Can the Brutes keep it up?

The Brutes had one hell of a dream 2009. They have all the necessary silverware in the cupboard, a strong structure and always difficult to down once they hit the top deck.

Player Losses:
Brain Habana (Stormers), Marius Delport (Lions), Burton Francis (Lions)

Player Gains:
JL Potgieter (Cheetahs), Bees Roux (Griquas), Jaco van der Westhuizen (Japan), De Wet Barry (EP) & Gary Botha (UK) and most probably Bakkies Botha who will not feature much after his operation.

New Talent
Stephan Dippenaar & Watermeyer midfielders and coming from their youth structures. They will probably move Derick Kuhn back to flank with Gary Botha back in hooker.

Coaching
Pretty much the same staff they had last year.

Players to Watch:
Zane Kirschner, Wynand Olivier (Meisiekind), Morne Steyn & Gary Botha all played in the Bok jersey before. They settled in the test arena in 2009 and will try and nail their Bok jerseys in 2010. The good thing about the Brutes is that they are very much a settled side with a winning culture thanks to experienced players like Fourie du Preez, Spies, Matfield and Bakkies.

Challenges:
Think the loss of Habana will provide them with the biggest challenge to get the same kind of game breaker experience. Bakkies absence will also be huge for them. This two is big losses at international level , so even more on provincial level.

My teams pick
Fullback: Zane Kirchner
Wings: Akona Ndungane, Gerhard van den Heever, John Mametsa
Centres: Wynand Olivier, Jaco Pretorius, Stephan Dippenaar, Stefan Watermeyer
Flyhalves: Morne Steyn, Jacques-Louis Potgieter
Scrumhalves: Fourie du Preez, Heini Adams, Francois Hougaard
Loose forwards: Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegmann, Derick Kuün, Pedrie Wannenburg, Dries van Schalkwyk
Locks: Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Fudge Mabeta, Flip van der Merwe, Wilhelm Steenkamp
Props: Gurthrö Steenkamp, Werner Kruger, Jaco Engels, Bees Roux, Dean Greyling
Hookers: Gary Botha, Bandise Maku.

Calendar:
Cheetahs (A), Brumbies (H), Waratahs (H), Bye, Highlanders (H), Hurricanes (H), Force (A), Blues (A), Chiefs (A), Reds (A), Lions (H), Sharks (H), Saders (H), Stormers (A).  Like the Stormers an easy tour measured by SA standards.

Rating:
They won it in 2009, no reason they cant do it again in 2010.