Confidence among South African sides will be at an all-time low when Super rugby kicks off this weekend.
But it is not all bad - funny things can happen. However, in saying that, they usually don't.
The Springboks had a terrible year in 2016. Smashed by the All Blacks by 50-plus points and losing to teams such as Italy and Wales, the men from Africa ended up losing eight tests last year.
It was a poor year, unequalled in awfulness, and it is hard to see how the country's Super rugby sides can make any impact.
But sometimes performances at international level mean little in Super rugby.
In 1998, there were three New Zealand sides in the semifinals of Super rugby yet the All Blacks were rubbish that year.
The Brumbies won it all in 2004 but Australia could still not get the Bledisloe Cup off New Zealand.
So efforts at one level do not necessarily transfer down to the next rung on the ladder.
But let's be brutally honest, the depth in South African rugby is razor-thin.
Too many of their players are plying their trade at overseas clubs. That is before you get into political issues which cast a big shadow over the game.
In the best-case scenario, the Lions loom as the strongest team in South Africa, riding on the back of their run to the final last year.
The key players are back and they do not face a New Zealand team in the competition until the playoffs if they make it that far.
The Bulls will be looking to forget last season when they finished well out of the running.
They possess, as usual, big forwards but need key player Handre Pollard to stay on the field.
The Stormers have always been in the running and have the makings of a good team. A lack of attacking thrust has been their Achilles heel for years but they could grind out some victories.
On the coast in Durban, the Sharks will once again work hard but rely too much on some key players, who have creaking bodies and may lack for motivation. They have a new coach in Robert de Preez and a new chief executive in former captain Gary Teichmann.
The Cheetahs and Kings will battle. The former won the Currie Cup but still look a tad out of their depth while the Kings, you would think, are on death row.
As for the Jaguares from Argentina, they should be all the better for their introduction last year. They have the players but need to produce it week in, week out.
The Sunwolves will continue to battle with plenty of travel and a lack of physical edge to their game.
LIONS
Coach: Johan Ackermann.
Key forward: No 8 and captain Warren Whiteley.
Key back: Halfback Faf de Klerk.
Glass half full: Made the final last year and have the same team. A year wiser. Not forced to play New Zealand teams before the playoffs should help them.
Glass half empty: Not the surprise package any more. Players will have scars from Springbok defeats. Could be one-season wonders.
Last year: Finalist.
Prediction: Semifinals.
KINGS
Coach: Deon Davids.
Key forward: Captain and prop Schalk Ferrira.
Key back: Centre Waylon Murray.
Glass half full: Ah, nice weather in Port Elizabeth.
Glass half empty: On the verge of extinction, only internationals come from Namibia, about as glamorous as a Tuesday night in Mataura.
Last year: 17th.
Prediction: 18th.
STORMERS
Coach: Robbie Fleck.
Key forward: Lock Eben Etzebeth.
Key back: Midfielder Damian de Allende.
Glass half full: Some classy performers in key areas, solid tight five, tidy midfield.
Glass half empty: Have to play New Zealand sides, losing financial support, weak in inside backs.
Last year: Quarterfinals.
Prediction: 10th.
CHEETAHS
Coach: Franco Smith.
Key forward: Lock Francois Uys.
Key back: Inside back Shaun Venter.
Glass half full: New coach with new ideas and motivation, will not lack for energy, won the Currie Cup.
Glass half empty: Too green, too young, Currie Cup means nothing at this level, have to play NZ teams.
Last year: 14th.
Prediction: 17th.
SUNWOLVES
Coach: Filo Tiatia.
Key forward: Hooker Shota Horie.
Key back: Halfback Fumiaki Tanaka.
Glass half full: Have learnt plenty from first year, play an expansive game which suits competition. Tanaka is a big boost for the side and only way is up after finishing dead last in 2016.
Glass half empty: Spend more time in a plane than Alan Whicker ever did, not physically hard enough, prone to mistakes.
Last year: 18th.
Prediction: 15th.
SHARKS
Coach: Robert de Preez
Key forward: Loose forward Keegan Daniel.
Key back: First five-eighth Pat Lambie.
Glass half full: Always solid up front and in Lambie have a classy operator, not playing NZ teams, got rid of polarising coach Gary Gold.
Glass half empty: Lost a lot of support after boardroom changes, dull style does not cut it any more.
Last year: Quarterfinals.
Prediction: 12th.
BULLS
Coach: Nollis Marais.
Key forward: Hooker Adriaan Strauss.
Key back: First five-eighth and captain Handre Pollard.
Glass half full: Pollard back and lifts the whole team, addition of lock Lood de Jager, handy backline.
Glass half empty: Worked out by many sides, zero imagination, too many sloppy errors.
Last year: Ninth.
Prediction: Quarterfinals.
JAGUARES
Coach: Raul Perez.
Key forward: Hooker Agustin Creevy.
Key back: halfback Martin Landajo.
Glass half full: Learnt a lot from first year, players on the improve, packed with internationals, not playing NZ teams.
Glass half empty: Poor discipline, lack concentration for the 80 minutes, liable to pick up injuries, tough travel schedule.
Last year: 13th.
Prediction: 14th.
