DISCUSSION POINTS

The Cheetahs were by far the stronger of the two South African franchises to join the Pro14, fully meriting their place in the play-offs.

They ranked fourth overall on the try-scoring charts with 75 – playing with élan and winning admirers – but also had the fourth leakiest defence, so that is a big work-on. Maintaining their home form – they lost only twice in Bloemfontein – will be integral to them reaching the play-offs again and they’ll have

to do it without influential duo Uzair Cassiem and Francois Venter, who have moved to the Scarlets and Worcester respectively.

The squad left, however, should be more than capable of going toe-to-toe with Munster, Glasgow and Ospreys in Conference A. They have kept Springbok prop Ox Nche and recruited ex-Bull Dries Swanepoel to bolster midfield.

After a full pre-season – which they were denied while morphing from a Super Rugby to Pro14 outfit last year – they will go full bore under new boss Franco Smith.