utility prop Coenie Oosthuizen are the pick of a pack that has lost veteran No. 8 Juan Smith, who retired this week after being crocked just two games into a comeback from a two-year injury absence.

The best-performing franchise in Super rugby history again start as the New Zealand team to beat even though they have gone four years without the trophy.

Although they remain stacked with All Blacks, they have been hit hard by Richie McCaw deciding to sit out the season, Ben Franks defecting to the Hurricanes and Zac Guildford standing down to resolve personal issues.

Coach Todd Blackadder made no big-name player signings in the off-season but he did bring in former All Black Aaron Mauger as assistant coach to freshen up their attacking options.

The Crusaders should againbe in the play-off mix but their chances of regaining the crown will depend on senior players Dan Carter, Israel Dagg, Sam Whitlock and Kieran Read performing at their best.

The Western Force have struggled to make an impact in their seven Super Rugby seasons and are a much changed team under new coach Michael Foley in a bid to become competitive.

They have recruited four-time All Black scrum-half Alby Mathewson and Cheetahs flyhalf Sias Ebersohn to solve their problems in the halves, while adding former Wallabies lock Hugh McMeniman and utility back Sam Norton-Knight from Japanese clubs.

But skipper David Pocock's defection to the Brumbies will be a huge loss. The Force will be looking for an improvement in fortunes this season, as they have in other years.

In the space