Where is the Quality?
BigMac anyone?
By Wildwillie
August 16 2011
Leeds Carnegie is back in the Championship. Normal yo-yo service is resumed. The fans of the other clubs who regularly haunt this accursed division will tell us that it has changed, that it is much tougher to get out of since the last time we were here. I have no reason to doubt this assertion as the last time we were here it was first past the post. Now we have the “play-offs” and Worcester were a whisker away from coming unstuck last season. So I ask myself: Where is the quality? Which team is strong enough to win the play-offs and condemn Leeds to Bristol’s fate of being a Championship regular?
There was a time not too long ago when Rotherham was the strongest side in the division. That was when Andre Bester put a side together with the best pack you could wish for. Subsequently he left Clifton Lane but now he is back and in the second half of the last campaign his team started to show some form. Never right off Bester.
Doncaster is a club with ambitions. They have had a big turnover of players this summer but have brought the talismanic Michael Whitehead back to South Yorkshire. Whether or not it is too soon to mount a challenge remains to be seen. Certainly the Knights will have to be more consistent than they were last season.
Nottingham remains an enigma. They seem capable of putting together a decent team, can beat anyone on their day but never seem to get to the very top. This coming season they have the prolific Pablo Socino and a couple of lads from their neighbours. I don’t see this as being the year of the”outlaws”
Bristol has a good knowledgeable fan base and the city has a great tradition for rugby. I expect the club to improve on last season’s position but will not be a contender this time around.
London Welsh have been a full time outfit for some time now. They are improving season by season. Clearly the club has ambitions to play in the top flight. Whether or not that will be in 13 months time is a moot point. The Exiles will, in my opinion, get to the play-off semis.
Cornish Pirates have a squad which will certainly see them through to the latter stages of the play-offs if not the final itself. The day is long overdue when a Cornish side plays in the top flight. There is talk of a stadium for Cornwall but until that is built the Pirates cannot qualify for the AP. Can they stop anyone else from getting promotion? Of course they can!
Bedford had a brilliant season last time out. They came oh so close to condemning the Warriors to a second season in the Championship. I do not think they will do as well this season but should finish in the top half.
London Scottish may take a while to get used to the pace of play in this division. They should survive but only after the relegation playoffs. Esher, Moseley and Plymouth make up the numbers. Unfortunately I see them in a struggle with the Scots to remain in the division.
That brings me to the other newcomers – Leeds Carnegie. Already written off by a large number of Championship club supporters the Tykes will not want to hang around. Much will depend on the kids who coach Diccon Edwards has put his faith in. Plus the “grunt” factor provided by the loyal veterans who have stayed to help develop the young talent at the club. The play-off system might actually work in Leeds favour. The team only has to finish 8th in the regular season. First up at Headingley are London Welsh. Once we know the result of that game we will be able to hazard a guess at where the Tykes will finish. I think 8th is within our grasp.
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LEEDS
LEEDS
LEEDS
Promotion at the first attempt is in the bag - we are ACE.
(sorry, but without our resident optimist somebody has to take up the baton)
PS - good article sir.
I think you have summarised the Championship very well.
I'd like to think that we will be top 4 material, along with the perennial quality of Bedford, London Welsh if they cope with the change in coaching regime and staff turnover, and the team I see as the biggest threat the Cornish Pirates.
Mid four will be our friends from Doncaster and Rotherham, Nottingham and Bristol. I don't think there will be much between 4th and 5th mind.
Last time I saw Esher they played the most attractive rugby in the Championship, but events conspired against them. I'd like to think they won't struggle too much this time. Plymouth and Moseley had a hard time last season and sadly for them I see little difference this season. Can Scottish ride their bouyant mood and avoid the drop? Big unknowns, but I think they or Moseley will be on the trapdoor this time about.
Miserati - and Proud to be!
I expect them to finish mid table.
We were five minutes away from survival last season; let's be positive about the coming season.
Suffering on the Leeds and Yorkshire roller-coaster since 2001
Should we achieve promotion with the current squad then with all due respect I would say it would be the club's greatest ever achievement.
Miserati - and Proud to be!
And then to knockout rugby - remember lads and lasses that day against Bath. We can do it and with the optimism of youth and some wise old heads, assuming we don't have a physio roomful of injuries at anyone time we can do it.
By that time, Diccon should have his optimum team in his mind for the really important bit, the knock-out sessions!
Up the Carnegie TYKES !