Some predictions from across the pond.

By Static
August 19 2005

In response to the request for fans’ thoughts for the new season from the Watty O’s Mr. Affleck, for the first time ever I thought I would pen something based on the request of Key Player, Young player to watch and Where we will end up.

So here goes, these were the ramblings of someone in the US, so clearly I am not in the know about any of this, and will be proved completely wrong during the year.

Key Player

Once again the main recruitment was done early with Andy Farrell joining, and how he does will probably be an indicator on how well we will do. If he stands out so will we. Many will see him as the Key player next year, but I suspect it will be Glen Jackson.

Two things coincided to turn around last year, Steve Diamond taking over and Glen Jackson playing regularly at 10. He may not have set the world alight, but he definitely brought more structure. He will still be controlling large parts of the game in my opinion. We have found before, that we struggle if we do not field a quality No 10. He will also be doing most of the goal kicking while Farrell is left to learn the game.

Farrell will be the other main player, if everything he promises comes off we will have back play to match the forwards, which were about as good as any in the premiership last year. In the forwards you can't look past Hugh Vyvyan, why he has dropped out of the England reckoning will remain a mystery to me.

Young Player to Watch

This will be an interesting year for the youngsters, how often many will appear will be interesting in itself.

The easiest to watch will be Dave Seymour, but it is not difficult to spot someone with a pineapple on his head.

The stand out youngster over the last few years for me is Ben Broster, and I think this will continue. As he is one of the four main props he will get a reasonable amount of game time, which others may not. He has come on leaps and bounds since the arrival of Cobus, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we lost him to international duty more regularly this year.

If Ben Skirving gets time on the pitch he would be my other choice. He seems to have progressed where other young back rowers have stood still. Whether he will play enough is a big if, given the amount of back row talent that we have.

Where will we end up?

There has been much going on in the premiership this close season, but for once, thankfully, we have not been involved. We have a settled squad, which improved immeasurably in the second half of last year. Others have changed beyond recognition, and it is this that will render predictions difficult to make. Some will improve like Bath in 2003/04 season, and some will stand still or regress like we did in the same season. Anything below 5th would be a major disappointment. I suspect, realistically, that 3rd or 4th is the most likely position, with automatic Heineken cup qualification for 2006/07. However, with Tigers and Wasps making big changes, particularly in the back room staff, we could be higher. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if we were challenging at the top of the league.

In the Heineken Cup, getting through the pools would be a major achievement, as the club has never managed it before. It should be a major, but very achievable, target. I believe that winning the competition is quite a bit beyond us, just yet.

For Silverware I will look to whatever the new knockout trophy is, although this depends on how seriously it is taken. We have a side that could beat any on the day, and I have high hopes that we will have a trophy, at the end of the year, to show for the effort.