2010/11 Aviva Premiership club-by-club preview
It’s four months ago since Dan Hipkiss crossed the line for Leicester Tigers in the final minutes of their play-off final victory over Saracens at Twickenham. A dramatic ending to a thoroughly dramatic season.
And on Friday night, the rollercoaster ride is set to start all over again, albeit under a new guise.
Aviva are the new sponsors of English rugby’s premier division, taking over from Guinness. As for the competitors themselves, newly-promoted Exeter Chiefs take the place of the relegated Worcester Warriors.
Bath
The appointment of Sir Ian McGeechan as director of rugby this summer was the biggest coup for Bath ahead of the forthcoming Aviva Premiership campaign. The legendary rugby coach will work alongside Steve Meehan this season in an attempt to haul the club a step closer to their first title since 1996.
Lewis Moody has arrived from Leicester Tigers along with teammate Sam Vesty, while Scotland international Simon Taylor and Tom Biggs have also signed deals at the Recreation Ground.
And it’s this injection of quality, plus with the experience and guile of the knighted coach affectionately known as “Geech”, which should see Bath safely into the play-offs for the fifth consecutive season.
Prediction: Play-offs once again for Meehan’s improved squad.
Exeter Chiefs
It was Bristol who finished top of the RFU Championship last season, but Exeter’s stunning 29-10 play-off victory over the table-toppers at the Memorial Stadium ensured it was they who would be testing themselves against England’s elite in the Premiership.
The top-flight is unchartered territory for the Chiefs, who have never competed at this level before. Although a tough season awaits, they will make sure their 10,000-capacity Sandy Park is a ground opposing teams feel anxious about coming to.
Head coach Rob Baxter is a firm favourite among the club’s supporters, and despite the lack of Premiership experience throughout the squad, he will be quietly confident of his side producing a few shock results this season.
Prediction: The unfancied Chiefs to scrap their way out of the relegation dogfight to safety.
Gloucester
The Cherry and Whites endured another sub-standard season last time out after finishing seventh in the league table. Head coach Bryan Redpath was in his first season in charge at Kingsholm, but his side’s campaign was marred by more inconsistency.
Often frail and vulnerable away from home, Redpath must ensure that his side can produce their best form away from home on occasions to edge closer to the play-off spots.
Back row Brett Deacon and lock Jim Hamilton have arrived at the club this summer, but they have lost prop Greg Somerville and Wales No.8 Gareth Delve. These changes aside, it looks set to be another underwhelming campaign for the three-time Premiership table-toppers.
Prediction: More mid-table obscurity for the Cherry and Whites.
Harlequins
Unfortunately, the Bloodgate scandal continues to cast a dark shadow over Harlequins, with another high-profile court case taking place this summer. It was also the reason for the club’s steep fall from runners-up to eighth placers last season.
However, life goes on at the Stoop. Director of rugby Conor O’Shea was appointed late last year, and he’ll be glad to have had a full pre-season under his belt this time around, as he shapes the squad to his specification.
Joe Gray, a highly-rated hooker from Northampton Saints, and former Newcastle lock Peter Browne have been joined by back row Maurie Fa'asavalu, who has converted from rugby league, this summer. And this promises to be the season that the Quins get back to their feet after a traumatic 16 months.
Prediction: Top six? Certainly there or there abouts.
Leeds Carnegie
The term ‘great escape’ does scant justice to Leeds Carnegie’s miraculous rise from the clutches of relegation last season. Even up until March, it appeared for all the world that Andy Key’s side were destined to spend the 2010/11 campaign in the Championship.
But a series of inspirational backs-against-the wall performances ensured that Leeds retained their Premiership status. The Headingley club have strengthened during pre-season, bringing in no less than 10 names, although it’s the signing of England international Steve Thompson which has generated the most excitement.
Providing they can carry the momentum over from the back end of last season into the forthcoming campaign, a mid-table finish isn’t beyond the realms of possibility for the West Yorkshire club.
Prediction: A sturdy finish around eighth place.
Leicester Tigers
Once again it’s Leicester Tigers, the most successful team in Premiership history, who look the team to beat this season.
Richard Cockerill’s side were brilliant for the large majority of last season and richly deserved sealing their ninth Premiership title. With a fearsome squad, including the youthful exuberance of Ben Youngs and Dan Cole, the Tigers have a team capable of challenging for silverware once again.
Lewis Moody, Brett Deacon and Sam Vesty may all have moved on, while Ben Kay and Harry Ellis have hung up their boots; but Leicester have more than enough quality throughout the squad to mount yet another championship title-challenge.
Prediction: Play-off finalists and, in all probability, winners.
London Irish
After their narrow play-off final defeat in 2009, many had expected more of the same from London Irish last season. Rather disappointingly, that wasn’t the case.
The Exiles recorded a sixth place finish last term and retain their place in the Heineken Cup. Perhaps the club’s desire to compete on both domestic and European fronts had a detrimental effect, and head coach Toby Booth will be keen to avoid a similar slip-up in the Premiership this time around.
The big summer signing saw fly-half Dean Bowden sign from Crusaders, but Leinster’s Brian Blaney and Cardiff Blues’ scrum-half Darren Allison have also arrived to bolster the first-team.
Prediction: Lessons will be learnt from last season, meaning play-offs are a realistic possibility.
London Wasps
How the club copes without the departed Danny Cipriani, who has joined Australian side Melbourne Storm, will be fascinating. Director of rugby Tony Hanks will be relying on 32-year-old Dave Walder to kick his fair share of the points in Cipriani’s absence.
Andy Powell, the Welshman at the centre of the golf buggy incident earlier this year, has signed for the Adams Park outfit; while England star Riki Flutey has returned to the club after a season in France with Brive.
A fifth-place finish marked a decent season for Wasps last season, and a similar showing is expected over the next nine months.
Prediction: Play-off hopefuls, but may have to make do with a top-six finish.
Newcastle Falcons
Last season saw Newcastle Falcons finish in the bottom four for the fourth consecutive season – a worrying indictment of the club’s lack of progression over recent years.
The 1998 Premiership champions were considered too good for relegation last season, but circumstances almost saw them dragged into the mire. The Falcons’ inconsistency has plagued the club for far too long now, and head coach Alan Tait is determined to start a clean slate this month.
Retaining the services of fly-half Jimmy Gopperth was a major boost for the North East side. The 27-year-old has filled the boots of Jonny Wilkinson to brilliant effect since signing in 2009, and was the Premiership’s top points scorer last season.
Prediction: Bottom four again, but safe from relegation.
Northampton Saints
Arguably the most exciting team to watch last season, Northampton Saints came agonisingly close to making the play-off final, only to be beaten by Saracens in the semis.
Head coach Jim Mallinder has some of the best young English talent at his disposal including Courtney Lawes, Shane Geraghty and the irrepressible Chris Ashton, and will be confident of overseeing another memorable campaign at Franklin’s Gardens.
Prop Soane Tongauiha promises to have another influential season for the Saints, and he’ll need to after the loss of South African second row Juandre Kruger. For pure entertainment, Northampton consistently produced the good last season, but this year will be their chance to prove they can combine style and substance.
Prediction: Potential play-off finalists.
Sale Sharks
Just four points saved Sale from relegation to the Championship last season, as indiscipline so very nearly cost the club their Premiership status.
As a result of their dire campaign, Mike Brewer has been brought in to implement wholesale changes, and he’s started by appointing 20-year-old lock James Gaskell as club captain, in a move which he hopes will trigger a bright new era.
An influx of new players have arrived at Edgeley Park this summer including Aston Croall, Nic Rouse and Robin Sowden-Taylor; but only time will tell whether Brewer has strengthened his squad enough over pre-season.
Prediction: Barring dramatic improvements, relegation candidates.
Saracens
In front of 81,000 at Twickenham, Saracens could count themselves rather unfortunate for losing an enthralling play-off final against Leicester back in May.
Brendan Venter’s side finished third in the regular season, but really should have finished at least second after a blistering start to the campaign. A mid-season blip nearly proved catastrophic for the Sarries, but they showed tremendous character to regroup and end the season on a high.
The ambitious club have signed winger David Strettle, scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth and prop Deon Cartsens to bolster this options, and another play-off finish beckons.
Prediction: Don’t bet against them reaching their play-off final again.
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