With the new Guinness PRO14 season less than one week away from kick-off, it’s time for us to preview the teams from Conference A.

CARDIFF BLUES

Last season: 4th in Conference A

Head coach: John Mulvihill

A pulsating final few minutes in Bilbao ended the Danny Wilson era with the Challenge Cup in Cardiff hands. That somewhat overshadowed an average season that saw the Blues enter a difficult phase whereby they beat the sides below them but struggled to conjure up any meaningful fight against the teams above them.

In fact, on only three occasions did they topple a side that ended the season with more points than them: Munster, Ulster and the Cheetahs.

Now without their retired former captain Sam Warburton the Blues will look for new leadership. Gareth Anscombe stepped up when it mattered most last season and, operating in such an influential position, expect him to do likewise this year.

The ageing Gethin Jenkins still brings bags full of experience and quality while Josh Navidi, a man with a rising reputation, will hope to take on the mantle now left by Warburton.

Player to watch: The former Chiefs back Gareth Anscombe kicked the winning points to earn Cardiff the Challenge Cup. Versatile across the backline but most effective at 10, his array of skills has seen him earn regular Welsh caps. His New Zealand apprenticeship is often evident in the way he conducts himself on the pitch and expect him to lead by example once again in 2019.

CHEETAHS

Last season: 3rd in Conference A (quarter-finals)

Head coach: Franco Smith

For a first outing in northern hemisphere rugby the Bloemfontein-based side can take much from a season of steady improvement. It culminated in a quarter-final appearance, which did broadcast the gap still to be bridged, but 12 wins from 21 outings and only the two losses at home is not a bad effort.

The Cheetahs didn’t upset the order because it was unclear as to where they would sit but they’ve set themselves a solid benchmark for the upcoming year. Even replicating the same success will be well received as they build towards a future in the competition.

Both Leinster and the Scarlets left South Africa with a loss, although the Welsh region certainly exacted revenge in the quarter-finals. The Cheetahs, another year older and wiser after facing new opposition and adapting to new methods, will have aspirations of another post-season appearance. Their South African base both hinders and enhances fortunes but, if they can nail down their home form, they can make themselves dark horses heading into the business end of the season.

Johan Goosen returned from retirement towards the latter end of the season but departs back to France while Francois Venter and Uzair Cassiem left to join Worcester and the Scarlets respectively. It no doubt weakens the Cheetahs but they will hope other fill the voids after growing into the tournament last year.

Player to watch: The Cheetahs took a bit of time to adapt but 28-year-old Oupa Mohoje’s performances were such that he earned himself a place in this summer’s South African squad for their series with England. Capable of playing either in the second or and back-row, he is a linchpin of the Cheetahs pack and was able to hold his own against some of the world’s elite flankers operating in the PRO14.

CONNACHT

Last season: 6th in Conference A

Head coach: Andy Friend

Domestic success must seem like a long time ago already in Galway when in actual fact it’s only been just over two years. That said, two years is lifetime in sport and this Connacht side are a shadow of their former self.

The Sportsground, often such a difficult place to travel, was breached four times last term by the likes of Cardiff Blues and Zebre. Just a solitary win on the road summed up what was a lacklustre campaign which yielded just seven wins.

Head coach Andy Friend still has some stardust littered across his squad; Bundee Aki has been the man driving standards for several years now while Kieran Marmion is an exciting half-back who’s international aspirations are only hindered by the excellent Conor Murray.

Success at Connacht shouldn’t be measured by their excellent 2016 season. Ultimately they achieved an incredible feat, but being seen as the best of the chasing pack is a good campaign for the Irish province.

Player to watch: Not particularly a secret but don’t look past Bundee Aki for your moments of magic in the west of Ireland. Now Irish-qualified the centre was pivotal to the Grand Slam success earlier this year and is mercurial. Capable of moments no one in his squad can replicate, the centre is the man Connacht will look to when they are in need of inspiration.

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GLASGOW WARRIORS

Last season: 1st in Conference A (semi-finals)

Head coach: Dave Rennie

A season that began so positively ended with little more than a whimper so it’s hard to gauge Dave Rennie’s first year at Glasgow and even harder to predict their fortunes this time round.

The departure of Finn Russell will be strongly felt but this is a side who won their first 10 domestic games while going undefeated at Scotstoun; that was until the Scarlets arrived for the semi-final, dismantling Glasgow in the first 40.

Rennie’s ideas were immediately felt within the Warriors and his style very much enhances the good work done by the previous regime. Given the Scottish contingent within the squad though, it comes as no surprise that international call-ups test their strength in depth.

Nick Frisby arrives from Australia and DTH van der Merwe , a previous winner of the Pro rugby format, adds his experience.

Who operates at 10 is a question for Rennie to answer come the season’s beginning and it could have a huge bearing on how this Warriors side will play. Other than that the message will be to sustain what last year started with. Many of this squad won the PRO14 a few years ago and the hunger still exists to add to that success.

Player to watch: It depends massively on whether they can get and keep him fit but Huw Jones arrived midway through last year without getting a fair crack at the whip. Quickly becoming pivotal at international level with his try record, Jones is eager to replicate that form at club level. Time spent in South Africa honed his talents and this late bloomer is taking the rugby world by storm. As a 13 he possess everything and Rennie’s chances of success will be more than enhanced by getting Jones playing at full tilt in a team that wants to attack.

MUNSTER

Last season: 2nd in Conference A (semi-finals)

Head coach: Johann van Graan

Two semi-finals culminated in another trophy-less season, much like the year before when a semi and a final left Munster empty handed.

New man on the block Johann Van Graan came in mid-season to replace Rassie Erasmus but the South African theme should’ve bred some continuity. He quickly was introduced to the task, both emotionally and physically, of leading this Munster outfit.

Andrew Conway’s epic try in Europe to down Toulon was a baptism of how this province operates. Heart and passion in cohesion with the men on the field.

Simon Zebo departs to Paris but Joey Carbery arrives from Leinster in search of greater playing time. Munster weren’t overly short at 10 but his versatility will prove useful.

Elsewhere, Conor Murray continues to be the team’s talisman alongside the likes of CJ Stander and Peter O’Mahony. Tadhg Beirne arrives from the Scarlets and brings quality with winning experience.

It’s another season where semi-finals will be the requirement, but losing in the final stretch is a bad habit Munster has known in the past and will want to avoid falling into again.

Player to watch: Eyes will be fixed this year on how Joey Carbery does after swapping blue for red. The immensely talented utility back will likely be deployed at both 10 and 15 throughout the season, such is his highly-skilled arsenal. His man of the match display against Wasps 18 months ago has lived long in the memory and if that was a glimpse of the player he is to become then Munster can rejoice at his arrival.

OSPREYS

Last season: 5th in Conference A

Head coach: Allen Clarke

It’s out with the old and in with the new at the Liberty Stadium. Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar’s departures will usher a new era of half-backs, albeit without experience, whie the arrival of Welsh stars Scott Williams and George North bring renewed optimism.

A disappointing year cost Steve Tandy his job and Allen Clarke is now charged with reinvigorating this sleeping giant. For so many years the flag bearers for Welsh rugby, the Ospreys have faded from the side they were, despite the calibre of players in their squad.

Sam Davies remains an untapped talent but time is running out for him to realise his potential. Up front, the Ospreys are blessed with Scott Baldwin, Alun-Wyn Jones and Dan Lydiate all operating in the same pack.

Too close to the bottom of their conference and too far from the upper echelons, the Ospreys cannot afford another season of meandering. The pressure levels are certainly high for a side who lost 12 of their fixtures last year but the level of the squad demands more.

Player to watch: Look no further than one George North. Concussion problems and a lack of form have overshadowed his talent across the last 12 months or so but the Welshman, returning home after five years away, is a try-scoring machine. The mix of pace and power makes him a hybrid winger befitting the modern age. If Ospreys can give him even the slightest of service he will cross the whitewash time and time again.

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ZEBRE

Last season: 7th in Conference A

Head Coach: Michael Bradley

Zebre did once again prop up the table but last year but they did so with more than double the amount of wins they had secured the previous season. The Italians earned a memorable scalp over Ulster and completed the double over their fellow Irish province Connacht.

Michael Bradley’s role as head coach allows the squad an element of continuity and at international level Conor O’Shea is raising the profile of Italian rugby. This can only filter down and Zebre, while being on the receiving end of some hidings, are improving their performances almost annually.

It’s hard to imagine them finishing outside their conferences bottom two but this Italian side are as much about the process as they are the result. Improvement is occurring, just at a slow rate.

Player to watch: Centre Tommaso Castello is certainly a standout performer in Parma and expect that to continue into 2019. More than holding his own on the international stage, Castello is somewhat hindered by those he plays with, simply for the fact they cannot play at the levels he does. That though makes him pivotal to anything good that occurs for the Italian side.

by Sam Meade