The Chiefs won the championship with a new-look outfit and coach. Upfront they were nothing more than workman-like, but in the backs it was the offloading skills of talisman Sonny Bill Williams that allowed them to wreak all sorts of havoc.

The usually-conservative Bulls shocked the country when they unveiled a bright pink away strip at the start of the season. They also donned it for one home game in support of CANSA.

2012 was the year of the young flyhalves in South Africa. During the Super Rugby season, there were none better than Cheetahs star Johan Goosen. With young talent like that, the Free Staters again caused their fair share of upsets this season, finishing a credible 10th overall.

Despite winning the 2011 Currie Cup, the Lions again failed spectacularly in Super Rugby, finishing stone last for the umpteenth time. They will be replaced by the Kings in 2013.

The Stormers finished on top of the overall log, but had done so without a single try-scoring bonus-point. In the semifinal, the criticism they faced seemed justified as they conceded a lead too big to pull back in threes, allowing the Sharks to progress to the final.

The Sharks reached the 2012 Super Rugby final after an epic playoff series, but they had to travel halfway around the world three weeks in a row to do so. By the end of their semifnal victory at Newlands it was clear they were on their last legs.

The Stormers season was a huge success in one other aspect, though. In 2012 they brought through a handful of youngsters who added much-needed bulk and aggression to their pack. Players like Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Steven Kitshoff took to the big stage like ducks to water.

The Bulls started the 2012 season out strongly despite losing a handful of world-class International players. Then, by the halfway mark, they also lost guru Heyneke Meyer and half their backroom staff, and things got away from them. A playoff spot was the best they could have hoped for.

2012 was a disappointing year for Australian franchises. Jake White's Brumbies lead their conference for most of the year, only to be pipped to the playoffs by the Reds. The Queenslanders, in turn, were outclassed in their quarterfinal by the Sharks.