Although this is a Southern Hemisphere website, I thought a few contributors might be interested in a brief analysis of the Guinness Premiership teams ahead of the new season.
Bath
Last season Bath played some excellent, loose rugby the genesis of which lay in a heavy duty pack and the siege gun boot of Barkley. Steve Meehan delivered big results (the first silverware in a decade) with comparatively frugal resources. However, Butch James has now been consistently playing rugby for an age, and Barkley and Borthwick have left for new pastures.
There is still uncertainty over the Rec and Bath does not have a high percentage kicker following the departure of Barkley. Hape is certainly not a like for like replacement, either. This should prove a trickier season, especially given the recruitment of other clubs. But Meehan is a clever strategist and Bath should continue to punch above their weight.
Mid-table finish, realistically aiming for top 6.
Bristol
No Heineken Cup distractions this year, and no EPS members. But then no real impetus in terms of player recruitment either.
It should be a difficult season, but there is a lot to improve, specifically defensively and in the lineout. Talismans Perry and Ward-Smith are fit, which is a huge plus.
A lot depends on how Adrian Jarvis fulfills the playmaker role as Bristol reverted to conservatism last season.
They could be a surprise team, but are likely to finish 10th or 11th.
Gloucester
Having capitulated yet again in the knock-out stages, Dean Ryan is surely drinking at the last chance saloon. Gloucester’s season will depend on how they cope with their missing England players.
Barkley is an excellent acquisition and will help Gloucester win those tight games.
Other than that, it is business as usual. The promising youngsters will be a year older and potentially this could be a big year for the Cherry and Whites.
Regular season winners.
Harlequins
A big turnaround midway through last season. Evans, Taione and Tiesi look like inspired signings.
Despite a comparatively lightweight pack, I think Harlequins will get better and better. Evan’s boot will be able to solve any territorial problems, too.
Easter, Skinner and Strettle are not in the EPS, so there should be continuity throughout the season also. The only problem could be the draining Heineken Cup.
Despite that I think Quins will finish above Jones’ expensively assembled Saracens and position 4th or 5th.
Leicester
If Meyer attempts to play the same brand of rugby that he utilised at the Bulls, Leicester will be left behind.
Leicester has a stodgy, one dimensional squad that has been hit hard – 12 players – by the EPS and they have lost some key squad members.
No more driving maul ploys, too. They should still finish in the top four though.
London Irish
The loss of Brian Smith is key. It is up to Toby Booth to now handle the big seat. The ELVs should suit the Irish lineout, especially with the kicking of Geraghty, Hewat and Catt, and the running of Armitage, Ojo and Tagicakibau.
A good squad who will not have the Heineken Cup to contend with, this could be their breakthrough season in the league.
Potentially 4th or 5th.
London Wasps
Dallaglio and Waters gone, Cipriani injured until October. Only two new players – old stagers Betsen and Mark Robinson – and countless EPS members.
This could be a transitional season for Wasps, especially with McGeechan having to contend with his Lions work on the side. Wasps are traditionally slow starters and if that occurs this season I can’t see them having the gumption to track back the required points over a long season.
Wasps are the masters of overachieving, but not this year.
6th or 7th. Possibly even 8th.
Newcastle
Relegated. What a waste of time from Hayman. Sad to see him up there really. Tu’ipulotu is another player who should be at a better club. Steve Bates is massively out of his depth and he has not made any attempts to improve their woeful pack. Lost too many key players, poor replacements, poor scrum, and no cutting edge in the backline.
Awful.
Lost and out of place in the depths of North England.
Northampton.
Big spending, superb stadium and a bright young thing at coach, Jim Mallinder.
A step up from Division 1, and bringing in a host of new players brings separate problems.
However, not much is expected from Northampton so they could pull off a few surprises. They still have no top gun kicker and I cannot see them achieving anything of note.
I would expect a typical Northampton campaign: disjointed, callow midfield, poor kicker and lacking fitness. Chris Ashton will not find tries so easy to come by this season.
Fighting it out with Bristol for 10th or 11th. 9th at a push.
Sale
Massive underachievers last year. Released some mediocre players (Mayor, Day, Bonner Evans, Vilk) and signed some far better players (Tait, Peel, Ormsby, Abraham). Good squad depth, multiple kicking options, an excellent scrum, adventurous, intelligent backs and a powerful back row unit.
The only question mark is over the coaching of Saint-Andre, specifically his insistence of playing MacAlister at 13. Far too much kicking last season. Sale needs to perform like a team this year, and not a collection of very good players.
Potential winners, but 2nd or 3rd.
Saracens
Eddie Jones, poor signings (Owen and Borthwick), retirement of Hill and the choice of Farrell as joint captain. It’s not good for the Fez heads.
Van Heerden won’t arrive for a while and Jones has already set his stall out by choosing Chris Jack at blindside flanker for the first game of the season.
Very inconsistent last year and I am firmly convinced that a man like Jones will not be able to avoid agitating such a large squad over such a long season.
Certainly bottom half.
Worcester
My pick as surprise package of the season.
Excellent lineout and scrum, good running backs and an excellent stadium. Therefore, no off-pitch worries.
Ruddock now has a season behind him and Worcester will want to build on last season’s promise.
Miles Benjamin, in tandem with Rico Gear, will most likely improve upon his exploits last year.
The only problem is a lack of fly-half and midfield creativity.
Nonetheless, Latham’s left boot should thrive under the ELVs, especially with Worcester having such a strong lineout. Ably led by Pat Sanderson.
Likely to finish 7th.
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September 8th 2008 @ 9:02am
Harry said | September 8th 2008 @ 9:02am | Report comment
We expect a regular weekly post now Benjamin on highlights/features of the GP. Thanks in advance.
Interesting re Gloucester and Harlequins and their respective coaches. Dean Richards coaching a team to toss it about? Strewth, thats a change from his (very effective) playing days. Of course the two styles don’t need to be one or the other – the truly great teams can adapt to both. NZ 87-90, Aus 91/92 and England 02/03 – in my opinion the best international teams in the last 30 years – were the best examples of having the ability to play both an expansive and tight game as conditions/circumstances required. Winningly.
September 8th 2008 @ 9:10am
True Tah said | September 8th 2008 @ 9:10am | Report comment
Benjamin,
you should become one of the experts on here providing commentary on British rugby.
Do you think there is any merit in merging the Magners and GP into something along the lines of the NFL, i.e. having two conferences…this would benefit the Celtic sides far more than the GP sides I think, as it would erode the rivalries which exist in the English game. I think the GP will ultimately end up at 14 sides, one side from Cornwall the spiritual home of English rugby and one other side (maybe Leeds??)
The 3 big Irish sides + Ospreys really carry the Magners league (and having them in GP would no doubt improve it), as most of the Welsh and all of the Scottish sides are really failing to draw any decent crowds, whereas in the GP, the only really poor drawing side is Newcastle – do the people of Newcastle just dont like rugby at all?
September 8th 2008 @ 9:10am
Kate said | September 8th 2008 @ 9:10am | Report comment
Thanks for this! Just wish I’d had it before doing my ‘selections’ (there wasn’t much science involved) in Moke’s Rucku GP Fantasy League.
September 8th 2008 @ 9:51am
Roger said | September 8th 2008 @ 9:51am | Report comment
Great stuff Benjamin…keep it up.
September 8th 2008 @ 9:59am
Sam Taulelei said | September 8th 2008 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Thanks Benjamin
Really appreciate the time and effort that went into this as coverage of the game in the NH is so spartan down south. Look forward to reading your take on how teams adapt to the ELV’s over the course of the GP and further reports. Might have to finally bite the bullet and subscribe to Setanta to get my rugby fix. Thanks again.
September 8th 2008 @ 10:24am
eric said | September 8th 2008 @ 10:24am | Report comment
Good stuff Benjamin. I hope Spiro is paying you nicely for your efforts.
Can you tell us about the Force’s tour of England, or if anything significant came of it. Do you think there might be more club/provincial tours?
September 8th 2008 @ 2:03pm
mudskipper said | September 8th 2008 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
Thanks Benjamin…
September 8th 2008 @ 2:22pm
Skip said | September 8th 2008 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
Dear all,
Great article. Does any one know where you can watch highlights og the GP and ML on line???
Cheers
September 8th 2008 @ 8:56pm
Colin N said | September 8th 2008 @ 8:56pm | Report comment
skip,
well highlights of the GP has just been bought by ITV (yes it is actually on terestrial for once) in Britian so you could try their website. Other than that i’m not sure where else you can find highlights of the ML and the GP.
September 8th 2008 @ 9:41pm
Benjamin said | September 8th 2008 @ 9:41pm | Report comment
Thanks guys, everyone needs a hobby, I’ll keep detailed updates every week.
Tah, not sure my writing ability extends further than pub banter to be honest. I don’t think the GP clubs would have any interest in that simply because certain owners have pumped so much money into their respective clubs. The ML clubs tend to have far closer assocations with their national unions. There is an Anglo-Welsh cup but most teams throw out their younger players for some experience. The clubs in the GP have entirely different motivations to the ML provinces so unless there was great compromise… There should be a Cornwall side, there is a huge interest in Cornwall and quite a few Cornish players knocking around in the GP; Tom Voyce, Phil Vickery etc. Newcastle is an odd one, the local rugby league club is experiencing the same problems. I know Newcastle did, and still do, a lot of community work but people just aren’t that interested – it probably doesn’t help that they’re useless. Thank you Rob Andrew.
Eric, I’m being paid in enjoyment dollars.
Here is the Wester Force schedule and results;
Newcastle Falcons 15 – 25 Western Force
Saracens Academy 17 – 36 Western Force
Saracens 19 – 10 Western Force
Northampton 22 – 3 Western Force
Northampton Academy – Western Force (Match Abandoned)
Leicester Tigers – 48 – 7 Western Force
I’m not sure of exact details Eric, but I think the Force suffered a few injuries, but it was largely a development tour and it would have done the world of good for O’Connor. Queensland also did a tour in the UK I believe. If you can’t find the detailes I’ll have a look for you.