2012 2013 seasons predictions from the press
By COYSDC
August 26 2012
For perusal at the end of the season, the predicstions below are courtesy of our finest sports journalists.
Bath
What's going on?
An impressive coaching team headed by South African Gary Gold, which includes Toby Booth and Mike Ford, plus outstanding facilities at Farleigh House, Bath’s wonderful training complex funded by multi-millionnnaire Bruce Craig, leave no room for excuses. But that doesn’t make a rugby club. Bath need to find their soul again. They are currently a proud institution running on empty.
Coach: Gary Gold
Ground: The rec, 12,300 capacity
Tickets £20-£46.
Signings: Paul James (Ospreys), Rob Webber (London Wasps), Dominic Day (Scarlets), Horacio Agulla (Leicester Tigers
Players out: David Flatman (retired), Duncan Bell (Clifton), Scott Hobson (Retired), Andy Beattie (retired), Peter Dixon (retired), Lewis Moody (retired), Matt Carraro (Montpellier), Nick Scott (London Welsh), Matt Keyte (London Welsh), Billy Moss (London Welsh), Mark Lilley (Bristol), Paul Roberts (Plymouth)
Last season: 8th
Prediction: 8th
Exeter Chiefs
What's going on?
A toss-up between the Chiefs and Saracens as to which is the biggest success story of the past five years. Exeter’s rise from the shallows of the Championship to a properly competitive Premiership side has been remarkable. Coach Rob Baxter, a guy who values character and integrity as much as talent, is the driving force behind a team with a tremendous work ethic.
Coach: Rob Baxter.
Ground: Sandy Park, 10,744.
Tickets: £22-£43.
Signings: A Brown (Doncaster), C Rimmer (Pirates), J Yeandle (Doncaster), D Welch (Scarlets), D Mumm (Waratahs), K Horstmann (Worcester), W Chudley (Newcastle).
Players out: J Andress (Worcester), C Bentley (retired), C Slade (Oyonnax), P Phibbs, B Rennie (Bristol), J Lightfoot-Brown (England Sevens), A Lockley (Moseley), P Phibbs (Leicester), H Stupple, J Vickers (Plymouth Albion), C Walker-Blair (released), P Short (retired).
Last season: 5th
Prediction: 6th
Gloucester
What's going on?
Like Bath, another West Country institution has lost its edge. Bryan Redpath’s move to Sale was messy and fractious, but if ‘Glos’ power up their scrum and mature a vastly talented backline of youngsters, then watch out. The appointment of lock Jim Hamilton as club captain, a piratical brawler-type character (in a good way), is a welcome statement of intent.
Coach: Nigel Davies.
Ground: Kingsholm, 16,500.
Tickets: start from £15.
Signings: H Edmonds (free), S Kalamafoni (Nottingham), B Morgan (Scarlets), J Cowan (Highlanders), R Cook, D Locke (Pirates), B Twelvetrees (Leicester), S Monahan (Rotherham), M Thomas (Dragons).
Players out: M Cortese (Colomiers), S Lawson (L Irish), A Strokosch, L Narraway (Perpignan), B Deacon (Leicester), R Lawson (Newcastle), E Fuiamono-Sapolu (West Red Sparks), L Vainikolo (La Rochelle), N Runciman (L Welsh).
Last season: 9th
Prediction: 7th
Harlequins
What's going on?
Last season’s champions show no signs of stalling even though outside recruitment has been negligible, with Quins bringing through their Academy youngsters. That is their secret. Quins are always planning, always re-inventing. Coach John Kingston’s objective is to ensure that Quins are capable of operating in a variety of ways. That said, pace and mobility is their default style.
Director of rugby: Conor O’Shea.
Ground: Stoop, 14,816.
Tickets: £22-£45.
Signings: Dave Ward (Cornish Pirates), Ben Botica (Perigeuex), Darryl Marfo, Rob Buchannan, Charlie Matthews, Joe Trayfoot, Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Will Collier, Sam Stuart (all Academy).
Players out Tomas Vallejos (Scarlets), Chris York (Newcastle), Richard Bolt (London Scottish), Benjamin Urdapilleta (Oyonnax),Tomas Vallejos (Scarlets), Aston Croall (Sale), Matt Cairns (ret).
Last season: 1st
Prediction: 2nd
Leicester Tigers
What's going on?
With more than 13,000 season ticket holders Leicester are the biggest and most prestigious club in the land. They have reached every Premiership final since 2005 and this season they do not have half their squad absent on World Cup duty. Don’t be trapped into thinking Leicester are a 15-man scrummaging machine. Their 70 tries in the last campaign was 17 more than second-placed Quins.
Coach: Richard Cockerill.
Ground: Welford Road, 24,000.
Tickets: £24-£50.
Signings: Robert Andrew (Pau), Dan Bowden (L Irish), Matt Cornwell (Mogliano), Verenki Goneva (Tarbes), Adam Thompstone (L Irish), Miles Benjamin (Worcester), Brett Deacon (Gloucester), Pat Phibbs (Exeter Chiefs)
Players out: Julian White (ret), Calum Green (Leeds), George Skivington (L Irish), Ben Pienaar (Moseley), James Grindal (Bristol), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucs), Horacio Agulla (Bath), Jeremy Staunton, Alesana Tuillagi (NTT Shining Arcs), Tom Bowe (Plymouth Albion).
Last season: 2nd
Prediction: 1st
London Irish
What's going on?
London Irish have prepared for the new campaign by spending a week at an Army base in an attempt to improve on-field discipline. The squad also sat a ‘laws of the game’ exam and His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett has visited to explain the rationale behind the RFU’s disciplinary processes. With Shaun Edwards on board to strengthen defence, Irish should be more difficult to score against.
Coach: Brian Smith.
Ground: Madjeski Stadium, 24,200.
Tickets: £20-£35.
Signings: H Aulika (Leeds), S Lawson (Gloucester), C Griffiths (Ospreys), G Skivington (Leicester), J Fisher (Bedford), T O'Leary (Munster), S Geraghty (Brive), I Humphreys (Ulster), S Sa (Catalan RL), M Worrincy (Skolars RL), C Gaston (Ulster), S Malton (Jo’burg Univ).
Players Out: C Dermody (ret), P Hodgson (Worcester), A Jarvis (Bristol), D Bowden (Leicester), S Hape (Montpellier), J Spratt (Ospreys), A Thompstone (Leicester), B Casey, K Roche (ret).
Last season: 7th
This season: 9th
London Wasps
What's going on?
England men James Haskell and Tom Palmer are back to add ballast, and former player Ken Moss has finally sorted out the legal and financial niceties to take over the club. But this could be a season of consolidation for Wasps. Foundations need to be established, roots driven deep. And that is just at scrum and lineout. A club badly in need of a new script.
Coach: Dai Young.
Ground: Adams Park, 10,500.
Tickets: £21.50-£56.50.
Signings: RThomas (Cardiff), P Swainston (Leeds), W Taylor (Ospreys), T Palmer (Stade Français), A Johnson (Cheetahs), J Haskell (Highlanders), T Bell (Sale), S Jones (Scarlets), L Thomas (Lyon), J Bailey (Lyon), A Masi (Aironi), F Staibano (Airioni).
Players out: R Webber (Bath), B Broster (Biarritz), J Castex (Perpignan), A Cheeseman (Pirates), R Flutey (Ricoh Black Rams), T Prydie (Dragons), R Haughton (Jersey), J Burton (Loughborough), B Baker (Oxford Univ), S Thompson, D Ward-Smith, Tom Rees (ret).
Last season: 11th
Prediction: 11th
London Welsh
What's going on?
Catapulted into the Premiership by the advocacy of chairman Bleddyn Phillips, who thwarted a Premier Rugby/RFU alliance, here comes the hard bit. Welsh, with Gavin Henson on board, albeit with an injury that will keep him out of the start of the season, join at the strongest point in the Premiership’s history. If they stay up, it will eclipse Exeter’s feat. Adrift by Christmas is the likely scenario.
Coach: Lyn Jones.
Ground: Kassam Stadium, 12,500.
Tickets: £15-£30.
Signings: E Williamson (Leeds), D Browne (Grenoble), M Keyte (Bristol), N Runciman (Gloucs), S Parker (Ospreys), G Henson (unattached), P Mackenzie (Esher), T Arscott (Worcs), B Davies (Ospreys), G Evans (Plymouth), N Briggs (Bourgoin), T Bristow (Dorking), P Ion (L Irish).
Players Out: G Roan (Cavalieri Prato), G Johnson (Cornish Pirates), M Powell (Moseley), R Lewis (Cardiff), P Mackey (Rosslyn Pk), L Gibson (Blackheath), W Hurrell (Rotherham)
Last season: n/a
Prediction: 12th
Northampton Saints
What's going on?
A nightmarish past few months during which lengthy bans, inappropriate tweets and contractual disputes have damaged Northampton’s reputation. They remain strong contenders, though, with one of the best packs in the league. Ken Pisi, a highly versatile back and brother of George, will improve an attack which can lack edge. At least Chris Ashton is not there to dilute focus.
Coach: Jim Mallinder.
Ground: Franklins Gardens, 13,600.
Tickets: £28-£40.
Signings: Sam Dickinson (Rotherham), Gerrit-jan van Velze (Blue Bulls), James Wilson (Bourgoin), Luther Burrell (Sale), Dom Waldouck (Wasps), Kevin Pisi (North Harbour), Jamie Elliot,Ben Nutley, Mike Haywood (Academy).
Players out: Andy Long (ret), Ben Prescott, Cesare Sempere, Stuart Commins (all released), James Downey (Munster), Jon Clarke (Worcester), Chris Ashton (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh).
Last season: 4th.
Prediction: 3rd
Sale Sharks
What's going on?
Danny Cipriani has jetted in from the Melbourne Rebels after a less than scintillating two-year spell with the Australian club, and Sale also have on their books Scotland lock Richie Gray– 6ft 10in and approaching 20 stones. Add in a new stadium and Sale’s abrasive, confrontational boss Steve Diamond seeking to tread on toes everywhere, and you can bet it will not be dull.
Coach: Bryan Redpath.
Ground: Salford Stadium, 12,000.
Tickets: £10-£45.
Singings: Eiffion Lewis-Roberts (Toulon), Richie Gray (Glasgow), Danny Cipriani (Melbourne Rebels), Cameron Shepherd (Western Force).
Players out: Andrew Sheridan (Toulon), Wame Lewaravu (Mont-de-Marsan), Scott Mathie (Eastern Province), Tommy Bell (Wasps), Andy Higgins (Newcastle), Luther Burrell (Nothampton), Iain Thornley (Wigan), Joaquin Tuculet (Grenoble).
Last season: 6th
Prediction: 5th
Saracens
What's going on?
Another club whose season collapsed in the last few weeks. Working out precisely who plays where in the pivotal positions of 10, 12 and 13 is an enduring issue for them, and the problem which is not helped by mixing and matching within games and a general policy of squad rotation. That said, the closeness of the squad and their appetite for work is irresistible.
Coach: Mark McCall.
Ground: Vicarage Road/Allianz Park, 17,500/10,000.
Ticket prices will vary with fixtures being played in a variety of venues.
Signings: Lorenzo Romano (Aironi), Alistair Hargreaves (Natal Sharks), Nick Fenton-Wells (Stormers), Chris Ashton (Northampton).
Players out: Hugh Vyvyan (ret), Luke Baldwin (Bedford), Michael Tagicakibau (Bristol), Marcus Watson (England Sevens), Harry Allen (Harlequins), Hayden Smith (New York Jets NFL).
Last season: 3rd
Prediction: 4th
Worcester Warriors
What's going on?
Remember this name: Mathieu Rourre. The former academy director for Biarritz and France is acting as a consultant to improve Worcester’s try-scoring, hoping to do for the club’s attack what England’s World Cup-winning defensive expert Phil Larder has done for their defence. New signings David Lemi, a small but renowned stepper, and the 6ft 5in Nikki Walker, head up the strike force.
Coach: Richard Hill.
Ground: Sixways, 12,068.
Tickets: £19-£38.
Signings: J Andress (Exeter), R O’Donnell (Rotherham),D Schofield (Toulon), S Taulava (Rotherham), P Hodgson (L Irish), J Clarke (Northampton), J Matavesi (Racing Metro), D Lemi (Glasgow), N Walker (Ospreys).
Players out: C Fortey (Hartpury), B Douglas (Bristol), O Tomasczyk (Newcastle), B Gulliver (Bedford), K Horstmann (Exeter),C Hayter (Moseley), A Crockett (Newcastle), M Garvey (Castres), M Benjamin (Leicester), T Arscott (L Welsh), A Balding (Newcastle).
Last season: 10th
Prediction: 10th
Bath
Last season 8th
Players in Paul James (Ospreys), Rob Webber (Wasps), Dominic Day (Scarlets), Horacio Agulla (Leicester). Out: Matt Carraro (Montpellier), Duncan Bell (Clifton), Andy Beattie, Lewis Moody, David Flatman, Pieter Dixon, Scott Hobson (all retired).
Form An awful lot of greybeard knowhow has departed from the pack – or is it that dead wood has been cut out? A stellar coaching panel led by Gary Gold must uncover the hard edge Bath have lacked for a decade, though there is a ripple of flair from full-back Nick Abendanon through to flanker Carl Fearns.
Key player Francois Louw, back row.
Prediction If the planets align, top six beckons.
Exeter Chiefs
Last season 5th
Players in Alex Brown (Doncaster), Will Chudley (Newcastle), Kai Horstmann (Worcester), Dean Mumm (Waratahs), Carl Rimmer (C Pirates), Damian Welch (Scarlets), Ian Whitten (Ulster), Jack Yeandle (Doncaster). Out: Peter Short, Chris Bentley (both retired), Addison Lockley (Moseley), Bryan Rennie (Bristol), Chad Slade (Oyonnax), Herbie Stupple, Jon Vickers (Plymouth).
Form Rival clubs expect Exeter's rise and rise to end. Coach Rob Baxter has other ideas, naturally, though a squad mostly untouched by international calls will surely have to ease off somewhere, probably in Europe.
Key player Tom Johnson, back row.
Prediction Another top-six finish would be a fine effort.
Gloucester
Last season 9th
Players in Rob Cook (C Pirates), Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders), Huia Edmonds (Brumbies), Sione Kalamafoni (Nottingham), Ben Morgan (Scarlets), Martyn Thomas (Dragons), Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester). Out: Matias Cortese (Colomiers), Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu (WR Sparks), Rory Lawson (Newcastle), Luke Narraway, Alasdair Strokosch (both Perpignan), Lesley Vainikolo (La Rochelle), Tom Voyce (released).
Form Nigel Davies arrives from the Scarlets to coach with a studious air far removed from the fire and brimstone of The Shed. He has Mike Tindall as a novice backs coach, but it is the forwards who need a kick up the backside.
Key player Ben Morgan, No 8.
Prediction Moderate forwards, great backs. Mid-table again.
Harlequins
Last season 1st, play-off champions
Players in Ben Botica (N Harbour), Dave Ward (C Pirates), Rob Buchanan, Charlie Matthews, Joe Trayfoot, Ollie Lindsay-Hague, Will Collier (all Academy), Harry Allen (Saracens). Out: Chris York (Newcastle), Tomas Vallejos (Scarlets), Benjamin Urdapilleta (Oyonnax), Matt Cairns (retired).
Form A settled squad of players and coaches with capacity to develop their spectator-friendly offloading game. But how will Quins cope with the challenge of being the hunted rather than the hunter, and will they make a charge for the Heineken Cup or settle for domestic dominance?
Key player Chris Robshaw, flanker.
Prediction Contenders again.
Leicester Tigers
Last season 2nd, play-off finalists
Players in Robert Andrew (Pau), Miles Benjamin (Worcester), Brett Deacon (Gloucester), Dan Bowden (L Irish), Matt Cornwell (Mogliano), Vereniki Goneva (Tarbes), Adam Thompstone (L Irish). Out: Horacio Agulla (Bath), Calum Green (Leeds), James Grindal (Bristol), Ben Pienaar (Moseley), Alesana Tuilagi (NTT), Julian White (retired).
Form DoR Richard Cockerill has added three more years to his contract and the beaten finalists of last May look as formidable as ever despite back-row injuries. George Ford's continued progression at fly-half will be fascinating.
Key player Dan Bowden, fly-half/centre.
Prediction Strongest club, good signings – yet another final.
London Irish
Last season 7th
Players in Shane Geraghty (Brive), Cai Griffiths (Ospreys), Ian Humphreys (Ulster), Scott Lawson (Gloucester), Tomas O'Leary (Munster), Setaimata Sa (Catalan Dr), George Skivington (Leicester). Outs: Nick Kennedy, Delon Armitage, Guy Armitage (all Toulon), Bob Casey, Kieran Roche, Clarke Dermody (all retired), Faan Rautenbach (released), Shontayne Hape (Montpellier), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys).
Form Shuddering end of an era as coaches Toby Booth and Mike Catt and others depart. Returning DoR Brian Smith at least has prodigal son Shane Geraghty back at fly-half.
Key player Tom Homer, full-back/wing.
Prediction Utterly unpredictable. 10th?
London Wasps
Last season 11th
Players in Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Ashley Johnson (Cheetahs), Andrea Masi (Aironi), Tom Palmer (Stade Français), James Haskell (Highlanders), James Bailey (Lyon), Fabio Staibano (Aironi), Lee Thomas (Lyon), T Rhys Thomas (C Blues). Out: Ben Broster (Biarritz), Ross Filipo, Riki Flutey (Black Rams), Richard Haughton (Jersey), John Hart, Tom Rees (both retired).
Form New owners in place but coach Dai Young needs better facilities and a better scrum. If luck with injuries improves and Wasps turn round several narrow losses, they can shoot up the table.
Key player Ashley Johnson, back row.
Prediction Dark horses but may settle for 8th.
London Welsh
Last season 4th in Championship, play-off champions
Players in Phil MacKenzie (Esher), Matt Keyte (Bath), Ed Williamson (Leeds), Daniel Browne (Grenoble), Sonny Parker (Ospreys), Tom Arscott (Worcester), Gareth Evans (Plymouth), Nick Runciman (Gloucester), Neil Briggs (Sale), Gavin Henson (unattached), Kirill Kulemin (Castres), Paulica Ion (L Irish). Out: Rob Lewis (C Blues), Mike Powell (Moseley), Saul Nelson (O Redcliffians).
Form Wily ex-Ospreys coach Lyn Jones timed Welsh's run just right to win promotion. Now they must take a step up in class and – just as importantly – physical power and conditioning.
Key player Jon Mills, flanker.
Prediction Bottom, by a distance.
Northampton Saints
Last season 4th, play-off semi-finalists.
Players in Luther Burrell (Sale), Sam Dickinson (Rotherham), Ken Pisi (North Harbour), James Wilson (Bourgoin), Gerrit-Jan van Velze (Blue Bulls), Dom Waldouck (Wasps). Out: James Downey (Munster), Roger Wilson (Ulster), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh), Andy Long (retired).
Form Saints are again happy to take the Pisi, North Harbour wing Ken Pisi joining brother George, as they wave goodbye to try machine Chris Ashton and long-serving centres Jon Clarke and Jimmy Downey. The pack, despite losing Roger Wilson, still looks strong.
Key player Soane Tonga'uiha, prop.
Prediction Can Saints finally make a final? Probably not.
Sale Sharks
Last season 6th
Players in Richie Gray (Glasgow), Eifion Lewis-Roberts (Toulon), Danny Cipriani (Melbourne), Cameron Shepherd (W Force), Corne Uys (Newcastle). Out: Andrew Sheridan (Toulon), Iain Thornley (Wigan RL), Scott Mathie (E Province), Wame Lewaravu (Mont de Marsan), Andrew Higgins (Newcastle), Joaquin Tuculet (Grenoble).
Form One international (England prop Andy Sheridan) leaving, four including the Lions prospect Richie Gray arriving, plus a new home ground with a big pitch. Expectation is high, but last season's sixth place may be the limit as a squad radically overhauled in recent years settles into Salford.
Key player Sam Tuitupou, centre.
Prediction Mid-table; may be distracted by Europe.
Saracens
Last season 3rd, play-off semi-finalists.
Players in Chris Ashton (Northampton), Alistair Hargreaves (Sharks), Lorenzo Romano (Aironi), Nick Fenton-Wells (W Province). Out: Hugh Vyvyan (retired), Michael Tagicakibau (Bristol), Hayden Smith (NY Jets NFL).
Form Only two points off the top last season, despite unprecedented England calls hampering their title defence. Teamwork, pride and Steve Borthwick's grounded captaincy should sustain them, assuming the flame of motivation still burns. Much as Sarries pride themselves on away form and attitude, not having a settled home until February at the earliest must be a distraction.
Key player Schalk Brits, hooker.
Prediction Could regain title – semi-finals at least.
Worcester Warriors
Last season 10th
Players in John Andress (Exeter), David Lemi (Glasgow), Paul Hodgson (L Irish), Nikki Walker (Ospreys), Jon Clarke (Northampton), Semisi Taulava, Rob O'Donnell (both Rotherham), Dean Schofield (Toulon), Josh Matavesi (Racing M). Out: Marcel Garvey (Castres), Adam Balding, Alex Crockett (both Newcastle), Bruce Douglas (Bristol), Dale Rasmussen (retired).
Form Coach Richard Hill has brought Dean Schofield home from Toulon, looking every inch the ideal captain; just as well with stalwart centre Dale Rasmussen and Kai Horstmann departing along with try threats Marcel Garvey and Miles Benjamin.
Key player Jon Clarke, centre.
Prediction Solidly lower mid-table. More precise? 11th.
1 (3) Saracens
2 (1) Harlequins
3 (2) Leicester
4 (6) Sale
5 (4) Saints
6 (11)Wasps
7 (9) Gloucester
8 (5) Exeter
9 (7) London Irish
10(8) Bath
11(10)Worcester
12(-) London Welsh
Wasps will be pleased to see that all their problems are now behind them and that their front 5 are now going to be able to deliver a stream of possession that will encourage them a massive 5 places further up the league table.
Exeter, Bath and London Irish (perhaps Worcester,too) might have something to say about that.
Cipriani and Davies (Nigel from Scarlets) have a lot to live up to.
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