthew Carraro (released), Jeremy Tilse (released), Sam Lousi (Hurricanes), Henry Clunies-Ross (Lyon), Zac Guildford (released),
Player to watch - Israel Folau.
Key to their season. Finding the right replacement for Kurtley Beale to partner Israel Folau in the centres. Can the forwards hold their own to give an exciting backline the right platform? The backrow of skipper Michael Hooper and young guns Jed Holloway and Jack Dempsey is exciting but the latter pair must build on promise shown last year.
WESTERN FORCE
Coach: David Wessels
Captain: Matt Hodgson
Key gains: Ben Daley (Reds), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Waratahs), Ben Matwijow (Reds), Bill Meakes (Gloucester), Chance Peni ( Wests Tigers), Robbie Coleman (Brumbies), Curtis Rona (Canterbury Bulldogs).
Key losses: Nathan Charles (Clermont), Kyle Godwin (Brumbies), Tom Sexton (released), Steve Mafi (Castres), Rory Walton (Carcassonne), Chris Alcock (Brumbies), Alby Mathewson (Canterbury), Junior Rasolea (Edinburgh), Ben Tapuai (Bath)
Player to watch - Curtis Rona.
Key to their season. With midfielder Kyle Godwin defecting to the Brumbies, the Force backline is an unknown quantity and they will be counting on the likes of Wallabies star Dane Haylett-Petty and ex-NRL winger Curtis Rona regularly finding the tryline to improve on last year's tally of two wins.
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