Aviva Premiership 2016-17 Season Preview Part Three

Image via Steve Bardens/Getty Images Europe

For the past two days of my Aviva Premiership 2016-17 season preview, on Monday focused on Bath Rugby, Bristol Rugby and Exeter Chiefs in part one and then yesterday in part two focused on Gloucester Rugby, Harlequins and Leicester Tigers.

In part three will be focusing on another three clubs and they include Newcastle Falcons, Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks.

Newcastle Falcons

IMAGE VIA NEWCASTLE FALCONS

Last Season – 11th
DoR/Head Coach – Dean Richards
Captain – Will Welch
Signing In – Joshua Chisanga (Kenya Sevens); Vereniki Goneva (Leicester Tigers); Sam Lockwood (Jersey); Sam Egerton (England Sevens); Harrison Orr (Ealing Trailfinders); Joel Hodgson (Yorkshire Carnegie); Ben Sowrey (Worcester Warriors); Evan Olmstead (London Scottish) David Tameilau (San Francisco Rush); Nick Civetta (RC I Medicei); Andrew Davidson (Glasgow Hawks); Kyle Cooper (Sharks); Tyrone Holmes (Glasgow Warriors); Opeti Fonua (Leicester Tigers).
Signing Out – George McGuigan (Leicester Tigers); Richard Mayhew (Yorkshire Carnegie); Joshua Furno (Zebre); Kensuke Hatakeyama (Suntory Sungoliath); Giovanbattista Venditti (Zebre); Kane Thompson (Manawatu); Eric Fry (Sacramento Express); Ruki Tipuna (Bay of Plenty); Jamie Booth (Manawatu); Michael Cusack (Yorkshire Carnegie); Alesana Tuilagi (released); Anitelea Tuilagi (released); Todd Clever (released); Andy Goode (retired); Scott MacLeod (retired); Gonzalo Tiesi (retired); Rob Hawkins (retired).
Player(s) to Watch – Vereniki Goneva, Marcus Watson & Sinoti Sinoti – These three players will be key for Newcastle having a chance to avoid relegation. The signing of Goneva, if he stays fit, shows the Falcons want to move up the table and the pace of New-Zealand born winger Sinoti and Olympic silver medallist Watson will need to bring tries.
Prediction – 12th (Relegated) – Even though Richards has done miracles at Kingston Park and making some sort of fortress, but with the likes of Worcester and Bristol and maybe Gloucester this could be the time Newcastle goes down

Northampton Saints

IMAGE VIA NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Last Season – Fifth
DoR/Head Coach – Jim Mallinder
Captain – Tom Wood
Signing In – Louis Picamoles (Toulouse); Campese Ma'afu (Provence); Charlie Clare (Bedford Blues); Nic Groom (Stormers); Juan Pablo Estelles (Club Atletico del Rosario).
Signing Out – Matt Williams (Worcester Warriors); Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (London Irish); Patrick Howard (Dragons); Kahn Fotuali'i (Bath), Jon Fisher (Bristol); Alex Corbisiero (sabbatical).
Player(s) to Watch – Louis Picamoles & Harry Mallinder – Picamoles could be seen as the signing of the season and if the big French number eight stays fit he’ll dominate the set piece. Mallinder is set to improve from his debut season and should be a part of the starting 15 it all depends on what’s his best position.
Prediction – Fifth – The signing of Picamoles and the fact they’ve kept their squad together will make Saints playoff wildcards and they’ll be no surprise if they finished fourth.

Sale Sharks

IMAGE VIA SALE SHARKS

Last Season – Sixth
DoR/Head Coach – Steve Diamond
Captain – Josh Beaumont
Signing In – Rob Webber (Bath); Laurence Pearce (Leicester Tigers); Kieran Longbottom (Saracens); Josh Charnley (Wigan Warriors); AJ MacGinty (Connacht); Dan Mugford (Nottingham); Mike Phillips (Racing 92); Halani Aulika (London Irish), Lou Reed (Cardiff Blues); Byron McGuigan (Exeter Chiefs); Curtis Langdon (London Irish).
Signing Out – Vadim Cobilas (Bordeaux Begles); Tommy Taylor (Wasps); Danny Cipriani (Wasps); Tom Brady (Leicester Tigers); Phil Mackenzie (San Diego Breakers); Nick Macleod (Dragons); Joe Ford (Yorkshire Carnegie); Viliami Fihaki (Edinburgh Rugby); Chris Cusiter (retired); Mark Easter (retired).
Player(s) to Watch – Josh Beaumont & Sam James – This is a big year for the two young English players with Beaumont so close to getting into Eddie Jones’ side, but faces a battle with Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes, but hopefully showing his leadership skills could play in his favour. Meanwhile, James had an impressive breakthrough season and, with Danny Cipriani leaving, James will be set to be the star fly-half.
Prediction – Eighth – Because they’ve lost the likes of Cipriani, Tommy Taylor and Tom Brady the standards previously set at Sale will have dipped, however, they still have plenty of quality moving forward and with Diamond still in charge the Sharks could still compete for a Champions Cup place.