Aviva Premiership 2016-17 Season Preview Part Two

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Yesterday I posted part one of my Aviva Premiership 2016/17 season preview focusing on Bath Rugby, Bristol Rugby and Exeter Chiefs.

Part two focuses on three more teams – Gloucester Rugby, Harlequins and Leicester Tigers.

Gloucester Rugby

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Last Season – Eighth

DoR/Head Coach – David Humphries

Captain – Greig Laidlaw

Signing In –Matt Scott (Edinburgh); Motu Matu'u (Hurricanes); Josh Hohneck (Highlanders); Tom Denton (from Leinster); Andy Symons (Worcester Warriors); Cameron Orr (Greater Sydney Rams); Dan Thomas (promoted from academy); Ollie Thorley (promoted from academy); Lewis Ludlow (promoted from academy).

Signing Out - Elliott Stooke (Bath); Steve McColl (Yorkshire Carnegie); Luke Cole (Rotherham Titans); Tom Hicks (Rotherham Titans); James Gibbons (Ealing Trailfinders); Bill Meakes (Western Force); Steph Reynolds (released); Dan Murphy (released); Rob Cook (retired); Nick Wood (retired).

Player(s) to Watch – Ben Morgan – This is a huge season for the ball-carrying number 8 after losing his English place to Billy Vunipola before the World Cup and now as a battle to get selected with Nathan Hughes eligible to play for England. This could give Morgan the ambition to play his best rugby.

Prediction – Ninth – Gloucester have been a club of underachievers for years and I don’t think they’ve strengthened enough unlike their rivals. So they’ll be in a relegation battle instead of a playoff battle.

Harlequins

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Last Season – Seventh

DoR/Head Coach – John Kingston

Captain – Danny Care

Signing In – Charlie Mulchrone (Worcester Warriors); Ruaridh Jackson (Wasps); Aaron Morris (Saracens); Mark Reddish (Highlanders); George Naoupu (Connacht); Cameron Holstein (Pau).

Signing Out – Kieran Treadwell (Ulster); Tito Tebaldi (Benetton Treviso); Ben Botica (Montpellier); Beau Robinson (released); Nick Easter (retired).

Player(s) to Watch – Kyle Sinckler, Ruariah Jackson & Aaron Morris – When it comes to Sinckler, the powerhouse prop is firmly on Eddie Jones’ radar and will be battling fellow teammate Joe Marler. First England cap is coming soon. Jackson will finally be able to get some playing time and be an excellent back-up for talisman Nick Evans. Meanwhile, young England full-back Morris finally gets a chance to shine at Kingsholm.

Prediction – Seventh – It’s hard to predict how Quins will play under Kingston after years with Conor O’Shea and Care’s captaincy will be important, but they should be competing for Champions Cup place with Bath.

Leicester Tigers

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Last Season – Fourth

DoR/Head Coach – Richard Cockerill

Captain – Tom Youngs

Signing In – Matt Toomua (Brumbies); JP Pietersen (Sharks); Tom Brady (Sale Sharks); George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons); Pat Cilliers (Montpellier), Luke Hamilton (Agen); Ellis Genge (Bristol).

Signing Out – Leonardo Ghiraldini (Toulouse); Tommy Bell (London Irish); Laurence Pearce (Sale Sharks), Vereniki Goneva (Newcastle Falcons); Sebastian De Chaves (London Irish); Michael van Vuuren (to Bath); George Tresidder (Rotherham Titans); Jordan Crane (Bristol), Tiziano Pasquali (Benetton Treviso); Matías Agüero (Provence); Christian Loamanu (Provence); Niall Morris (Leinster); Sam Yawayawa (Nottingham); Opeti Fonua (Newcastle Falcons); Miles Benjamin (retired); Seremaia Bai (retired); Jean de Villiers (retired/released).

Player(s) to Watch – Manu Tuilagi, Matt Toomua & Harry Thacker – Seeing Toomua and Tuilagi on the teamsheet will put fear into their opponents and will dominate the midfield, expect a lot of tries assisted and scored by these two. Thacker isn’t your normal hooker but adds something different to the front three and it won’t be too long until he has his first England cap.

Prediction – Third – With the likes of Toomua, Pietersen and Brady joining an already solid attacking backline. The East Midlands giants will be one of two clubs closing the gap to Saracens.