At first glance, the new format of the competition looks like it should suit the South African teams.
With just four games outside the country, there will be no more arduous month-and-a-half trips to Australia and New Zealand.
In 2009, the Cheetahs spent more than 40 straight days away from their own beds as they played their first seven games away from home.
But now the travel will be much less, and though that may be good for home life, it may not necessarily mean more points on the competition ladder.
Less time in the sky means more derby games, and there is no love lost between rival provinces in South Africa.
The Cheetahs are hopeless against Australian and New Zealand sides.
But put them up against a South African team and they grow an extra leg.
In the Currie Cup, the South African domestic competition, the Cheetahs have always been in the top echelon.
Now they will get the chance to take on a side like the Lions twice, instead of having to travel to far-flung places like Invercargill and Canberra.
But try like they might, the Cheetahs are not going to be seen in action come finals time, although they will be nuisance value for the top South African teams.
The South African challenge starts with the two-time defending champion, the Bulls, out to grab a rare hat trick of titles.
That has only been done once before, by the Crusaders from 1998-2000.
The side from Pretoria has no real weaknesses, and has not lost at home since April 2008.
It has retained the bulk of its side and its core of No 8 Pierre Spies, halfback Fourie du Preez and first five-eighth Morne Steyn will hold the key to its success.
Victor Matfield will be 34 in May and one wonders how long he can keep going.
No doubt lock Bakkies Botha will spend some time on the sideline, and it will not be because he is injured.
Despite the rule changes last year, the Bulls were still able to win games through the kick and chase, and one wonders if opponents manage to hang on to the ball how effective the Bulls will be.
The Stormers were the Bulls' opponents in the final last year and won through to that stage thanks to a hard-as-nails defence which conceded only 161 points last season, fewer than 12 points a game.
This year Jean de Villiers is back from Ireland, while prop CJ van der Linde joins from the Cheetahs.
Lock Andries Bekker was sensational for the Stormers last year but back issues and a tabloid expose of his love life led to him having a forgettable second half of the year.
If he can recapture his best form, the Stormers will be a contender.
The Sharks were slower out of the blocks last year than a 90-year-old sprinter and did not win a game until the sixth round.
The side struggled last year with not having a quality first five-eighth and has signed former Cheetahs and Bulls man Jacques-Louis Potgeiter, while young Patrick Lambie may also look to wear the No 10 jersey.
The team has a relatively solid look to it, with just three new signings.
John Smit will once again skipper the side, though there is a question mark over whether his form is good enough to get him into the side.
The winds of change have blown through the Lions.
New coach John Mitchell, armed with a chequebook thanks to new owners, has been attempting to make some big signings.
Much was made of trying to get Sharks prop Tendai Mtawarira but it all came to nothing.
Elton Jantjies is the new kingpin at first five-eighth but he is only 20, although new assistant coach Carlos Spencer will be there to lend a helping hand.The South Africans, or specifically the Bulls, have dominated the Super 14 in recent years. But what chance have the five South African teams got in this year's expanded competition? Rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks over the teams from the Republic.
South African Super 15 teams:
Bulls
Coach: Frans Ludke (third year). Captain: Victor Matfield. Key forward: No 8 Pierre Spies. Key back: First five-eighth Morne Steyn.
Last year: Champion. Prediction: Fifth
Stormers
Coach: Alister Coetzee (second year). Captain: Schalk Burger. Key forward: Lock Andries Bekker. Key back: First five-eighth Peter Grant.
Last year: Finalist. Prediction: Finalist
Sharks
Coach: John Plumtree (third year). Captain: John Smit. Key forward: Hooker Bismarck du Plessis. Key back: Halfback Charl McLeod.
Last year: Ninth. Prediction: Ninth
Lions
Coach: John Mitchell (replaces Dick Muir). Captain: Franco van der Merwe. Key forward: Flanker Cobus Grobbelaar. Key back: Centre Doppies La Grange.
Last year: 14th. Prediction: 15th
Cheetahs
Coach: Nake Drotske (fourth year). Captain: Juan Smith. Key forward: Flanker Heinrich Brussow. Key back: Fullback Riaan Viljoen
Last year: 10th. Prediction: 12th
