Team for Toulon named

Tigers head to Toulon this weekend looking to cause a major upset against the defending double European Champions in their own backyard.  Richard Cockerill has made three changes to the side that won at Welford Road on Sunday whilst Bernard Laporte, his Toulon counterpart, has reacted to Castrogiovanni's outburst by dropping the combustible Italian.

All three changes for Leicester come to the pack that laid last weekend's winning foundation.  In the front row Tom Youngs swops places with Italian international Leonardo Ghiraldini; at lock Graham Kitchener misses out injured giving Geoff Parling his first start since September; in the back row Robert Barbieri starts only his 4th game for the club as Jordan Crane is benched.

This means that Ben Youngs and Owen Williams continue at half back, with Matt Smith staying in the midfield and Goneva on the wing.  The back line is rounded out with Allen at centre, Blaine Scully on the wing and Mat Tait looking to match the performance of his last visit to Toulon from full back.

The bench sees a 6-2 forwards-backs split to accommodate the return to fitness of Tom Croft.  The Lion joins Tom Youngs, Sebastian de Chaves & Jordan Crane as additions to the bench whilst Miles Benjamin misses out.  Freddie Burns & Sam Harrison provide cover for the backs.

Toulon have reacted to their defeat by also making three changes.  Out go Castrogiovanni, Australian wing Drew Mitchell & Georgian flanker Mamuka Gorgodze.  In comes Leigh Halfpenny, South African World Cup winner Juan Smith and young Georgian tyro Levan Chilachava.  Former Bath man Michael Claassens comes onto the bench for Eric Esconde.

Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Matt Smith
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Owen Williams
9 Ben Youngs (c)
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Dan Cole
4 Brad Thorn
5 Geoff Parling
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Robert Barbieri

Replacements
16 Tom Youngs
17 Michele Rizzo
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Sebastian de Chaves
20 Jordan Crane
21 Tom Croft
22 Sam Harrison
23 Freddie Burns

RC Toulon:
15 Leigh Halfpenny
14 Delon Armitage
13 Mathieu Bastareaud
12 Maxime Mermoz
11 Bryan Habana
10 Nicolas Sanchez
9 Sebastien Tillous-Borde
1 Alexandre Menini
2 Guilhem Guirado
3 Levan Chilachava
4 Bakkies Botha
5 Ali Williams
6 Juan Smith
7 Steffon Armitage
8 Chris Masoe (c)

Replacements
16 Jean-Charles Orioli
17 Florian Fresia
18 Carl Hayman
19 Mamuka Gorgodze
20 James O'Connor
21 Jocelino Suta
22 Michael Claassens
23 Romain Taofifenua

Irish side named as Injury curse stirkes again

Tigers' injury curse has struck again with Logo Mulipola, Geoff Parling, Tom Youngs and Niall Morris all falling victim.  Tom Youngs is out until Christmas with a shoulder injury, Niall Morris will miss 6 weeks with a knee injury whilst Geoff Parling is out for an indeterminate amount of time following repeated concussions.  Mulipola was seen limping off after 50 minutes last week but his injury and its extent have been kept under wraps by the club.

But there is some positive news at last.

After serving an 8 week stand down period from August 1st to allow for an injury dispensation signing Miles Benjamin is available again.  The electric winger scored 5 times in 10 outings last season to give him the second best strike rate in the current squad behind only Vereniki Goneva.

Also returning is Californian winger Blaine Scully after an unknown injury ruled him out for the trips to Exeter and Bath.

The two wingers availability sees Goneva shift into the centres to cover for the withdrawn Manu Tuilagi.  Rumours surfaced last Friday that Tuilagi would not be fit to face Bath but now it seems the "niggle" has dragged on for a second week at least.  Goneva's last outings in the centre was the trip to the Madejski in February last year.

The injury crisis has left the pack decimated.  Missing are Marcos Ayerza, Michele Rizzo, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Logo Mulipola, Louis Deacon, Geoff Parling, Brad Thorn, Ed Slater, Tom Croft and Pablo Matera.  That's not just a decent pack but a world class bench spare as well.

That leaves Tigers relying on young props Tom Bristow and Fraser Balmain.  Bristow starts his first Premiership game for the club, though he did start 6 games for London Welsh in their previous Premiership season; Balmain is slightly more experienced with 8 Premiership starts including last season's home win against London Irish.

Parling's concussion problems give young South African Sebastian De Chaves another chance in the second row alongside Graham Kitchener.  De Chaves was impressive against Newcastle and deserved a start ahead of Parling regardless.  

The back row is still strong with Crane and Salvi first choice players.  Jamie Gibson provides decent cover as Croft returns from his major knee injury.

The injury crisis severely hampers Richard Cockerill's choice of bench players forcing him into a 6-2 forwards to backs split.  As well as the compulsory whole replacement front row Tigers have also named a lock, Harry Wells, and two number 8s, former rugby league man Laurence Pearce and Canadian-Italian Bob Barbieri.  The only backs on the bench are local duo Matt Smith and Sam Harrison.  

This means that both games at Welford Road this season have seen unusual bench selections with the Newcastle game seeing a 4-4 split between forwards and backs.

London Irish have a terrible record at Welford Road avoiding defeat just twice in 22 years, including the thrilling 24 all draw 3 years ago when Dan Bowden inspired Irish to two late tries to seal the draw.

The Exiles have won one lost two so far this season; an atrocious day with the boot from Juan Pablo Socino, who missed 6 of 7 kicks, helped them to overcome Newcastle at Kingston Park; Harlequins quick first half proved too much at the London Double header and Saracens snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a last play driving maul try from Billy Vunipola.

Irish make one change from that side as anatomically named Ofisa Treviranus drops out to be replaced by Scots international Kieran Low.  That see former Newcastle and Llanelli wing Andy Fenby retain the full backs jersey, with 2011 Premiership Final try scorer James Short on one wing and former Tigers and Nottingham wing Alex Lewington on the other.  

The centres see a classic bludgeon and rapier combo as the mercurial Shane Geraghty combines with former Macclesfield and Rotherham man Fergus Mulchrone.  Mulchrone is a ball of muscle with good instincts hones in the lower leagues.

Another ex-Tiger is scrum half Scott Steele, a summer signing who found his path blocked at Leicester by Ben Youngs and Sam Harrison.  He partners Chris Noakes a New Zealander with experience of Super Rugby.

The Exiles pack is a star studded 7 international affair, accidental Lion Tom Court joins Australian-English test cap David Paice and Halani Aulika in an all international front row.  The only uncapped man in the pack is yet another former Tiger George Skivington an uncompromising experienced warrior.  His second row partner is Jebb Sinclair, the Canadian's red card cost his nation a win over Scotland this summer, even worse for the big man was that the decision was atrocious given for little more than a hand off.

The back row sees the aforementioned Low join fellow Scots cap Blair Cowan and former Gloucester captain Luke Narraway in a speedy breakaway trio.

Tigers squad is down to its bear bones and faces a side growing in confidence.  The record defeat to Bath has hurt the side and supporters but they need to bounce back to limit the damage.  With a packed Welford Road and vociferous home support to please Tigers will hope to do just that.


Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Blaine Scully
13 Vereniki Goneva
12 Owen Williams
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs (c)
1 Tom Bristow
2 Leonardo Ghiraldini
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Sebastian De Chaves
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Jordan Crane
Replacements
16 Neil Briggs
17 Riccardo Brugnara
18 Tiziano Pasquali
19 Laurence Pearce
20 Robert Barbieri
21 Harry Wells
22 Sam Harrison
23 Matt Smith
 
London Irish: 
15 Andrew Fenby
14 Alex Lewington
13 Fergus Mulchrone
12 Shane Geraghty
11 James Short
10 Chris Noakes
9 Scott Steele
1 Tom Court
2 David Paice
3 Halani Aulika
4 George Skivington (c)
5 Jebb Sinclair
6 Kieran Low
7 Blair Cowan
8 Luke Narraway
 
Replacements: 
16 Gerard Ellis
17 Matt Parr
18 Leo Halavatau
19 Dan Leo
20 Tom Guest
21 Tomás O'Leary
22 Eamonn Sheridan
23 Topsy Ojo

Referee: Greg Garner
Touch Judges: Simon McConnell & Paul Burton
TMO: David Sainsbury.

5 changes as Tigers head to Sandy Park

Leicester Tigers welcome back British Lions duo Geoff Parling and Tom Youngs to the starting line up after the pair have recovered from minor knocks.  Also returning to the Tigers line up is Mat Tait, the 38 times England international, at full back and Anthony Allen to the centres.  Robert Barbieri makes his Premiership starting debut a week after his unusual control at the base of the ruck immediately endeared him to Tigers fans.

Niall Morris switches to the wing to make room for Tait, from last week's 23 Scully and Seremaia Bai miss out entirely with Matt Smith retaining his place on the bench.  Up front Ghiraldini drops to the bench where he joins Tiziano Pasquali and a first time in the match day squad for Riccardo Brugnara makes an all Italian replacement front row.  Brugnara and Pasquali impressed this Monday in the A league and deserve their place.

Tom Croft's much antcipated return is put off another week despite being named in the starting line up last time out.  In the back row Gibson continues at 6 with Crane dropping to the bench.

Exeter are coming off a 6 day turnaround but unsurprisingly keep the same XV that ravaged newly promoted London Welsh in Oxford.  That means an early encounter for Thomas Waldrom with his old mates.  Waldrom played 112 times for the Tigers and has won Premiership Player of the Season in the past.  He made an immediate impact for the Devonians touching down twice last weekend.

In the centres Exeter give youth its head by playing two 21 year olds; Henry Slade made his name at fly half  in England U-20's inaugural Junior World Cup win but now features at 13, Sam Hill was 12 in that final and stays at inside centre now.  The young pair will be a target for Manu Tuilagi, just 23 himself.

Exeter's captain so far this season has been local hooker Jack Yeandle.  Yeandle is originally a product of Crediton but cut his teeth with Doncaster before returning to Devon with his home town team.  He is joined in the front row by fellow battle hardened ex-Championship players Carl Rimmer, originally from Coventry but signed from Cornish Pirates, and Tomas Francis, 22, who joined this summer from London Scottish.

One change to the match day 23 sees Damian Welch come into the bench in place of Don Armand.

Tigers have played Exeter 9 times since their promotion in 2010 winning 6 and losing 3.  The league campaign has seen the same side win both fixtures in the season each time; Exeter won both games in 2011/12 with Tigers completing the double in the other 3 season.  

Saturday's referee is Irish Londoner J.P. Doyle.  Doyle has experience of this fixture after taking charge of the Tigers win in January 2011; Doyle has a reputation of letting the game flow but when he awards penalties he is not shy at waving cards about as Tigers found to their cost in last year's semi final. 

On average during last season's regular Premiership season the home side had to commit 40% more penalties than the away side before seeing a yellow card from Doyle; so Exeter's bumper 13,000 crowd at an expanded Sandy Park may well prove the decisive factor in what will be a tight game.

Leicester
15 Mat Tait
14 Niall Morris
13 Manu Tuilagi
12 Anthony Allen
11 Vereniki Goneva
10 Freddie Burns
9 Ben Youngs (c)
1 Logovi'i Mulipola
2 Tom Youngs
3 Fraser Balmain
4 Graham Kitchener
5 Geoff Parling
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Robert Barbieri
Replacements
16 Leonardo Ghiraldini
17 Riccardo Brugnara
18 Tiziano Pasquali
19 Sebastian De Chaves
20 Jordan Crane
21 David Mele
22 Owen Williams
23 Matt Smith
Exeter: 
15 Chrysander Botha
14 Ian Whitten
13 Henry Slade
12 Sam Hill
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Carl Rimmer
2 Jack Yeandle (c)
3 Tomas Francis
4 Mitch Lees
5 Ryan Caldwell
6 Dave Ewers
7 Ben White
8 Thomas Waldrom
Replacements: 
16 Elvis Taione
17 Ben Moon
18 Moray Low
19 Damian Welch
20 Kai Horstmann
21 Will Chudley
22 Ceri Sweeney
23 Jack Arnott

Referee: JP Doyle
Touch Judges: Paul Burton, Robin Goodliffe
TMO: Rowan Kitt

2014/15 Season Preview: Leicester

Leicester

Nickname: Tigers

Founded: 1880

Last Year: Losing Semi Finalists (3^rd in Prem, 74 points), Quarter Finals in Heineken Cup, Group Stage in Anglo-Welsh

Europe: Champions Cup

Director of Rugby: Richard Cockerill

Transfers:

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

Out: Toby Flood (Toulouse), Thomas Waldrom (Exeter), Steve Mafi (Western Force), Dan Bowden (Yamaha Jubilo then Auckland Blues), Boris Stankovich (Newport), Rob Hawkins (Newcastle), George Chuter (Retirement), Ryan Bower (Worcester), Scott Steele (London Irish), Joe Cain (Retirement), Michael Noone (Jersey), Jerome Schuster (Tarbes), Pasqualle Dunn (Doncaster RL), Lucas Guillaume (Unknown), Henry Purdy (Gloucester), Harry Rudkin (Loughborough Students)

Ins: 9

Outs: 16

Louis Deacon has already heralded this as the best Tigers squad he’s ever been a part of, and if we ever see the fully fit squad it will truly make the mouth water.

Last season Tigers missed the Premiership Final for the first time since 2005, suffering an agonising defeat at Northampton.  They went there because we missed the early season moves by Saracens and Northampton who failed to drift back to the pack as previous front runners have.  With the quality in those squads high another tight finish and record score needed for a home semi final is easily foreseeable.

For Tigers to beat one of them, or any other pretender, to a home semi final they will need to be more consistent before Christmas.  Our early season injuries will not help with that.  Benjamin is out by injury dispensation rules for a further 4 weeks; Camacho is still yet to make his debut a year after his signing; Adam Thompstone is out for 2 months with a hand injury; Pablo Matera has dislocated his shoulder in the Rugby Championship; Dan Cole is out until at least November with his new bionic neck; Michele Rizzo missed preseason with a knee injury and is not expected back for a few weeks; none of Tom Youngs, Louis Deacon or Christian Loamanu have featured in preseason but no injury news has been reported.

Phew.  Just as well we have such a large squad.

Tigers have boosted the squad with a whopping 8 internationals over the summer.  Italian duo Leo Ghiraldini and Bob Barbieri have caught the eye in pre-season whilst Seremai Bai and Brad Thorn have made all the right noises about becoming part of the squad.

Freddie Burns arrival will make the 10 shirt hotly contested and the uncertainty around the position could easily cause distractions and cost us games.  So far it seems like it will be the more free spirited risk taking rugby of Burns against the better kicking game and size of Williams, though it is unfair to stereotype either completely.  Burns can kick and Williams is more than capable of igniting the backline.

Over the course of the season this has all the hallmarks of a Goode v Humphreys or an Allen v Twelvetrees type selection debate that will run and run.

The first 6 league games will be crucial; a home semi final with require no more than 5 losses in the whole season and we face tricky trips to Exeter, Bath and Gloucester before our bogey fixture of Quins at home.

In December Tigers’ resources will be stretched to the limit as we face Toulon back to back just a week after England’s gluttonous 4 money spinning international friendly games before having to travel to Northampton for the final game before Christmas. 

The tricky spell then sees us travel to Sale and Harlequins with a home game against Bath in between before we face the final two rounds of Europe and a potentially campaign defining trip to Ravenhill.

The international periods have arguably fallen in our favour with winnable away trips to Welsh, Irish and Newcastle as well as 4 home games across the Autumn Internationals and 6 Nations.

The final stretch of the season sees us face Exeter at home, a trip to Saracens, London Welsh at home, a trip to Wycombe or possibly Coventry to face Wasps before an East Midlands derby to finish the season off.

The matches with Saracens and Northampton will either be full bloodied battle to gain a home semi final or damp squibs as the sides shadow box, desperate not to give away tactics for the play offs.

Potentially disrupting the end of the season will be Europe.  The new schedule is hardly fan friendly with the semi final just a fortnight after the quarters and the final just a fortnight after that.  Fantasising for a moment it is the London Welsh game sandwiched between Champions Cup semi and final.

I think that can best be described as a problem I would like to have.

Tigers First XV: Tait; Morris, Tuilagi, Allen, Goneva; Williams, B.Youngs; Ayerza, T.Youngs, Cole; Slater, Parling; Croft, Crane, Salvi.

2^nd XV: Scully; Loamanu, Smith, Bai, Benjamin; Burns, Mele; Rizzo, Ghiraldini, Mulipola; Thorn, Kitchener; Gibson, Barbieri, Matera.

3^rd XV: Hamilton; Camacho, Catchpole, Hepetema, Thompstone; Bryant, Harrison; Bristow, Briggs, Balmain; Deacon, De Chaves; Milne, Pearce , Owen.

Prediction: 2nd

2014/15 Season Preview: Harlequins

Harlequins

Founded: 1866

Years in Top Tier: 26

Last Year: 4^th in Prem (67 points), Heineken Cup group stage, Amlin Challenge Cup Semi Finals, Anglo Welsh Cup group stages

Europe: Champions Cup

Director of Rugby: Conor O’Shea

Transfers:

In: Marland Yarde (London Irish), Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Waikato Chiefs)

Out: Tom Guest (London Irish), Sam Smith (Worcester), Maurie Fa’asavalu (Oyonnax), Nick Kennedy (Retirement), Nick Mayhew (Unknown), Paul Sackey (Unknown), Tim Molenaar (London Welsh)

Ins: 2

Outs: 7

A poor 2013/14 by Quins recent standards has caused the Londoners to open up the cheque book for two of the most exciting signings in the league.

Marlon Yarde, son of the delightfully name Scotland (yes, really), needs no introduction.  He was in devastating form for England over the summer and has really kicked on to become England’s stand out wing. 

Asaeli Tikoirotuma is more of an unknown for most of us in Europe.  Joining from the Waikato Chiefs where he played wing for the 2013 Super Rugby winning side he has scored 13 tries in 40 starts for the New Zealanders and has represented Fiji 6 times, mainly at centre.  Like many Fijians he is quick, strong and elusive.  Let’s just hope he doesn’t have quite the same impact as Vereniki Goneva.

Together with Mike Brown they make the most fearsome back three in the Premiership.

Quins are losing Mo Fa’asavalu, the bruising Samoan flanker, but otherwise hold the squad together.  Last year’s loss of Ollie Kohn has still not adequately been replaced but Kyle Sinckler seems to have over taken Will Collier and specialist film maker Paul Doran-Jones at tighthead and has almost reached the standards set by James Johnson.

Beloved by the “national” London based dead tree press and the referees their style can be exhilarating when in full flow but there is a hint of a soft underbelly and a reliance on England players that will be missing for 14 odd weeks of the season.

Last year it took a lengthy winning run at the end of the season, complete with some incredible luck, to sneak 4^th place from Bath on the final day, with a tough run of fixtures from January to the end of the 6 Nations and the World Cup providing a bigger distraction than for most clubs I don’t think Quins will quiet be able to make the play offs this season.

Prediction: 5^th

2014/15 Season Preview: Sale

Sale

Nickname: Sharks

Founded: 1861

Years in Top Tier: 21

Last Year: 6^th in Prem (57 points), Amlin Challenge Cup Quarter Finals, Anglo Welsh Cup Group Stage

Europe: Champions Cup

Director of Rugby: Steve Diamond

Transfers:

In: Nathan Hines (Clermont), Chris Cuisiter (Glasgow), Alberto De Marchi (Treviso), Darren Fearn (Bedford), Luke McLean (Treviso), Magnus Lund (Biarritz), Shalva Mamukashvili (Armia-Georgia)

Out: Dwayne Peel (Bristol), Henry Thomas (Bath), James Gaskell (Wasps), Rob Miller (Wasps), Tom Holmes (Rotherham), Aston Croall (Blackheath), Tony Buckley (Kanturk), Krill Kulemin (Perpignan)

Ins: 7

Outs: 8

Sale were the surprise of last season finishing 6^th after barely avoiding relegation the season before.  The big news coming from Salford this season is a move to Saturday kick offs, in a the slightly odd 2pm slot rather than 3pm, which is great news for people who like their rugby in the day light and on the weekend.

Transfer wise Sale have been busy snaring 6 internationals plus Bedford’s highly regarded former Newcastle prop Darren Fearn.  Alberto De Marchi arrives from Treviso which will presumably signal Eifion Lewis-Roberts spending greater time on the tighthead side of the scrum.  In the engine room the quietly power Russian workhorse Kril Kulemin has been replaced by Wagga Wagga’s favourite Scotsman Nathan Hines. 

Magnus Lund returns from a 6 year spell at Biarritz, and if he can avoid the injuries that spoiled his final year he may well be the pick of the bunch.  Shalva Mamukashvili becomes the Premiership’s first Georgian following in footsteps of Moldovan Vadim Cobilas, Romanian Paulica Ion and a handful of Russian players in crossing the old Iron Curtain.

Sale’s season will mainly rest on the form of Danny Cipriani.  He is the sole play maker in the squad, were he to be injured Sale would have to rely on the more prosaic stylings of Nick Macleod.  Last year Cipriani was mostly excellent and a backs against the wall win at Bath pointed to the great team spirit, and sly scrum tactics, they posses.

Tuitupou & Leota provide plenty of impetus in the back line but not a huge amount of nous, whilst Viliami Fihaki impressed in patches last season and will look to replace Wasps bound James Gaskill at 8.

If Sale can win 4 out of their opening 6 league games they look set for European Champions Cup action once again, but a European pool containing Clermont, Munster and Saracens will drain the batteries of a small squad.

Prediction: 8^th

2014/15 Season Preview: London Welsh

London Welsh

Nickname: The Exiles

Founded: 1885

Years in Top Tier: 1

Last Year: Greene King IPA Championship Champions, British & Irish Cup group stage

Europe: Challenge Cup

Director of Rugby: Justin Burnell

Transfers:

In: Piri Weepu (Auckland Blues), Olly Barkley (Llanelli), Tim Molenaar (Harlequins), Dean Schofield (Worcester),Tristan Roberts (Bristol), Chris Elder (Plymouth Albion), Nick Reynolds (Llanelli), Ricky Reeves (Wasps), Taione Vea (Wasps), Shane Cahill (Cornish Pirates), Jack Gilding (Viadana), Nathan Taylor (Hartpury College), Jimmy Litchfield (Hartpury College), James Sandford (Cornish Pirates), Cameron Goodhue (Worcester), Paul Rowley (Plymouth Albion), Jesse Liston (Blackheath), Josh McNally (Henley), Koree Britton (Gloucester), Darren Waters (Newport), Lachlan McCaffrey (ACT Brumbies), Pablo Henn (Limoges), Eddie Aholelei (Melbourne Rebels), James Down (Cardiff Blues), Ben Cooper (Bedford)

Out: Mitch Lees (Exeter), Tyson Keats (Unknown), Peter Edwards (Llanelli), Sonny Parker (Retirement), Cai Griffiths (Ospreys), Billy Moss (Unknown), Paddy Ryan (Unknown), James Tideswell (Leeds), Joe Ajuwa (Rosslyn Park), Ollie Frost (Unknown), Toby L’Estrange (Unknown), Hudson Tonga’uiha (Unknown), Mike Denbee (Unknown), John Quill (Unknown), Rob Andrew (Unknown), Kevin Davis (Ealing), Ian Nimmo (Unknown)

Ins: 25

Outs: 18

Welsh bounced straight back to the Premiership, beating Bristol 48-28 on aggregate, becoming the 7^th team in 9 years to achieve that feat.  Playing again at the Kassam Stadium in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, this time they have not had to go through a damaging off season lawsuit.  Or at least not to gain promotion.

This is not the same Welsh side that graced the Premiership two seasons ago.  Lyn Jones has gone to Newport and been replaced by former Cardiff forwards coach Justin Burnell, his honest appraisals and no nonsense style has already garnered many fans and he is assisted by the ever popular Ollie Smith.

There is no debate that the major Welsh signing has been World Cup winner Piri Weepu.  His health is a worry, reportedly suffering a stroke in March, but his talent is undoubted.  A controlling boot and experienced goal kicker Weepu looks suited to the smash and grab style that Welsh will employ.

Much has been made of the 25 signings made by Welsh but realistically many are simply bodies to fill the LV and Challenge Cup fixtures.  Welsh look thin on quality in crucial places like prop and fly half and won’t be helped by flanker Carl Kirwin missing the opening stages with injury.  Kirwin was a star of the promotion push and will surely be around the Premiership for a long time to come.

Unfortunately I can’t say the same for Welsh.  I don’t see where more than 3 or 4 games this season can be won and don’t think it will be enough to keep them up.

Prediction: 12^th

2014/15 Season Preview: Bath

Bath

Founded: 1865

Years in Top Tier: 27

Last Year: 5^th in Prem (67 points), Amlin Challenge Cup beaten Finalists, Anglo Welsh Cup Semi finalists

Europe: Champions Cup

Director of Rugby: Mike Ford

Transfers:

In: Henry Thomas (Sale), Nick Auterac (Saracens), Sam Burgess (South Sydney RL), Luke Arscott (Exeter), Grant Sheills (Bath)

Out: Anthony Perenise (Bristol), Nick Adendanon (Clermont Auvergne), Josh Ovens (Retirement), Nick Koster (Bristol), Charlie Beech (Leeds), Tom Briggs (Worcester), Eusebio Guinazu (Unknown), Tom Heathcote (Edinburgh), Martin Roberts (Ospreys)

Ins: 5

Outs: 9

Bath are due to enter their sesquicentenary celebrations at the end of this season, what is a sesquincentenary you ask?  Obviously it is a 150^th anniversary.  Apparently.  Amusingly the word appears to be almost 90 years younger than Bath Football Club its self.  Never mind.

Bath pretty much lived up to my expectations last year, starting well and their forwards providing enough grunt in the winter they fell away in the second half of the season and were pipped at the post by Quins for the final playoff spot.

Most of the off season work has been tinkering around the edges of the squad with Nick Abendanon and Anthony Perenise the only major leavers.  Perenise has been replaced by local Bath boy Henry Thomas whilst Luke Arscott’s surprise exit from Exeter covers Abendanon’s departure to France.

Bath’s pack remains a fearsome weapon and at times last season we saw the back line begin to motor.  With Ford pulling the strings the likes of Devoto, Eastmond and Watson were free to wreak havoc.

The major signing is league’s Sam Burgess, apparently as a centre despite being a prop or lock in the 13 man game.  A Brad Thorn-esque switch to the pack makes more sense to me.  Burgess could well be a major disruptive influence to a Bath side that seemed on the edge of igniting, the pressure from the media and the meddling of Lancaster will likely see him pressed into action too soon and seemingly at centre disrupting the burgeoning Ford-Eastmond-Devoto axis.

A tough opening spell where they face Leicester, Northampton and Saracens in consecutive weeks may well prove to be the difference between 5^th and 4^th for the West Country men who still look at least one more year away from ending their 19 year title drought.

Prediction: 4^th

2014/15 Season Preview: London Irish

London Irish

Nickname: The Exiles

Founded: 1898

Years in Top Tier: 21

Last Year: 10^th in Prem (36 Points), Group Stage in Amlin Challenge Cup & Anglo-Welsh Cup

Europe: Challenge Cup

Director of Rugby: Brian Smith

Transfers:

In: Tom Court (Ulster), Luke Narraway (Perpignan), Tom Guest (Harlequins), Eoin Griffin (Connacht), James Short (Saracens(Wasps Loan)), Geoff Cross (Edinburgh), Sean Cox (Edinburgh), Dan Leo (Perpignan), Scott Steele (Leicester), Conor Gilsenan (Leinster), Chris Noakes (Auckland Blues)

Out: Marland Yarde (Harlequins), James O’Connor (Toulon), Declan Danaher (Retirement), Ian Gough (Newport), Ian Humphreys (Ulster), Chris Halaufia (Llanelli), John Yapp (Wasps), Setaimata Sa (Hull FC RL), Bryn Evans (Biarritz), Sailosi Tagicakibau (Wasps), Jon Fisher (Northampton-Trial), Pat Phibbs (Unknown)

Ins: 11

Outs: 10

Irish supremeo Brian Smith came out at the Premiership’s launch last week with the vow that Irish “want to challenge for silverware”.  Well you can’t fault the man for ambition.

To be fair he did qualify that we was looking to compete for the LV Cup and for the Challenge Cup, rather than some heady claim to be a top four force just yet.  For a long time last season Irish were embroiled in the relegation dog fight and were tipped for the drop by this very blog but a strong second half of the season extinguished any danger. The Rugby Paper has them for the drop season.

The Exiles have suffered some serious losses this summer with their two best players moving on; Marlon Yarde has decamped across London for Harlequins while James O’Conner is having a brief sojourn with Toulon before rejoining the Queensland Reds. 

Also moving on our players like Danaher, Halaufia and Tagicakibau who have been mainstays of the side for a number of years.

Some serious beef has been imported up front with accidental Lion Tom Court, Geoff Cross and Tom Guest singing plus Perpignan pair Luke Narraway and Dan Leo.  In the backs the most important signing will be Chris Noakes the kiwi fly half, if he can establish himself then Shane Geraghty will be free to be a secondary play maker in the centres, his most effective role.

Without a dominant home fortress Irish will always be vulnerable to a slide in fortunes but last season they seemed to have turned a corner.  With a reliable goal kicker in Homer, a decent looking pack and an ambitious mindset Irish look set to continue in lower mid table with the ability to surprise the bigger sides as Saracens found to their cost last season.

Prediction: 10^th

2014/15 Season Preview: Wasps

Wasps

Founded: 1867

Years in Top Tier: 27

Last Year: 7^th in Prem (49 points), Semi Finals of Amlin Challenge Cup, Group Stage Anglo-Welsh

Europe: Champions Cup

Director of Rugby: Dai Young

Transfers

In: Bradley Davies (Cardiff), James Gaskell (Sale), Rob Miller (Sale), Lorenzo Cittadini (Treviso), Ruaridh Jackson (Glasgow), Alapati Leiua (Wellington Hurricanes), Ed Shervington (Worcester), Buster Lawrence (Moseley), Thomas Young (Gloucester), Alex Lozowski (Leeds), John Yapp (London Irish), Sailosi Tagicackibau (London Irish)

Out: Neil Cochrane (Edinburgh) James Short (Loan Ends-London Irish), Tom Palmer (Gloucester), Harry Williams (Jersey), Tommy Bell (Jersey), Matt Everard (Nottingham), Estaban Lozada (Unknown), Ricky Reeves (London Welsh), Taione Vea (London Welsh), Brett Sheehan (Narbonne), Andrew Suniula (Unknown), Liam O’Neil (Nottingham), Joe Carlisle (Treviso), Rory Pittman (Llanelli), Charlie Hayter (England 7s)

Ins: 12

Outs: 15

Wasps sealed their place in the Champions Cup with a 50-35 aggregate victory over Stade Francais after finishing 7^th in the Premiership.  Injuries took their main wing threats Wade and Varndell for practically all of last season, so with both now restored for full fitness surely the only way is up for the sensibly rechristened Wasps?

New signings Lorenzo Cittadini and Bradley Davies are top quality operators in the tight five adding to a unit with a growing reputation.  Last season Cooper-Woolley was a revelation in the front row after joining straight from university rugby whilst half Fijian half Samoan number 8 Nathan Hughes is mulling over which international ring to throw his hat in.

In the backline they have added the exciting Alapatu Leiua from Wellington and Rob Miller from Sale, with Varndell, Wade and Masi already in tow and Andy Goode to pull the strings they have a dangerous backline for the drier months with firmer pitches.

But Wasps have a habit of finding the problems.  With a vocal group of fans unhappy with Wycombe and wanting a return to London the powers that be are instead rumoured to be in talks with the Ricoh Arena of Coventry! 

Were this to come to pass, and journalist Neil Fissler is adamant it will, it would cause huge disruption to the team as surely there would be protests from fans and dissent from players who signed for a London club?  Whether they would re-brand again as Coventry Wasps, or perhaps Holbrooks Hornets, we will have to wait to find out.

No major leavers, a settled coaching team, key players returning to fitness and a sprinkling of top signings means that Wasps should be well placed to press onto the top 6, if not quite the play offs.  But I just can’t see it.

Prediction: 7^th

2014/15 Season Preview: Northampton

Northampton

Nickname: Saints

Founded: 1880

Years in Top Tier: 22

Last Year: Champions (2^nd in Prem 75 points), Group Stage Heineken Cup, Amlin Challenge Cup Champions, Anglo-Welsh Cup beaten Finalists

Europe: Heineken Cup

Director of Rugby: Jim Mallinder

Transfers:

In: Joel Hodgson (Newcastle), Jon Fisher (London Irish)

Out: GJ Van Velze (Worcester), Tom Warren (Moseley), Ryan Glynn (Jersey), Paul Diggin (Retirement), Fa’atoina Autagavaia (Nevers), Rob Verbakel (Unknown)

Ins: 2

Outs: 6

“Northampton has once again opened up their cheque book to attract the star names that they hope will lead them to a first ever English title.” So started last year’s preview.  Well fair play to them it worked.

Northampton became the 8^th side to earn the right to call themselves English Champions when local boy Alex Waller burrowed over in the last minute of extra time in a pulsating final.  Saracens may well quibble several interventions from the TMO but now the dust has settled and its Northampton that will forever be engraved as 2014 Premiership winners.

After last summer’s mega moves this has been a quieter affair, two squad players brought in and two squad players in Van Velze and Diggin leave, the others barely featured.  With Alex Corbiseiro allegedly fit and well he may break his current Premiership records of starts in a season, which is currently 6.  Lions hero he might be, durable he certainly isn’t.

In previous years Northampton have been remarkably consistent, before last year finishing 4^th three years in a row, with the exact same number of points too; I see nothing in their summer moves to change that.  The Champions tag may be a heavy burden for them to bear but the manner of victory has to instil a huge amount of belief; just like before they will be consistent but at this new higher level.

Last year Tigers finished 3^rd with a record points tally and I feel that one of Tigers, Saints and Sarries is bound to repeat that feat; the top of the table looks so tight and congested that 75 points might not be enough this year. 

Northampton are vulnerable to a nagging injury to Stephen Myler, one that would keep him out but not for long enough to sign an injury dispensation case, that is the only way I can see them falling below 3^rd.

Prediction: A very close 3^rd (Look, you want impartial analysis you’ve come to the wrong place!)

2014/15 Season Preview: Gloucester

Gloucester

Nickname: Cherry & Whites

Founded: 1873

Years in Top Tier: 27

Last Year: 9^th in Prem (44 points), Group Stage Heineken Cup, Quarter Finals in Amlin Challenge Cup, Group Stage in Anglo-Welsh Cup

Europe: Champions Cup

Director of Rugby: David Humphreys

Transfers:

In: James Hook (Perpignan), John Afoa (Ulster), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Tom Palmer (Wasps), Greg Laidlaw (Edinburgh), Mariano Galarza (Worcester), Tom Isaacs (Ospreys), Aled Thomas (Llanelli), Mark Atkinson (Bedford), Steve McColl (Leeds), James Voss (Jersey), Jacob Rowan (Leeds), Henry Purdy (Leicester), Callum Braley (Bristol), Aleki Lutui (Edinburgh)

Out: Freddie Burns (Leicester), Matt Cox (Worcester), Ryan Mills (Worcester), Tavis Knoyle (Cardiff), Andy Hazell (Retirement), Akapusi Qera (In Season-Toulouse), Tim Taylor (Retirement), Will James (Retirement), Jimmy Cowan (Tasman), Dan George (Worcester), Huia Edmonds (Narbonne), Mike Tindall (Retirement), Thomas Young (Wasps), Jonny Bentley (Jersey), Rupert Harden (Treviso), Koree Britton (London Welsh)

Ins: 15

Outs: 16

A disastrous 2013/14 season has seen a huge amount of change at Kingsholm.  Nigel Davies has been sacked, replaced by David Humphreys, and a raft of new coaches and players brought in.  Former Munster coach Laurie Fisher joins John Muggleton, England age group supremo Nick Walshe and Trevor Woodman in a new look brains trust. 

On the field the cash has truly been splashed.  Last season their scrum was appalling so riding to the rescue are Richard “my eyes” Hibbard and John Afoa from Ospreys and Ulster respectively.  Providing ballast at lock is Worcester’s Mariano Galarza & Wasps’ veteran Tom Palmer.  A cheeky bit of depth at hooker is provided by former Worcester man Aleki Lutui, he might be almost 36 but he was always a threat for Worcester.

Outside of the pack the Cherry ‘n’ Whites have signed two outstanding half backs.  Greg Laidlaw comes in from Edinburgh, principally at scrum half but he is more than capable at 10, and James Hook returns to Britain after a spell at Perpignan that ended with the Catalan giant’s first relegation after more than a century of top tier rugby.

They also appear to have picked up a few rough diamonds under the radar.  Keep an eye out for Mark Atkinson the 6”5’ former Bedford centre.

The new signings should shore up the pack but Gloucester will take time to gel their new decision makers and coaches together.  Trips to Newcastle and Irish in the Autumn Internationals will be crucial for any play off ambitions whilst visits to Sale, Quins and Bath in the final 5 rounds, with the Rec on the final day, should decide Champions Cup qualification.

Prediction: 6^th

2014/15 Season Preview: Saracens

Saracens

Founded: 1876

Years in Top Tier: 23

Last Year: 1^st in Prem (87 Points, Lost Final), Heineken Cup beaten Finalists, Anglo Welsh Cup Semi Final

Europe: Champions Cup

Director of Rugby: Mark McCall

Transfers:

In: Juan Figallo (Montpellier), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Kieran Longbottom (Western Force), Aaron Morris (Bedford), Henry Taylor (Loughborough Students),  Theretton Palamo (San Francisco Golden Gate), Phil Theil (Life University), Mike Ellery (England 7s),

Out: Steve Borthwick (Retirement), Matt Stevens (Natal Sharks), Joel Tomkins (Wigan RL), Justin Melck (Unknown), James Short (London Irish), Nick Auterac (Bath), Max Crumpton (Bristol), Tom Jubb (Plymouth Albion), Nick Fenton-Wells (Bedford), Sam Stanley (England 7s), Michael Tagicakibau (Llanelli)

Ins: 8

Outs: 10

After setting a 22 game season Premiership record of 87 points and thrashing Clermont 46-6 everything was coming up Sarries in April.  Unfortunately the trophies are handed out in May.

A Jonny Wilkinson inspired Toulon beat them in the Heineken Cup final before a heart breaking, last play, extra time defeat to Northampton in the Premiership Final a week later.  Some fans blamed the TMO, I can hardly blame them, but a harsher analysis says that in normal time Hodgson had a conversion then an opportunity to drop a goal to win the game that he refused to even take.

Tigers learned the hard way that you can’t rely on sensible or fair refereeing after the Lander final of 1996, Sarries will now know that being good enough is not enough.  You have to be so much better so that nothing and no one can stop you.

Tigers also suffered Euro final heartbreak to a French team in Cardiff, and again that loss was part of the folklore that drove us on to be the best team I’ve ever seen.

Can these twin defeats become part of the Saracens legend as they strive to win and be dominant?

Time will tell but moving onto this season Saracens have again incurred the wrath of Angry Internet Man by making some decent looking signings, “blatantly breaching the salary cap” and generally having a lot of chaps with South African accents.  Jim Hamilton didn’t take to the south of France, who on earth could have guessed that?  Returning to England after just one season he replaces Steve Borthwick.  Hamilton is a better tight player around the fringes than Borthwick but won’t carry the same influence and leadership within the group.

Matt Stevens is the other prominent leaver returning to South Africa.  His replacement is Argentina international Juan Figallo, released from Montpellier after a spine injury that the French authorities ruled career ending.  Whatever the merits of the move let’s just hope the English doctors are right and he is safe to play.

Henry Taylor was the star of England’s U-20s world cup win, with another Saracen Maro Itoje impressing, but will stay with Loughborough this season to complete his studies.

Owen Farrell is apparently out for the first few weeks, Mako Vunipola won’t feature until December and Schalk Brits is missing the first 5 games with the Springboks.  This will test their resources early while games against Leicester and Northampton in April may be season defining or may be shadow boxing for the play offs.  As Sarries fans will agree; bloody great these play offs, don’t ruin what would be fascinating league games or anything.

Prediction: 1^st