Gavin Cummiskey joined Off the Ball for Monday Night Rugby as the new PRO14 season kicked off at the weekend.
The South African sides made their debuts in Europe and despite losing both matches, they should improve as the season progresses.
"It was a real kind of a soft opening," Cummiskey told Adrian Barry, adding: "when you kind of look at it with the football, the Electic Picnic, the hurling final - it didn't land a blow.
"They did cobble together all these fixtures real quickly - they weren't thinking about hitting it in round one. The South African teams conceded 90 points between them - they were both stuffed.
Cheetahs' Torsten van Jaarsveld dejected after the game. Image: ©INPHO/James Crombie
"That's not that much of a surprise with the Kings but the Cheetahs could be a really good team if they weren't also playing Currie Cup at the moment.
"The South African media are calling it farcical because they supposedly sent their better teams up north not to be hammered in the first weekend and they came up against a load of Springboks playing for Ulster," he added.
The discussion turned to the Irish provinces and how Connacht should develop under their new coach.
"It was one of those nights in the west of Ireland - it was just disastrous weather. Glasgow are too far developed. They've got Rennie in as their new coach instead of Townsend. They've lost a couple of players but they've built their squad.
"They're going to be contenders for this PRO14 - I'd be very surprised if they weren't.
"Connacht have a lot to do. Kieran Keane, if he gets his feet under the table in the next couple of months - expect the same skill levels we saw under Pat Lam because that's what he coached from the Chiefs. That's what he does.
"Squad depth is going to be a massive problem as ever. Bundee Aki will probably be lost to the international scene what with Ringrose and Henshaw not fit - it looks like Bundee Aki will be playing centre for Ireland in November."
The full discussion can be heard here:
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