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| IMAGE VIA GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP RUGBY |
After regaining the title last season, Saracens will once again be the team to beat in the newly titled Gallagher Premiership Rugby season.
It’ll likely be the same teams fighting for the title in this new 2018/19 season, but there are things to look forward to as Harlequins and Northampton rip up the book and begin a new era under new Head’s and Director’s of Rugby with former England defence coach Paul Gustard takes over the quins while former Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has taken control of the Saints.
Now looks ahead to what could be the most competitive Premiership Rugby season yet.
Bath Rugby
Director of Rugby – Todd Blackadder
Last Season – Sixth
This season has to be crush time for Blackadder at Bath and as a fan of the club, they need to do better especially with their discipline and stop blowing hot and cold because that doesn’t help so consistently.
What also doesn’t help is losing a club legend like Matt Banahan to our closest rivals Gloucester, but the signing of Joe Cokanasiga could be a decent replacement out on the wing to the point we’ll lose him to England during the Autumn Internationals and possibly get injured.
Elsewhere, the inclusion of Welsh rugby legend Jamie Roberts will add experience in attack and control the game from the centre. Finally, after his loan spell at Toulon Dave Attwood returns home in the blue, black and white and the forward's leadership, lineout work and physicality giving the Rec a needed boost.
Prediction – Fifth
Bristol Bears
Head Coach – Pat Lam
Last Season – Championship Champions
Bristol have been a yo-yo team along with London Irish, but now they have the name Bears added this season will be different.
What also helps is Lam have some serious experience players like Steven Luatua, Ian Madigan and Jordan Craine, now add George Smith, Charles Piutua and John Afoa Bristol has got a seriously strong squad.
This time around the Bears could break their habit and Lam is a talented coach.
Prediction – 11th
Exeter Chiefs
Director of Rugby – Rob Baxter
Last Season – Runners-Up
Despite topping the table at the end of the regular season, Chief finished runners-up last season and top four will be the aim again. However, Baxter should be looking to make improvements in the Champions Cup.
Meanwhile, Exeter haven’t made many changes to its tight-knit, settle squad with Alex Cuthbert got the chance to regain his career after falling off the past couple of years and Baxter is the ideal coach to get him back on track.
Prediction – Third (Semi-Finalist)
Gloucester Rugby
Director of Rugby – David Humphreys
Last Season – Seventh
Last season we saw impressive things from Gloucester and head coach Johan Ackermann and I believe they should be looking at what Newcastle did and aim for the top four.
Ackermann has been looking at his native country of South Africa to bring into his squad with lock Franco Mostert as well as the bonus of England international Danny Cipriani and dominate winger Banahan.
If they can gel quickly this could be a dangerous and exciting team to watch.
Prediction – Fourth (Semi-Finalist)
Harlequins
Head of Rugby – Paul Gustard
Last Season – 10th
Gustard will add some steal to the Quins but this will be a big step up for the former England defence coach but one I’m hoping he succeeds.
When it comes to signings all English eyes will be on Nathan Earle having left Saracens this will finally be his chance to showcase the skills that first caught my eye a couple of years ago when playing for England U20. Joining him will be Bath duo Nick Auterac and Ben Tapuai as well as lock Matt Symons.
Predictions – 10th
Leicester Tigers
Head Coach – Matt O’Connor
Last Season – Fifth
England’s biggest club missed out on the play-offs for the first time in their history and it won’t be easy to see them get back in.
The squad is talented with England internationals George Ford, Ben Youngs, Manu Tuilagi and Johnny May and with new signings, David Denton and Will Spencer from Worcester could give the back row some improvements.
Then Kyle Eastmond will reteam with his former Bath fly-half and maybe recapture the magic from a few years ago that made them unplayable at times and the duo coder will be looking to revamp his career.
Prediction – Sixth
Newcastle Falcons
Director of Rugby – Dean Richards
Last Season – Fourth
The Falcons were the rugby fairytale story last season deserving their fourth league place and Champions Cup inclusion.
However, I can’t see lightning striking twice and haven’t added much depth when it comes but experience Premiership forward Logovi’I Mulipola and Jonny Williams from London Irish will give the team a fresh feel.
Prediction – Seventh
Northampton Saints
Director of Rugby – Chris Boyd
Last Season – Ninth
New leader Boyd brings a new era at Franklins Gardens but fans will have to be patient, which I’m sure they’ll understand. However it’ll be exciting to watch and in James Haskell, Boyd has an experienced premiership and international to lead his forwards by tackling everything and bring some fun for the fans.
After losing Wales flying winger George North, he was replaced by what we call a “big fucker” in the form of 19 stone Australian Tagele Naiyaravoro and here’s hoping he dominates the wing.
Meanwhile, in Dan Bigger they’ve got a new fly-half pulling the strings in the midfield and if it all clicks their serious play-off dark horses.
Prediction – Eighth
Sale Sharks
Director of Rugby – Steve Diamond
Last Season – Eighth
I’m sure the signing of Chris Ashton brought excitement to the AJ Bell stadium, but after stupidly getting himself suspended and Faf de Klerk missing for international duty the early part of the season could be difficult.
However, the squad is still full of talent with the Curry twins, Josh Beaumont and Denny Solomona.
Plenty of people are predicting they could do a Newcastle this season, however, I think with the absence of their two biggest and important players it’ll be an uphill battle to get into the top four.
Prediction – Ninth
Saracens
Director of Rugby – Mark McCall
Last Season – Champions
Saracens are the best club team in England and after their infamous dip in form last season it seemingly made them even better and will be the safe bet for back-to-back titles.
The return of David Strettle will be a boost on the wing while Alex Lewington is coming from London Irish to make a name for himself and hopefully get an England call-up.
Prediction – First (Champions)
Wasps
Director of Rugby – Dai Young
Last Season – Third (Semi-Finalist)
The injury to Jimmy Gopperth has been a major setback for Young and his Wasp side in the 10 and 12 positions so it’s down to new signing Lima Sopoaga to kick the points.
England flanker Brad Shields will have to make an impact to show England fans why he was picked to join the squad for the tour of South Africa over other flankers *cough* Don Armand *cough*.
Prediction – Second (Runners-Up)
Worcester Warriors
Director of Rugby – Alan Solomons
Last Season – 11th
It doesn’t look good for Worcester with their only aim being to survive but it doesn’t look good.
On the pitch the Warriors have a new coaching set-up led by Solomons and there’s isn’t much squad depth with 11 new players but 15 left at the end of last season and the club has off the field issues too.
Then their only star player Ben Te’o is out injured again.
Unless they can pull off some early shock results then there won’t be any chance there Premiership stay will come to an end.
Prediction – 12th (Relegation)
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