South African sides are often seen as predictable, but as former England prop Graham Rowntree believes, it is one thing to know what is coming - it is another to try and stop it.
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Rowntree sounded a massive warning to overseas sides on how difficult their first trip to South Africa will be.
While there is a full round of overseas-based matches this weekend in the competition, next week will see the first home games for the four South African franchises as teams come to replay the postponed games from December last year.
Rowntree, now forwards coach for Johann van Graan’s Munster side, said it was one thing knowing what to expect in South Africa, it was another trying to deal with it on the field.
“I’ve no doubt that at home they’ll be good against us," he told Irish media.
"They’ll be waiting for us. There will be some great places for our guys to go and challenge themselves, playing rugby against some top teams in some top stadiums in a great country.
"It’s a country I’ve been to more than any other country on the planet. It’s a great rugby country. Our players will know what to expect from the analysis we have shown them. Physicality is undeniable with South African teams.
"You know what’s coming. But it’s another thing trying to deal with it. It will be a real test of the basics of our game.”
Rowntree said it “wasn’t fair” to see the size of some of the South African players.
Watch the Lions games and see the size of their squad. It’s not fair. It’s not fair.They’re huge men, and that’s a real strength of their game, the Lions. So that’s what we’ve got to deal with in the Lions game.
“The Bulls, physical breakdown. They’ve a physical backrow. Big men running at you very quickly on the Highveld. It’s a bit of a different challenge from what we’re normally used to but it’s a challenge we’ll be ready for.
"But we just train for it. We’ve done it before.There’ll be nothing alien to these lads that they’ve never experienced before. It’s just something that they’re maybe not used to week in and week out."
Rowntree added that the team are happy with all the protocols they need to observe on the trip following their hell in the outbreak of omicron in December. He also revealed a novel way of dealing with quarantine requirements.
"All the protocols are sorted and we are happy with them," he said..
"If I get Covid again, I’ll have another crate of wine in my hotel suite in Cape Town which got me through my isolation. No, we’re happy with the protocols and we’re ready for it. And as I keep saying, we’ll deal with that on Sunday. We’ve a big game on Saturday night and we have to get that right first.
"There's no-one who will get stuck over there again. We’ve ticked that box," he added.
"That was a challenging time for the club but we’ve come through it. I think it’s made us stronger and we’re going over there looking forward to it. Those memories are gone.We’re very clear in terms of what squad we are going to take.
"We’ll be flying the next day but the guys have done that before.They’re all professionals, they’re used to doing that and looking after themselves."
Meanwhile Cardiff are upbeat after welcoming back Josh Navidi to the squad after four months out due to a shoulder injury.
Navidi was injured against the Vodacom Bulls in October and may play Wales’ last two games in this year’s Six Nations tournament.
"He's raring to go and get back out there for Cardiff and where that takes him, that takes him," said Cardiff boss Dai Young.
Depending on how he comes through this weekend’s action, Navidi may be called up to the Welsh squad, or travel with Cardiff to South Africa for games against the Emirates Lions and DHL Stormers.
"First and foremost he needs to get through the game which I'm sure he will. I'm 100 per cent confident he'll get through the game," added Young.
"If he isn't picked up by the Welsh squad then we'll take him to South Africa obviously, but I'd be very surprised if we don't get a phone call for Josh to go into the Wales camp."
Iain Henderson’s impending return for Ulster and a win against Cardiff could see the Northern Irish side climbing to the summit for 24 hours before Leinster play and look to cement top spot against Benetton.
Third-placed Glasgow Warriors, tucked in a point behind Ulster, head to West Wales on Saturday for an appointment with the Scarlets, knowing a win on the road would keep them firmly in the mix.
Munster face Dragons at Thomond Park on Saturday and look to give themselves a boost before they head down South.
Welsh Shield leaders Ospreys, meanwhile, can consolidate that position at home to Zebre Parma on Sunday, with the Italian side yet to taste victory in the URC this season. Zebre face a tough tour to South Africa next week.