Early in the New Year and already it's time to kick off some of the best sport you would ever want to see - if you’re a Rugby Union fan that is. Super 14 is back for 2007, and what a season it’s shaping up to be with new coaches, new players and team name changes.

The Cats have started the season extremely well even before a ball has been kicked, by changing their name to the Lions. (Calling someone a Cat in Australia insinuates they are soft, weak or lacking courage, so the name change from here seems logical).

The law of averages states that sooner or later one South African side has to put enough  together for 15 weeks to win a final; however, this will not be the year. While South African rugby is improving, their teams still rely heavily on home field advantage, and for some reason forget how to catch, pass, kick and run when playing away from home. The Stormers will have a chance to get off to a good start to the year with games against the Hurricanes at home, Crusaders away and Brumbies at home. Two wins from those matches could set them up for a big year.

The Crusaders will look to start on a high against the Blues in Auckland, and while the Blues will be tough opposition first up, the Crusaders' experience and wonderful backline will provide them with a winning start. It is very hard to see them faltering in their quest for another title, it will be up to some of the other top-ranked teams in the competition improving and bridging the gap between them and the Crusaders in order to take the title away from them.

Of the Australian teams, Stephen Larkham will miss the first game of the season through injury, which isn’t the best way to start for a Brumbies team that relies so heavily on his skill and leadership. The Waratahs have lost Mat Rogers but still have a very good pack and exciting backline led by Lote Tuqiri, which will once again put them amongst the cream of the competition. Early suggestions are that Sam Norton-Knight will get the run on number 10 jumper - look for him to have a very successful year in the New South Wales backline, where ever he plays.

The Western Force have added Matt Giteau in the biggest off-season signing in the code's history in Australia. However he alone will not be able to make up for their lack of power in the forwards, and inexperience in the backline. Look for the Force to win a few more games this season and maybe spring an upset or two, but anything more then five wins will be a bonus for them.