RuckedOver's Big Premiership Preview - Part 4

It's the morn of the big kick off and, like a child eagerly charging downstairs on Christmas dawn in the hope that the Power Rangers Megazord has found its way into Santa's sack, we can continue the new season enthusiasm with Part 4 of our Premiership Preview.

Please note that the above mentioned Megazord was well worth the wait.

Sale Sharks

Coach: Steve Diamond.  He may look like a chap who works the door of your local Yates' Wine Bar, but there's more to Diamond than meets the eye.  Having led a Sale recovery from an atrocious 2012-13 season, big Steve produced one of the most irritating, ball-pinching defences in the league and an attack with no lack of imagination.  Plus, any man who can harness the mercurial talents and boyish charms of Danny Cipriani deserves a pat on the back.

Captain:  Dan Braid.  The Kiwi import has been a revelation for the Sharks, working in tandem with his flanking partner Dave Seymour to rank amongst the turnover kings in the Premiership.  A real dog of a flanker who will always be at the coal-face – and one who usually chips in with a couple of crucial tries as well – he will need to be at his disruptive best if the Sharks are to challenge for the Top 6 again.

What happened last year?  A very welcome improvement in the north-west, as the Sharks once again found their teeth.  With a home win against Saints and a 50 point away drubbing of the Chiefs particular highlights, Sale were pretty much 'in' every game they played – even the ones they lost, against the top teams.  The trick now is take the next step.

How do they look this year?  On the face of it, there's a few big names leaving that could leave the Sharks a bit short – talented prop Henry Thomas, lively full back Rob Miller and stalwart James Gaskell, but they've also made a couple of cracking signings to make up for it.  Nathan Hines still has the physicality to perform at this level and Luke McLean is one of the best fullbacks in Europe.  Keep an eye out for old-boy Magnus Lund, too, as he returns after a difficult season with injury in Biarritz.  He remains an abrasive presence on the flanks.

Players out: James Gaskell (Wasps), Tom Holmes (Rotherham), Kiril Kulemin (Perpignan), Rob Miller (Wasps) Dwayne Peel (Bristol), Henry Thomas (Bath)

Players in: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow), Darren Fearn (Bedford Blues), Nathan Hines (Clermont), Magnus Lund (Biarritz), Alberto De Marchi (Treviso), Luke McLean (Treviso)

Key Player:  Danny Cipriani.  Already off to a better start as he hasn't been tackling any public transport in post-season shenanigans, Cirpirani built nicely throughout the year and was rewarded with a call up on the England tour to New Zealand.  At his best, he seems to have a huge amount of time on his hands and can create gaps with his eyes – important for a Sale Sharks side that perhaps lacks the out-and-out freaks of nature that Saints and Tigers have in their back line.

One to Watch: Michael Paterson.    OK, at 29, he is no spring chicken, but last season really propelled him onto the domestic radar in England.  A strong performer in the set-piece, it was his work with the ball in hand that really caught the eye – palming off tacklers and bursting through gaps with a surprising turn of pace.  If he can carry on from where he left off, the Sharks will have an absolute gem on their hands – and perhaps England will come knocking.

Prediction: 7th.  The Sharks will be difficult opponents once again for any side – especially in Salford – but they don't seem to have really made any signings to take them forward.  The players they have brought in are very good, don't get me wrong, but it strikes me that they are simply replacing very good players who have left.  They'll be around the Top 6, I'm sure, but they'll fall just short.
 

Saracens

Coach: Mark McCall.  Quiet, understated, pleasant – he's almost the polar opposite of his predecessor, Brendan Venter, but he has the same effect on his team.  A man with a clear, tactical vision, he got Sarries out of the kick-chase dross they were serving up two seasons ago to play some fantastic power-based rugby last term.

Captain: Alistair Hargreaves.  Steve Borthwick takes with him a face that looks like a scrunched up flannel and leaves behind a mightily big pair of shoes to fill in terms of the Sarries captaincy.  Hargreaves is the ideal man to step up though and echoes a lot of Borthwick's best qualities – durable, brave and physical – and those in the know are confident he'll excel in his new responsibility.

What happened last year?  In so many ways, it was a magnificent year for Saracens.  They played some scintillating rugby at times, based off the back of a hugely physical pack, and there were few teams that could live with them at full flow as they dominated the Premiership Season for 9 months.  The flipside was the burnout of playing at such a high level for so long, as the men in black fell agonisingly short of both the European title and the Premiership title.

How do they look this year?  There's no real big name signings (although Juan Figallo is a formidable prop), indicating that McCall is rightly pretty happy with the quality he has at his disposal and the talent he has coming through.  Last season has to be looked at it context – meaning that, although it was a silverware-free campaign, the standard that they consistently produced and the style of rugby they played was a tremendous positive.

Players out: Nic Auterac (Bath), Steve Borthwick (retired), James Short (London Irish), Matt Stevens (Sharks), Michael Tagikacibau (Scarlets)

Players in: Michael Ellery (England Sevens), Juan Figallo (Montpellier), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Kieran Longbottom (Western Force), Phil Thiel

Key Player:  Billy Vunipola.  Big Billy had a superb season last year, cementing his England place and improving his fitness levels – but not to the point where he could avoid fading badly towards the tail-end of the season.  In my opinion he still needs to do a lot of work on his conditioning – if he can get himself quicker, fitter and shed just a couple of pounds of blubber, he will be almost unplayable.  Even if he stays as he is, he's a crucial cog in Saracens gameplan – they rely on him to get over the gainline off first or second phase ball.

One to Watch: Will Fraser.  He may not exactly be a new name but Fraser will feel like a new signing after a horrendous run of injuries which saw him miss the majority of last season.  A different kind of flanker to Jacques Burger, the talented openside is superb over the ball and a solid carrier – as well as being able to weigh in with the big hits.  He was our player of the season in 2012-13 and he'll be back with a bang this term.  Keep an eye out for lively scrum half Ben Spencer as well, who should get more game time this term.

Prediction:  1st (Champions).  I have a couple of doubts about the quality in depth of their tight 5 and perhaps the wings but, who am I kidding, this is a high quality and exceptionally well-drilled Saracens outfit.  I don't think they'll dominate the league season like they did last time but, ironically, I think it will help them at the business end of the season.  I suspect they'll ensure they have enough left in the tank to finish the job this time around.

Wasps

Coach: Dai Young.  A big man and a big personality, his work with Wasps has been admirable under often difficult circumstances – usually off the pitch.  He'll have more headaches to deal with this time around, too, with murmurs of a move to Coventry doing the rounds.

Captain:  James Haskell.  James 'the Brand' Haskell is the marmite of the English game, loved or loathed by supporters for his endless, loud and often average banter.  I'm well and truly in the Pro-Brand Haskell camp – he's a real character in a game where we are treated to PR monkeys every week, and his performances last year suggest that his off-field business interests have only heightened his passion for rugby, playing with relentless physicality and energy.  It seems he now knows when to joke and when to perform, and it is probably the right time for him to take on the responsibility of captaincy.

What happened last year?  I felt pretty sorry for Wasps.  They have two of the most dangerous finishers in the land on either flank, and they had them both fit at the same time for all of about 2 games.  Having that lack of incision out wide hurt Wasps in what was actually a very respectable campaign considering all factors, in which they were challenging for the top 6 before falling just short late on in the season.  They'll be targeting a step up this time around.

How do they look this year?  It's been a year of change at Wasps at there's been some smart signings made in an effort to bolster that pack and the depth out wide.  Cittadini and Davies are both grizzled internationals who will add real bite to the front 8, whilst Leuia and Miller will offer pace and guile out wide.  It could go one of two ways for Wasps – if they stay focused, and ignore the off-field whispers, they could challenge the Top 6 again, but if they let external events catch up with them, they may be in for a season of mediocrity.    

Players out: Tommy Bell (Jersey), Joe Carlisle (Treviso), Neil Cochrane (Edinburgh), Liam O'Neill (Nottingham), Tom Palmer (Gloucester), Rory Pitman (Scarlets), Ricky Reeves (London Welsh), Brett Sheehan (Narbonne), Hugo Southwell (retired), Taione Vea (London Welsh)

Players in: Lorenzo Cittadini (Treviso), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), James Gaskell (Sale), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow), Buster Lawrence (Moseley), Alapati Leiua (Hurricanes), Alex Lozowski (Leeds), Rob Miller (Sale), Nathan Morris (London Welsh), Ed Shervington (Worcester), Sailosi Tagicakibau (London Irish), Thomas Young (Gloucester).

Key Player:  Christian Wade.  Arguably the likes of Bradley Davies or the impressive Nathan Hughes will have more say in games, but Wasps need to keep their chief finisher fit and firing.  If they can keep on the field, they will know that even in tight games, they have someone who can create something from nothing.  He has a point to prove too, with England's wing spots still well and truly up for grabs.

One to Watch: Alapati Leiua.  Keep an eye out for talented hooker Nathan Morris as well, but Alapati Leiua is probably a name you haven't heard too much before – or have tried to spell.  A brief bit of background – he's a Samoan international with seven caps, he can play wing or centre, and he can score tries like the below.  Yep, he's good.

Prediction:  10th.  It may surprise some people but I have a sneaking suspicion that this may be a difficult season for Wasps, despite having some undoubted talent on both the field and coaching sides, as well having a couple of decent signings coming in.  They won't be in a relegation scrap – but with a relatively frustrating first half to 2014 and with whisperings of ground moves permeating the squad, it may be hard to keep the side focused and motivated.

@RuckedOver

RuckedOver's Big Premiership Preview - Part 3

The eve of the big kick off is upon us, and that means Part 3 of our Premiership Preview is coming at you like an out of control bus/Tuilagi.  Today we look at how London Welsh, Newcastle and Saints will fare…

 

London Welsh

 

Coach: Justin Burnell.  The very definition of a cheeky chappy, Burnell is a chirpy and genuine character who wouldn't look out of place plumbing in your dishwasher.  But the job he did with London Welsh was superb last year – not a huge amount of people thought they could bounce straight back up (myself included) but they did so, and the playoff finals against Bristol were tactical master-classes in difficult conditions.

 

Captain: Tom May.  Although the experienced Matt Corker will assume the role of club captain (which focuses more on the boring, admin-based side of the job) the former Falcons, Toulon, Saints and, of course, England man will be in charge of proceedings on the field.  May certainly knows his way around the rugby field but, at 35, is the silver fox still capable of consistently high performances in the centres?

 

What happened last year? An impressive season in the Championship saw them finish second behind Bristol (only on bonus points) with the same amount of wins and the meanest defence in the league.  It was all set to be a cagey affair in the two-legged final between the two best sides, but instead the Exiles blew the big-spending Bristolians away with a two powerful displays in torrential conditions.

 

How do they look this year?  A bit different, to say the least.  Burnell has brought in a staggering 25 new signings, although he is quick to point out that 26 of the squad involved in the playoffs last season remain at the club.  There are some shrewd acquisitions which catch the eye too, with Olly Barkley, Piri Weepu, Tim Molenaar and Dean Schofield all experienced and quality players.  But is there enough spark throughout the side, and can they gel quickly enough after so much change?

 

Players out: Joe Ajuwa, Rob Andrew, Kevin Davis, Mike Denbee , Ollie Frost, Toby l'Estrange, John Quill, James Tideswell, Andy Titterrell, Hudson Tonga'uiha, Tai Tuisamoa, Ian Nimmo, Alec Hepburn (all released), Peter Edwards (Scarlets),Cai Griffiths (Ospreys), Mitch Lees (Exeter Chiefs), Nathan Morris (Wasps), Billy Moss (Bedford Blues), Sonny Parker (retired)

 

Players in: Eddie Aholelei (Melbourne Rebels), Olly Barkley (Scarlets), Shane Cahill (Cornish Pirates), Ben Cooper (prop, Bedford), Gareth Davies (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Dobson (Griquas), James Down (Cardiff Blues), Chris Elder (Plymouth), Jack Gilding (Viadana), Cameron Goodhue (Worcester Warriors), Pablo Henn (Limoges), Jesse Liston (Blackheath), Jimmy Litchfield (Hartpury College), Lachlan McCaffrey (Brumbies), Josh McNally (Henley Hawks), Tim Molenaar (Harlequins), Ricky Reeves (Wasps), Nic Reynolds (Scarlets), Tristan Roberts (Bristol), Paul Rowley(Plymouth), James Sandford (Cornish Pirates), Dean Schofield (Worcester Warriors), Nathan Taylor (Hartpury College), Taione Vea (Wasps), Darren Waters (Newport-Gwent Dragons), Piri Weepu (Blues)

 

Key Player:  Olly Barkley.  From being one of the great unfulfilled talents of English rugby, Olly Barkley seems to have fallen into the category of journeyman, drifting from Bath to Racing Metro to Grenoble to Scarlets, without making too much of an impact outside of the West Country.  But he is an experienced head now within the camp and has the smooth distribution and intelligent kicking game to keep Welsh in contests – they will be relying on his nous.

 

One to Watch: Seb Steggman.  Let go from Harlequins two seasons ago, Stegmann boasts an impressive scoring rate for Welsh, averaging a try every two games, and has a knack of grabbing important 5-pointers, too, with his late try to seal a Premiership spot against Bristol a prime example.  He may not be the quickest, but he has dancing feet, deceptive strength – and he knows where the try line is.   

 

Prediction: 12th.  Welsh won't do a Worcester – i.e. they will actually win a few games and surprise a few teams – but I don't think they have the quality throughout the squad or the depth to stay up.  It will be close, mind – their games against the Falcons may well be drop deciders – but rugby at this level is harsh and I suspect they may just fall short.
 

 

Newcastle Falcons

Coach: Dean Richards.  Deano, as predicted, got the Falcons off to a solid start last year, catching several sides on the hop and causing plenty of problems at home.  He's proven his pedigree time and again with Leicester and Harlequins, but now he needs to get his Newcastle side to take the next step in order to fully bury the unsavoury memories of 'Bloodgate'.

Captain: Will Welch.  The young flanker did a sterling job last year in captaining the side and if Falcons through and through, but he is going to have to demonstrate exceptional leadership for the Falcons to survive another term this season.  There will be some dark days in the Premiership and some tough losses, and it will be up to Welch and the other senior figures to make sure their spirit doesn't break.

What happened last year?  After a decent first two months in the Premiership, which saw them pick up wins against Sale, Worcester and Irish, it's fair to say that the Falcons were abysmal, failing to pick up a single win post-late October.  Their defence wasn't great (although they only conceded 11 more points than Wasps, who finished 7th), but their biggest issue was an attack about as threatening as a bag of bunnies – they scored, by some 44 points, the lowest total of any Premiership side – despite late signs that they were finally show more adventure.

How do they look this year?  Primarily, Deano has sought to address the problem with his offence by bringing in a pair of Tuilagis (that usually does the trick) in Andy and Alesana.  The huge issue that the Falcons had last term was the inability to get over the gainline and thus gain momentum, but the big Samoans will be a huge asset in that regard.  Elsewhere, Josh Furno is a quality operator at lock and a stand out player for Italy who will add some grunt and set-piece nous to the pack, but the loss of Joel Hodgson – a major creative spark last year – may hit them hard.

Players out: Alex Crockett (retired), Andy Davies (Rotherham), James Fitzpatrick (Leeds), Joel Hodgson (Northampton), Fraser McKenzie (Edinburgh), Franck Montanella (Biarritz), Ben Morris (Rotherham), Chris Pilgrim (Leeds), Grant Shiells (Bath), Harry Spencer (Macon), Michael Tait (Edinburgh)

Players in: Eric Fry (London Scottish), Josh Furno (Biarritz), Callum Green (Leeds Carnegie), Rob Hawkins (Leicester Tigers), Uili Kolo'ofai (Colomiers), Juan Pablo Socino (Rotherham), Semisi Taulava (Worcester Warriors), Ruki Tipuna (Bristol), Andy Tuilagi (Newport-Gwent Dragons), Alesana Tuilagi (NTT Shining Arcs)

Key Player:  Alesana Tuilagi.  At 33 – and after having a year of 'semi-retirement' in the Japanese league – you may be forgiven to thinking that big Alex is past it…just don't say that to his face.  Tuilagi clearly feels like he has unfinished business in England and although his speed off the mark may not have the zip of yesteryear, his brute force and power in contact makes him as potent as ever.  He needs to form an understanding with Rory Clegg/Phil Godman and attack that 10 channel hard off first phase to give Falcons that much sought-after front-foot ball.

One to Watch: Zach Kibirige.  He may not be the biggest, but this kid had magic feet and one hell of a leg drive – a potent combination that sees him wriggle out of the tightest of corners.  He was incredibly unlucky last year – breaking his leg 35 minutes into his Premiership debut – but when you can score tries like the below, you can see why he may have such a big part to play this year as the Falcons seek to develop their attacking game.

Prediction:  11th.  It will be another tough season for the Geordies, I hear.  He's addressed the big problem in the Falcons backline – that there was no physical threat – but the entire mentality of the side needs to change if they are to stay up this year.  Last season, they were in survival mode, scrapping their way through games, but this season they need to play with more pace if they are going to really push the sides around them.  It will be tight, but I think there's enough talent there to keep the Falcons up.


Northampton Saints

Coach: Jim Mallinder.  Despite looking like Lord Voldemort, Mallinder is revered in a certain corner of the East Midlands (and despised in another…) because of his accomplishments last season.  At one point it seemed like the Saints season was going off the rails yet again, but the way Mallinder and his coaching team turned it round to claim the big prize was nothing short of exceptional.

Captain: Dylan Hartley.  English rugby's naughty schoolboy, Hartley had an incident-free season in 2013-14 and reaped the rewards.  With no loose-lipped madness, ill-advised nibbling or stray fingers in sight, Hartley led from the front with a physical and inspiring presence, and was a key figure in the league's most brutal and aggressive defence as the Saints smashed their way to the League Title.

What happened last year?  Finally the bride after so many times the bridesmaid, Northampton reaped the rewards of some eye-catching summer recruitment with a phenomenally effective defence and, at times, an unstoppable attack.  Surprisingly, it wasn't the big name new boys who stood up though, but rather 'old hands' such as Courtney Lawes, Hartley, Samu Manoa, Stephen Myler and Luther Burrell who took their game to another level.  A Premiership title was a just reward for a year of predominantly outstanding displays.

How do they look this year?  Pretty much exactly the same, with Mallinder recognising that, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.  Much of their main recruitment was done last season, with Fisher and Hodgson arriving predominantly as squad players this year, so we can expect a similar side and strategy this time around – and a similarly high-placed finish.  However, I have some concerns about the defensive qualities of the inside backs, and that – to me – remains a weakness teams may be able to exploit.

Players out: Fa'atoina Autagavaia (Nevers), Paul Diggin (retired), Ryan Glynn (Jersey), Gerrie-Jan van Velze (Worcester Warriors), Karl Wilkins (Clermont-Auvergne)

Players in: Jon Fisher (London Irish), Joel Hodgson (Newcastle Falcons)

Key Player:  Courtney Lawes.  The human missile was unstoppable last year and the scourge of many a fly half, burying his shoulder into countless ribcages.  One of Saints' strategies is that a strong defence can be a potent attacking weapon, and Lawes will be expected to be a key figure in this season – so long as his timing remains on the money.

One to Watch: Alex Waller.  With not too many brand new faces appearing in the Saints side, I've gone for a prop forward who had an unspectacular but hugely significant rise to prominence last year.  Previously, when Waller came on, opposition props would rub their hands together with glee, but the youngster has proven that he is now a force to be reckoned with in the set-piece in addition to being a dynamic and powerful ball-carrier.  After his try-scoring heroics in last season's final, Waller will have another big role to play this year and, who knows, maybe England will come calling.

Prediction:  3rd.  Saints will be right up there once again this year, but I suspect they may just fall short of the title.  Why?  I can't shake from my mind Burrell's turnstyle defence for England over the summer.  I think that there is a weakness there amongst the inside backs which teams can exploit, and I expect to see the top teams target it.  They will still be very close to another day out at Twickenham – their superb defence and dangerous back 3 will see to that – but I think they'll miss out.


@Ruckedover  

 

 

RuckedOver's Big Premiership Preview - Part 2

With the final countdown to the Premiership season now blaring out like the 80's hip-thrusting classic, let's turn our attention to the prospects of three more sides who will be gunning for domestic glory this year in Part 2 of our Premiership Preview…

Harlequins

Coach: Conor O'Shea. Another one of the universally-liked and respected coaches, O'Shea is one of the sharpest minds in the game at the moment and is a refreshingly-honest interviewee post-match.  His ability to bring on young players and get them playing high-risk but effective rugby has made Quins one of the most dominant and watchable teams over the last 3 seasons.

Captain: Joe Marler.  In a surprising move, the inspirational Chris Robshaw has been stood aside for a man who, until recent times, could be described as "a bit of dunder-head."  An obsession with getting involved in silly scraps and some frankly insulting haircuts threatened to put a stopper on Marler's undoubted talent, but last season saw the maturing of a fine front-row forward and a scrummaging technique developing as richly as his beard.  This move could well be the making of him, whilst Robshaw gets to focus on his England skipper duties.

What happened last year? After a bit of middling around in the early part of the season (when they were blighted by injury), Quins eventually got their act together and scrapped into the playoffs once again, beating Bath in a winner-takes-all encounter in the last round of the season.  They didn't have enough in the tank to derail Saracens in the semi-finals, but the West Londoners were still almost unplayable on their day, with Mike Brown and Danny Care in scintillating form.

How do they look this year? O'Shea hasn't been particularly active in the transfer market, but the players he has brought in can certainly turn a few heads, with Marlande Yarde increasingly looking like a real international-class wing and Asaeli Tikourotuma a box of tricks.  But I still harbour some doubts over the reliability of their set piece and the effectiveness of their inside backs, especially when Nick Evans in injured or – dare I say it – slightly off key, which was a more common occurrence than usual last season.

Players out: Max Crumpton (Bristol), Maurie Fa'asavalu (Oyonnax), Tom Guest (London Irish), Nick Kennedy (retired), Nic Mayhew (North Harbour), Tim Molenaar (London Welsh), Sam Smith (Worcester),Paul Sackey (retired)

Players in: Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Chiefs), Marland Yarde (London Irish)

Key Player: Danny Care.  The heartbeat of Quins' attacking game, the scrum half has become a leader in the squad and is a nightmare customer for any fringe defence.  Care sets the pace of the game for the Londoners, so when he's firing on all cylinders, Quins are just simply too quick for other sides to live with.  Still has a questionable haircut.

One to Watch: Charlie Walker.  The arrival of Yarde will be worth a watch, but Walker is still a ludicrously exciting talent and the youngster will be hoping for opportunities to make his mark this year.  With Tikourotuma joining, those chances may be hard to come by, but there are very few in the league who possess his pace off the mark or balance when at full speed.  He needs to take every opportunity he gets with both hands.

Prediction: 5th.  It's certainly not a case of Quins getting any worse, but I just don't think they have made as many improvements as the sides around them.  They'll be a threat to any side and I can't wait to see them hit their straps, but do they have the depth to maintain that throughout the season, when hammered by international call-ups?

Leicester Tigers

Coach: Richard Cockerill.  Nobody likes him (except Leicester fans), and he doesn't care.  And rightly so.  I think he's brilliant – he calls a spade a spade, and avoids all that PR clap-trap like the plague.  He's a hard-nosed individual, sure, but he's shown over the years that he knows how to put together sides that can play a bit of rugby and score some tries too.  He'll be hoping to have his full arsenal available this year, though, after a year without some big name players. 

Captain: Ed Slater.  Leicester have a proud tradition of quality second rows, and Slater fits the mould perfectly.  A quieter figure off the field, the big lock is a colossus on it – he's one of the best tight-five ball carriers in the league and has a surprising turn of pace considering he has inherited his jaw from Desperate Dan.  He could be a fixture as captain for years to come.

What happened last year? Unacceptable by Leicester's standards – making the knockout stages of both the league and the Heineken Cup, but picking up no silverware.  In fact, it was the first time a Premiership final had been contested without the Tigers for 10 years.  Granted, they were always playing catch up after suffering the worst injury crisis in recent memory, but at times their game was stodgy and uncoordinated it was hard to believe that this was a side that topped the try scoring charts for three of the previous four years.

How do they look this year? A large number of established signings and the raiding of the Treviso side when it emerged they may leave the Pro 12 have ensured that Leicester have added phenomenal depth to their squad this season, with Ghiraldini and Barbieri both capable of forcing their way into the first team and Freddie Burns an eye-catching acquisition at fly-half.  At full-strength, there don't seem to be many teams who can stand up to the East Midland outfit.  The arrival of Australian coach Phil Blake is also a shrewd move as Cockerill attempts to plug what was an uncharacteristically leaky defence last season.

Players out: Dan Bowden (Japan/ Blues), Ryan Bower (Worcester Warriors), George Chuter (retired), Toby Flood (Toulouse), Rob Hawkins (Newcastle Falcons), Boris Stankovich (Newport-Gwent Dragons), Scott Steele (London Irish), Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs), Harry Wells (Bedford Blues).

Players in: Seremaia Bai (Castres), Robert Barbieri (Treviso), Freddie Burns (Gloucester), Leonardo Ghiraldini (Treviso), Christian Loamanu (Treviso), Laurence Pearce (Rotherham), Michele Rizzo (Treviso), Aniseko Sio, Brad Thorn (Highlanders).

Key Player: Tom Croft.  He's barely played any rugby over the last two seasons due to neck and knee injuries – aside from a Lions tour, of course.  But he should be fresh and ready to kick on now – he is a dominant force in the lineout and, despite the strong displays of Jamie Gibson, there are few players capable of ripping sides apart in the wider channels like Croft does.  If he stays fit, it could be crucial to not just Leicester's aspirations, but his international career.

One to Watch: Freddie Burns.  The new boy endured a torrid time at Gloucester last season as he let the off-field transfer circus get the better of him, but behind a usually-dominant pack and with some of the most dangerous runners in the league outside of him, there is every opportunity for Burns to fulfil his potential this year.  That England 10 shirt is still reachable, but he needs to claim his spot at his new club first.  Keep an eye out for this talented youngster, Brad Thorn, as well.  Big things expected of him…

Prediction: 2nd (Runners Up).  Tigers won't take too kindly to being shunted out of their annual Twickenham soiree, and so I expect to see a big backlash this year.  Their squad looks well balanced and ridiculously well stocked – expect to see them challenging on centre stage again this year.


London Irish

Coach: Brian Smith.  The man worked wonders with a limited squad last year to make them both competitive and dangerous, but he'll be delighted he's been given a bit more ammunition this time around.  He knows what it takes to get Irish to succeed, having been coaching in the 'glory days' when they reached the Premiership Final in 2009.

Captain: George Skivington.  Any lock who's plied his trade at Wasps and Leicester is going to be worth reckoning with, and that's certainly the case with George Skivington.  He's a mobile second row but he's also a grafter through and through, getting stuck into the unsexy stuff and earning the respect of his teammates and fans (who are used to watching a sexy brand of rugby) in the process.

What happened last year? It was safety for Irish, but it wasn't always comfortable, as they struggled to cope with a max exodus of players.  However, Smith stripped the gameplan to its barebones and Irish became a physical and intelligent side, capable of giving anyone a game.  I tipped them to go down but – all credit to them – they proved me wrong with some gutsy displays and some high-quality rugby to guarantee Premiership Rugby for another season.

How do they look this year? Smith has made the most of having a bit more cash to splash by making some quality signings that are sure to make a difference – especially to the pack, where talented and experienced individuals such as Tom Court, Danny Leo, Luke Narraway and Tom Guest will all add some serious grunt.  They won't be challenging for the Top 6 just yet, but they'll certainly show some improvement.

Players out: Declan Danaher (retired), Bryn Evans (Biarritz), Ian Gough (Dragons), Chris Hala'ufia (Scarlets), Ian Humphreys (Ulster), James O'Connor (Toulon), Setaimata Sa (Hull FC), Sailosi Tagicakibau (London Wasps) Marland Yarde (Harlequins)

Players in: Tom Court (Ulster), Sean Cox (Edinburgh), Geoff Cross (Glasgow Warriors), Connor Gilsenan (Connacht), Eoin Griffin (Connacht), Tom Guest (Harlequins), Dan Leo (Perpignan), Luke Narraway (Perpignan), Chris Noakes (Blues), James Short (Saracens) Scott Steele (Leicester Tigers).

Key Player: Tom Guest.  I was always a fan of Tom Guest, but he was a victim of his own versatility – fitting in at 6 or 8 – and the fact that Quins had the excellent Maurie Fa'asavalu and Nick Easter in both spots.  But Guest is a true athlete who can run sides off the park – beating the opposition to the breakdown and running intelligent support lines.  He's a talented footballer and he deserves to get a regular first team spot at Irish, where he could quickly become a leader within the pack.

One to Watch: Chris Noakes.  He's no spring chicken, but he could well end up as the surprise package for Irish fans.  He was a key player for the Blues in 2013, harnessing and unleashing a talented backline with relentless precision, before a long term injury cut his season short and impacted his chances in 2014.  Now back at full fitness, Noakes can be a key figure for Irish as he balances a smart tactical game and an adventurous attacking mindset behind a solid pack.

Prediction: 8th.  It won't be a miracle turnaround for Irish, but a decent season of mid-table obscurity.  They will cause some upsets along the way, but they don't yet have the depth to be consistently challenging the top sides – but the Madejski Stadium will remain a tough place to travel to for visiting teams and a great place for beers and craic for the fans.

RuckedOver's Big Premiership Preview - Part 1

Like an overweight 40-year-old dragging their backside off to the park for a pre-season after 3 months of indulgence, RuckedOver has finally awoken from its summer slumber just in time for a new season of Premiership Rugby.  And, to be especially boring and to sound like everyone else, this season looks like being the tightest one yet, with at least 6 sides capable of winning the tournament and another four capable of plunging into the depths of the Championship.

Undeterred, I'll nail my colours to the mast and kick off my predictions for this season with an outlook for Bath, Exeter and Gloucester for the coming season.  Disclaimer – I am occasionally almost never wrong.

Bath

Coach: Mike Ford.  The ex-England defence coach is a hard task master but he oversaw a welcome transition from a turgid kick-chase gameplan to a much more palatable (and fast-paced) attacking mind-set.  All helped by the fact that he had Ford Jnr pulling the strings with aplomb, of course.

Captain: Stuart Hooper. Captaincy seemed to do wonders for the big second row as he stepped up from being merely dependable, to often dominant.  A glowering physical presence, he's the ideal man to lend to steal to a slick Bath side.

What happened last year? It was another year of last-minute agony for the Rec faithful – in 2013, they were pipped to a Heineken Cup spot, whilst last year they had a playoff spot stolen from them by Quins in the last game of the season.  A spot they'd occupied for 95% of the season.  But it still represented an improvement, despite the disappointment, and the expansion of their game plan left plenty of ground for encouragement looking forward.

How do they look this year? The young side will be all the stronger for the heartbreak of last season, but it is one arrival in particular which catches the eye – Sam Burgess from NRL side, the Rabbitohs.  Elsewhere, the team is – in the main – unchanged, with youngsters like Ollie Devoto and Anthony Watson both stepping up to fill the shoes of departing stalwarts like Nick Abendanon and Tom Biggs.

Players out: Nick Abendanon (Clermont Auvergne), Charlie Beech (Leeds Carnegie), Tom Biggs (Worcester Warriors), Ryan Caldwell (Exeter Chiefs), Eusebio Guiñazu (Munster), Tom Heathcote (Edinburgh), Nick Koster (Bristol), Anthony Perenise (Bristol)

Players in: Luke Arscott (Exeter Chiefs), Nicholas Auterac (Saracens), Sam Burgess (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Grant Shiells (Newcastle Falcons), Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)

Key Player: Dave Attwood.  Three years ago we saw a man bristling with potential, but for two years that talent was largely unfulfilled.  But after a 2013-14 that saw the powerful second row smash his way back into the England set up, he's emerged as a real driving force behind the Bath pack.  Hugely physical and impressively mobile, he's always on the front-line and is surely a future club captain.

One to Watch: Sam Burgess.  Who else?  Slammin' Sammy Burgess is a Rugby League institution, but there are plenty of great rugby league players who have failed to adapt to Union.  It looks like he'll be playing inside centre – coincidently the one gaping hole in the England backline – so it will be fascinating to see how quickly he can find his feet.  Long term, I think he could be a helluva number 8, but with unbelievable power and sublime offloading ability, that huge Burgess-shaped hole in Bruce Craig's wallet will be worth every last penny – if he fulfils that potential.

Prediction: 4th (semi-finals). Another season will see this talented side grow together, and I can see them rudely barging their way into that 'members-only' Top 4.  There's still some concern over their set-piece, however…
 

Exeter Chiefs

Coach: Rob Baxter. Everybody's favourite uncle, Rob Baxter is Chiefs through-and-through, and is one of the few coaches liked and respected by fans of all clubs.  Although we are comparing him to pantomime villains such as Richard Cockerill, Jim Mallinder and Steve Diamond.  Has the uncanny knack of turning talent into ability, and he will need to wield his magic coaching wand again this year.

Captain: Dean Mumm.  The ex-Waratah and Wallaby is another superbly talented second row in the Premiership, and has been one of the most eye-catching performers for the Chiefs with wonderful ball-carrying ability and deft hands for a big man.  The Chiefs need him to shake off his injury concerns as soon as possible.

What happened last year? After year-upon-year improvement, it was perhaps inevitable that eventually there was going to be stalling of the Exeter engine.  After two seasons of adventure in Europe's Premier Competition, the Chiefs found themselves 'languishing' in the no-man's land of 8th place suffering, surprisingly, from a bout of inconsistency.

How do they look this year? If I was a Chiefs fan, I would be concerned about the Exeter engine going into reverse.  Some big names have left the club – Jason Shoemark and Hoani Tui, for example – but not many big names have been bought in; it's not Baxter's style.  He wants to trust the youth of Henry Slade and Sam Hill and his other dedicated troops, but teams no longer underestimate Exeter and I do think at some point they will need to inject a little bit of star quality.

Players out: Luke Arscott (Bath), Lloyd Fairbrother (Newport Gwent Dragons), Tom Cowan-Dickie (Plymouth), James Hank (retired), Jason Shoemark (Hawke's Bay), Chris Whitehead (retired), Romana Graham (La Rochelle), Hoani Tui (Lyon), Tom Hayes (retired), Craig Mitchell (Cardiff Blues), James Phillips (London Scottish)

Players in: Chrysander Botha (Golden Lions), Ryan Caldwell (Bath), Adam Hughes (Bristol), Elvis Taione (Jersey), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers), Mitch Lees (London Welsh), Tomas Francis (London Scottish), Moray Low (Glasgow)

Key Player: Dave Ewers.  The young number 8 will be kept on his toes by the arrival of Anglo-Kiwi and England international Thomas Waldrom, but I suspect it will only drive him to greater heights – although he tailed off slightly towards the end of last season.  A reassuringly old-school number 8, his ability to smash through tackles in close quarters is what sets the platform for the Chief's attacks.

One to Watch: Henry Slade.  Sam Hill, the inside centre, is also in for a big season, but he has the most boring name in the Premiership, so I've picked out Slade.  The young fly half slotted in incredibly smoothly when called upon last season and is a ridiculously cool customer – not even ruffled by the prospect of facing up against Jonny Wilkinson in last year's Heineken Cup or the idea of tackling Rene Ranger with his face when turning out for England against the Baa-baas.  A good showing this year could see him as a wild-card for the England 10 shirt.  Also keep an eye out for the Sireli Naqelevuki experiment – the gargantuan centre may be having a run in the back row this season.

Prediction: 9th.  Plenty of people have written off the Chiefs before and been forced to choke on their words, but I can't see them challenging for the top 6 with the squad they have.  They have a lot of talented youngsters on their books, of course, but it's asking an awful lot for them to bind the team together and to take it forward at this stage.



Gloucester Rugby

Coach: David Humphreys. Pinched from Ulster, where he turned the province from 'that other Irish side' to Heineken Cup contenders, he is a canny coach who knows how to get sides playing hard, aggressive rugby with a fast attack, which is exactly what Gloucester need.  He takes over from Nigel Davies as part of an almost complete coaching overhaul.

Captain: Billy Twelvetrees. The England centre quickly established himself as a leader in the Gloucester ranks as he tried to stem the flow of points that the Cherry and Whites were conceding, but his efforts were largely in vain as the pack were, by and large, marched all over the park on a weekly basis.  A wonderfully creative player, he needs to learn consistency to be an effective captain and understand he doesn't need to make the miracle pass every time he has the ball.

What happened last year?  Pants would be an understatement.  With such wonderfully talented players, few expected to see the West Country outfit languishing towards the bottom of the table and finishing in 9th.  They weren't helped by the fact that key-playmaker Freddie Burns had a rotten run of form as he pondered a transfer to Leicester, and that the tight five were largely used as doormats by the opposition fatties.

How do they look this year? Very, very different.  Following on from Bath last year, they are the club to take the 'complete overhaul' approach.  Their signings looks fantastic – Afoa, Hibbard and Palmer will add plenty of much needed steel and James Hook is like-for-like, but experienced, replacement for Burns at 10.  The loss of Qera is disappointing, but Gloucester do have the quality to make up for it.  But will they gel in time?

Players out: Johnny Bentley (Jersey), Freddie Burns (Leicester Tigers), Matt Cox (Worcester Warriors), Huia Edmonds (Narbonne), Daniel George (Worcester Warriors), Rupert Harden (Treviso), Andrew Hazell (retired), Tom Heard (Plymouth), Will James (retired), Tavis Knoyle (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Mills (Worcester Warriors), Tim Taylor (retired), Mike Tindall (retired), Thomas Young (Wasps)

Players in: John Afoa (Ulster), Mark Atkinson (Bedford Blues), Mariano Galarza (Worcester Warriors), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Tom Isaacs (Ospreys), Aleki Lutui (Edinburgh), Steve McColl (Leeds Carnegie), Tom Palmer (London Wasps), Jacob Rowan (Leeds Carnegie), Aled Thomas (Scarlets), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh)

Key Player: Richard Hibbard. He may look like the kind of man who's "come to fix your fridge" in a (very) low budget 70's grumble-flick, but Hibbard is exactly what Gloucester need in the front row.  One of the toughest blokes playing the game, he will refuse to take a backward step when faced with the physical stuff and will hopefully become a foundation for the building of the kind of big, nasty pack that the Shed are used to watching.

One to Watch: Elliot Stooke. A rare bright-light of last season and already a favourite amongst 'shed-heads', Stooke strikes me as a classic 'old-school' second row.  The kind that thinks side-stepping is for sissies and that any forward who kicks should be dismembered immediately.  The youngster has no fear of the physical demands of the Premiership and Gloucester will need him to step up and become a tower in this new-look, physical pack.

Prediction: 6th.  Like Bath last season, I can see them pushing very hard for a Top 4 spot, especially with the quality they have available.  But they will take time to gel and adapt to each other and a new coach's methods, and so I think they'll fall just short – one thing is for sure though, it will be an improvement on last season.

 @RuckedOver