Aviva Premiership - Round 1 Preview

First topic message reminder :

Well it is here again, the new season and the Round 1 preview.

Friday 6th September 2013

Newcastle v Bath 19:45
After storming through most of the season, Newcastle seemed to struggle to impose themselves in the play-offs and almost limped into the Premiership. The big name signing for 2013/14 would seem to be Mike blair - and after seeing Fury in the play-offs, Falcons are in need of a quality 9. Te departed Jimmy Gopperth got a lot of stick from fans but his points and his leadership will be missed. Can Phil Godman do that?
Perennial under-performers Bath have been the most visible club in the off-season, both for the signings and the pub fuelled bust-ups. Gary Gold moves "upstairs" to the DoR job with Mike Ford assuming head coach duties. Will that actually change anything? Probably not.
With all their signings, Bath have to be securing a top 6 spot as a minimum and should really be aiming for Top 4 - while finishing 11th would be a success for Falcons this season. Newcastle will be looking to host as many Friday night fixtures as they can, and will need to win a good proportion of those. Later in the season the traditional NE weather may come to their aid, but this week promises to stay fair.
If Bath can overcome both the long journey and the opening ferocity we should expect from Newcastle, they should have far too much class. Big ifs though.

Newcastle Team:
15 Alex Tait, 14 Noah Cato, 13 Danny Barnes, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Tom Catterick, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair, 1 Franck Montanella, 2 Matt Thompson, 3 Kieran Brookes, 4 Carlo del Fava, 5 Scott MacLeod, 6 Dom Barrow, 7 Andy Saull, 8 Ally Hogg (c)

Replacements: 16 Rob Vickers, 17 Scott Wilson, 18 Gary Strain, 19 Mark Wilson, 20 Chris York, 21 Warren Fury, 22 Joel Hodgson, 23 Adam Powell


Bath Team:
15 Anthony Watson, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 George Ford, 9 Peter Stringer, 1 Paul James, 2 Rob Webber, 3 David Wilson, 4 Stuart Hooper ( c ), 5 Dave Attwood, 6 Matt Garvey, 7 Mat Gilbert, 8. Leroy Houston

Replacements

16. Ross Batty, 17. Nathan Catt, 18. Anthony Perenise, 19. Dominic Day, 20. Alafoti Fa'osiliva, 21. Micky Young, 22. Gavin Henson, 23. Tom Biggs

Saturday 7th September 2013

London Irish v Saracens 14:00
The first leg of the Twickenham double-header starts with London Irish "hosting" last season's table toppers Saracens. In the off-season Irish have lost a large number of very important players and frankly replaced them with much lower quality recruits. The premiership final against Leicester feels so long ago now.
Saracens have signed a couple off massive forwards in Johnston and BillyV. While Johnston may not solve Saracens scrummaging uncertainties, if the younger Vunipola can be integrated into the team he will provide some real front foot ball. In turn this could allow Hodgson or Farrell to really stamp their mark on the game and the season and get the Sarries backs firing. Meanwhile back to the front row and Jamie George should get a chance to stake a claim for a place in the side long term.
I suspect we may well see a match similar to last season - stodgy and tentative in the first half, but with Sarries taking Irish apart in the second.


Gloucester v Sale 15:00
It seems strange to think that Gloucester appear a little lightweight in the tight five. The plethora of riches available to them in the back row and then in the backs suggests that should that tight five be able to punch above their weight we could see real fireworks this season. While a young skipper, Tom Savage looks a real leader and will be driving his men forward. With the signing of Tavis Knoyle (a favourite of Nigel Davies) and the big money signing of Jimmy Cowan last season, I do worry about how much gametime the ever improving Dan Robson will get.
Sale Sharks - what can you say. Season before last Steve Diamond manged to turn them into a team that was so much more than the sum of it's parts. Last season they were at times dreadfull. Big signings Gray and Cipriani were absolute flops and young players like Miller, Cliff and Amesbury just did not kick on.
Gloucester surely have to win this?



Northampton v Exeter 15:00
While Exeter continue to sign lesser known players and create a team ethos, Saints have done the real big name transfers in the summer. Even if they do not stay fit and firing the whole season, the presence of Corbisiero and North in the play-offs (shoudl Saints make them) would give them a sprinkling of stardust they have previously lacked. Kahn Fotuali'i could be the key signing though. While he started slowly at Ospreys (due in large part to having played for two years without a break) the fans at the Liberty will have been sorry to see him go. He is a class act - though there seem to be some suggestions he may play at 10!
While Northampton have had some nerve-tingling matches with Exeter they should win this one with a little breathing space.



London Wasps v Harlequins 16:30
The London double-header culminates with Harlequins as the "away" team. Again a repeat of last seasons fixture, fans will hope to see another cracker. For 60 minutes Wasps were sublime until their conditioning failed. Wasps appear to have made some very shrewd signings and will look to run the ball at every opportunity. they will keep the tempo high - but need better fitness levels than last season.
After finishing last season with a whimper, Quins will be desperate to show they are not a flash in the pan. The performances of Ben Botica could be key as Nick Evans is showing his age and at times was quite frail last season. Enhanced contracts for the home-grown players has limited the funds available for new signings. The loss of Johnston and Kohn certainly reduces the bulk in the Quins pack.




Sunday 8th September 2013

Leicester v Worcester 14:00
Tigers do not always start the season especially well, but against a Worcester team that has lost a number of key players and replaced them in the main with journeymen, they should be seeking a fairly comfortable win.
Leicester will  not look to overplay their Lions players, but their is strength in depth in those positions. Worries about Floods fitness are countered by the good form shown by Lamb and Williams in pre-season. Full back cover is a little light on the ground with Matty Tait not appearing yet following more surgery in the summer.

I Frak hate Mexican waves

Nice try by Saracens.

Cant wait for the next game and some proper rugby!

This isn't quite over...

Haha great opportunism from Marlon Yarde there.

Don'tunderstand this at all from Sarries. They are 14 points ahead, have three tries and there is only 7 mins left. Why kick the goal? Surely the corner would be the better option?

Hmmm, about as borderline as a try can ever be...

I've done a little double on two upsets today. Wasps to beat Harlequins and Treviso to beat Ospreys. I really like the look of some of Wasps signings and Harlequins have lost a couple of big players in their pack such as Kohn. Always a chance that Harlequins will turn on the style and run away with it if there offloading game comes together, but I can see Wasps winning this one at home.

Artful_Dodger wrote:I've done a little double on two upsets today.  Wasps to beat Harlequins and Treviso to beat Ospreys.  I really like the look of some of Wasps signings and Harlequins have lost a couple of big players in their pack such as Kohn.  Always a chance that Harlequins will turn on the style and run away with it if there offloading game comes together, but I can see Wasps winning this one at home.

Have you seen the Wasps team running out though?  Injuries mean they're missing a fair number of their first choice players.  They certainly look second best due to absence in the backrow and centres.  Can't see this match living up to the excitement of last seasons unfortunately.

Great start from Wasps. Hope they continue in this vein.

Frustrating errors from Quins

Good win by Sharks, maybe this year I will not be worried about my heart.

Wonderful cover tackle from Lowe, reminiscent of Wembley 2012

Exe proper schooled by a dominant Saints

yappysnap wrote:Nice try by Saracens.

Cant wait for the next game and some proper rugby!

Yep wasps are playing some proper rugby..........shame there against such poor opposition  

And as good as it was how the hell didn't the TJ call the forward pass the Yarde for his try? Must have been a good2-3 meters forward.
And don't give me any of that momentum bollox over such a short distance

Knackeredknees wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Nice try by Saracens.

Cant wait for the next game and some proper rugby!

Yep wasps are playing some proper rugby..........shame there against such poor opposition  

Classy. Let's bookmark this shall we

Quins are giving me grey hair!

Reckon we'll still win

ChequeredJersey wrote:

Knackeredknees wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Nice try by Saracens.

Cant wait for the next game and some proper rugby!

Yep wasps are playing some proper rugby..........shame there against such poor opposition  

Classy. Let's bookmark this shall we

Now now CJ if yappy can make a little joke about sarries and proper rugby, I should be allowed a free one back. It's only fair:hug: 

Fair enough. This game ain't over though

Well played Sarries btw, class performance at the breakdown

Think our breakdown work will be key for us this year, if we can control that I think we will surprise a few. Glimpses today of the backs putting ball through hand and offloading, bit more.....dare I say it..exciting!!

This game is to tight to call ATM, can see wasps holding on but can see a Quins fight back as well

Well Glaws were truly woeful. No cohesion and thoroughly out-muscled. Having said that the 2 Sale tries were referred to the TMO and in my seat which was close to both instances, they were incorrect decisions. I'll be very interested to see them as that cost us 12 points. Nevertheless, we were rubbish and you can't begrudge Sale the win.

 

ChequeredJersey wrote:

Knackeredknees wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Nice try by Saracens.

Cant wait for the next game and some proper rugby!

Yep wasps are playing some proper rugby..........shame there against such poor opposition  

Classy. Let's bookmark this shall we

To be fair we aren't putting in a vintage display are we.

OK, just going to say...i hate the new scrums. It's just a massive disadvantage to have the put in. Scrums have gone from a weapon to a punishment.

If only Lindsay could throw. It's cost Wasps here. Was hoping he'd have improved, still way off international quality judging by this.

Gutted for Wasps, think they deserved more

My heart! Tough on wasps

Good game Wasps.

Tense as two dislexics playing countdown!

Tough on Wasps and Andy Goode, he is still one hell of a player IMO.

Oh and I think Quins did deserve the win. We dominated possession but just kept fumbling the ball and Wasps put up a heroic D. In attack Wasps didn't trouble our line except for those two very good tries.

Scrumpy wrote:Tough on Wasps and Andy Goode, he is still one hell of a player IMO.

Goode out played Nev by a mile!

I actually thought kicking aside Nev was pretty decent. Goode potentially MOTM though

Very harsh on Wasps and Goode, if Treviso beat Ospreys now I will not be a happy bunny.

yappysnap wrote:Oh and I think Quins did deserve the win. We dominated possession but just kept fumbling the ball and Wasps put up a heroic D. In attack Wasps didn't trouble our line except for those two very good tries.

Apart from the try saving tap tackle by Lowe. Quins actually threatened little to other than a few Danny Care breaks. Our counterattacks certainly looked more threatening. Quins had the edge in the scrums though & it really could have gone either way.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Oh and I think Quins did deserve the win. We dominated possession but just kept fumbling the ball and Wasps put up a heroic D. In attack Wasps didn't trouble our line except for those two very good tries.

Apart from the try saving tap tackle by Lowe. Quins actually threatened little to other than a few Danny Care breaks. Our counterattacks certainly looked more threatening. Quins had the edge in the scrums though & it really could have gone either way.

Yeah have to say Wasps looked more threatening to me as well. Thought they were better in most areas but would have to watch again. Quins defence looked pretty decent.

Wasn't a vintage performance from us but a win is a win. Think we need Casson back, Williams back or Walker in, need Mo for go forward.

From a Wasps point of view we still have a few players to come in to

Myall, Haskell, Daly,Bell,Swainston & Festucchia all probably starters or bench.

Knackeredknees wrote:And as good as it was how the hell didn't the TJ call the forward pass the Yarde for his try? Must have been a good2-3 meters forward.
And don't give me any of that momentum bollox over such a short distance

Perhaps because it was not forward?

ChequeredJersey wrote:Wasn't a vintage performance from us but a win is a win. Think we need Casson back, Williams back or Walker in, need Mo for go forward.

Agreed, from my view point JTH looked well off the pace and while the two wings were solid they offered very little in attack. Mo made a big difference when he came on, the gameplan was was bizarre though and seemed to focus on Wallace playing wing most of the game and Quins throwing very few offloads.

Wasps look like they could be a very good side once they settle.

Quins can take away that their pack functioned well in the setpiece, they put together a fair amount of possession and territory and somehow managed to win. But they need a game plan that works when the oppo stifle the offload and are allowed to slow the ball (I thought Wigglesworth was very lenient on Wasps in that area, but otherwise had a pretty good game), and Robshaw plus Wallace is not - yet - an effective flank combo. Robshaw looked excellent in defence to me - has apparently worked on his speed, and was much quicker to the tackle and breakdown yesterday.

Last game of the weekend today then. I still fancy Tiggers to win at a canter.

It's difficult on the evidence so far to see beyond Sarries, Tiggers and Saints as the top 3 really.

You're probably right, though we'll have to see how exposed Tom Youngs is as a hooker now...

4th could be close between Wasps, Bath and Quins. What happened to Glaws, though?

Glaws vs. Sale the only real surprise result so far. Will be interesting to see over the next few weeks if Sale have improved, if Glaws are not going to be as good as we may have thought, or if it is just a blip.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Glaws vs. Sale the only real surprise result so far.  Will be interesting to see over the next few weeks if Sale have improved, if Glaws are not going to be as good as we may have thought, or if it is just a blip.

I hope it was a blip! We can't be that bad again, surely?...  

I'm hoping that the Tigers scrum will hold up well under the new laws given we were pretty dodgey on the hit and tended to wind up the pressure in the scrum. Ayerza certainly did a number on the ABs tight head yesterday. Given that Webber and Hartley have started the season brightly there's early pressure on Youngs to not only show technique in the scrum but consistentcy in his lineout throwing.

I do have more than a slight concern in our 10/12 combo as Lamb and Bowden aren't the biggest tacklers and Lamb is known for mixing magic and catastrophes within seconds of each other. Thankfully Manu and Williams are on the bench.

I think Sale will surprise a few people this season. The pack looks far more industrious and they've ditched the expensive and generally useless show pony to Castres so have had a big chunk of cap to spend on useful players.

Re yesterday. Congrats to Quins, they were a more cohesive unit than my lot. Wasps are dangerous on turnover ball, but I would like us to have a better platform up front.

We could have nicked that though.

Yeah, commiserations, Hound, I wouldn't have complained if that conversion had gone over. Think both our teams will improve drastically with some more players back

Ozzy3213 wrote:Last game of the weekend today then.  I still fancy Tiggers to win at a canter.  

It's difficult on the evidence so far to see beyond Sarries, Tiggers and Saints as the top 3 really.  

To be fair last season Tigers and Saints started very slowly and only came to life after Christmas, they then went on to the final. Likewise last season Quins started quickly and topped the league for most of the season pre 6N's only to totally derail. I don't think yesterday tells us anything really.

Hound of Harrow wrote:Re yesterday. Congrats to Quins, they were a more cohesive unit than my lot. Wasps are dangerous on turnover ball, but I would like us to have a better platform up front.

We could have nicked that though.

You should be proud of Goode's gameplay as well Hound, and your boys aggression in the tackle area definitely rattled us. You just didn't hold on to the ball enough in the second half.