Guinness Premiership Countdown: A Review of the Dozen English Heavyweights

With only seven weeks to go until the start of the new Guinness Premiership Rugby season, the 12 heavyweights of English rugby are making their final preparations for an assault on the most competitive league in the world.

More than 50,000 spectators are expected at this year’s London Double Header at Twickenham, involving Harlequins, Saracens, London Wasps, and London Irish. It proves that interest in the sport is at an all-time high.

A combination of 13 new law changes (ELVs) and the new agreement between the RFU and Premier Rugby, which will allow Martin Johnson increased access to his 32-man elite senior squad, could make this the most open season of Premiership Rugby yet. Each of the 12 teams is capable of beating any other on their day.

The champions, London Wasps, will be the team to beat. Despite the fact that nine front-line players will be missing on England duty for a large period of the year, and the gaping hole left by the injured Danny Cipriani at fly-half, Wasps’ performance last year means that they will again be a force to reckon with.

A multitude of stars were absent at the beginning of the 07-08 season due to World Cup commitments, yet Wasps managed to grind out 10 wins from their last 11 matches to finish second at the end of the regular season. They went on to claim their fourth title in six seasons.

Opponents may be glad to have seen the back of talismanic skipper Lawrence Dallaglio, but he has left the Adams Park club with a winning mentality the likes of Tom Rees and James Haskell will be desperate to continue.

A lot more pressure will be on last year’s Guinness Premiership player of the year, the now "English" Riki Flutey. But he should revel in his increased responsibility in the midfield now that Fraser Waters has left.

Under the superb guidance of Ian McGeechan and Shaun Edwards, Wasps are sure to reach the top four, and once the play-offs arrive, no team knows the route to victory better than they do. 

Many will fancy Gloucester to go one better than last year and rid themselves of the nearly-men status. Dean Ryan has strengthened over the summer, adding Olly Barkley from neighbours Bath and New Zealander Greg Somerville to the wealth of talent already at his disposal.

Long-term injuries to ferocious Fijian flanker Akapusi Qera and to Gareth Delve will certainly not help their cause. However, under the control of the ever-improving Ryan Lamb at stand-off, the English back-line contingent of Barkley, Mike Tindall, and James Simpson-Daniel could run riot.

It will take a performance of the highest quality from a team at the top of their game to stop the cherry and whites from lifting the trophy that has eluded them and the Kingsholm faithful for so long.

Bath were the most exciting team to watch throughout last season, playing an exciting brand of running rugby with forwards and backs linking fluently.

Although they will continue to draw the plaudits for their adventure, they will struggle to repeat their achievements of last season. The departures of Olly Barkley and captain Steve Borthwick to Saracens have created a void that coach Steve Meehan has yet to fill.

Young starlets Michael Lipman, Nick Abendanon, and Matt Banahan are sure to impress. Still, it may be a season too soon for the West Country club to challenge for honours.

Leicester, as always, will be pushing hard for a top-four finish come the end of the season. With Blue Bulls goalkicker Derick Hougaard following new coach and fellow South African Heyneke Meyer to Welford Road to challenge another new arrival, Toby Flood, for the No. 10 shirt, the Tigers already appear a stronger unit than last year.

Martin Corry will be desperate for a successful finish to his 11-year Tigers career, but they are not the force they once were, and are likely to suffer heavily from international call-ups as they lack the strength in depth of Wasps.

Harlequins very unfortunately did not reach the playoffs last year, losing out to a last minute Tom Varndell try at Welford Road. They will fancy their chances of going one better this year and Dean Richards will demand success in his third season at the club.

Youngsters such as Danny Care, Mike Brown, and David Strettle should grow in stature, particularly Care who has the chance to establish himself as England’s first choice scrum-half after a successful tour of New Zealand.

Tom Guest and Chris Robshaw will also have benefited from their summer tour of Canada with the Saxons and if they can provide quick ball for their speedy backs, Quins have the ability to cut teams to shreds.

Most importantly, however, Quins seem to have finally found a top class No. 10, a position which has caused them problems ever since Thierry Lacroix left the Stoop. The acquisition of Nick Evans could prove to be Richards’ best signing yet. The composure and experience of the Kiwi stand-off should allow Quins' young starlets to fulfill their potential

Sale and Saracens should achieve comfortable mid-table positions, with Luke McAllister and Steve Borthwick playing major roles for both clubs respectively.

Worcester, too, with the strong Antipodean influence of Rico Gear and Chris Latham supporting the electrifying pace of Miles Benjamin in the back three, should stay well clear of the relegation tussle, as should London Irish despite the loss of influential backs coach Brian Smith to England.

It was a shock and disappointment to many rugby fans when Northampton were relegated. Now, however, they have made their expected immediate return to the Premiership and they will not want to settle for mid-table anonymity.

They have one of the best stadiums and biggest fan bases in the country and the pressure will be on Jim Mallinder to bring success back to Franklin’s Gardens. He has rebuilt intelligently and the signing of Ben Foden from Sale Sharks in particular will please Saints fans.

They will rely heavily on Carlos Spencer to spark some magic and whilst they may not threaten the top four, they are sure to consolidate their position back in the top flight.

That leaves Bristol and Newcastle battling it out for Premiership survival. Bristol have done extremely well since their return to the Premiership three years ago, but there were signs at the end of last season that their small squad was struggling to cope with the arduous nature of the long season and there is a lack of resources available for Richard Hill to strengthen.

Bristol’s home form is usually very strong, but until the work on the Memorial Ground is complete they will share Rodney Parade with the Newport-Gwent Dragons. Only time will tell as to whether they can create the same intimidating atmosphere for visiting opponents at their new home. And they will need to pick up more points on the road if they are to keep their Premiership status.

Falcons fans will be very apprehensive following the departure of two home-grown stars, Matthew Tait and Toby Flood, at the end of last season. They now lack the flair required to break down opposition defences and will be heavily dependent on Jonny Wilkinson kicking them to victory.

It will be a very long season in the Northeast.